Snap! Criticism: Okotie and Thien Dan Hartland In a letter on May 14, 1981, Philip K. Dick was characteristically pugnacious: “I will define science fiction, first, by saying what sf is not. It cannot be defined as ‘a story (or nov…

Novel temporalities: for the latest Snap! Criticism, @danhartland.bsky.social looks at recent work by Simon Okotie & Madeleine Thien to highlight how speculative and formal elements interact.

Many thanks for this piece Dan - it is a tonic.

Snap! Criticism: Okotie and Thien Dan Hartland In a letter on May 14, 1981, Philip K. Dick was characteristically pugnacious: “I will define science fiction, first, by saying what sf is not. It cannot be defined as ‘a story (or nov…

A thoughtful review of my book The Future of the Novel, which was published in the UK a year plus a week ago today, alongside Madeleine Thien’s novel The Book of Records, which I will look forward to reading.

ancillaryreviewofbooks.org/2026/02/25/s...

Thank you!

Many thanks David.

Congratulations to you too Andrew!

Thank you!

Photo of Prof. Peter Robinson, Simon Okotie and Prof. Peter Boxall

I successfully defended my PhD thesis in English Literature at the University of Reading on Wednesday. With thanks to my supervisor Conor Carville and examiners Peter Robinson and Peter Boxall (pictured).

En route to meet my PhD supervisor on the South Bank to prepare for my viva (which is next week!).

Why CD Rose won the 2025 Goldsmiths Prize for fiction His fourth book We Live Here Now challenges the novel’s form by focusing on texture, atmosphere and resonance

Why CD Rose won the 2025 Goldsmiths Prize for fiction, by @SimonOkotie.bsky.social

Why CD Rose won the 2025 Goldsmiths Prize for fiction His fourth book We Live Here Now challenges the novel’s form by focusing on texture, atmosphere and resonance

'We Live Here Now emerged similarly mysteriously, flying steadily & consistently under the radar before assuming its rightful place as the winner of this year’s Goldsmiths Prize.'

Judge @simonokotie.bsky.social on why C.D. Rose won this year's Goldsmiths Prize.

www.newstatesman.com/culture/book...

@cdrose.bsky.social is the 2025 Goldsmiths Prize winner!!! So, so well deserved ❤️🏆 Read WE LIVE HERE NOW! @goldsmithsprize.bsky.social

The waiting is nearly over! Our judges - Mark Haddon, Megan Nolan, @simonokotie.bsky.social, and @asack.bsky.social - have read, deliberated and decided.

Winner announcement TONIGHT around 7.30pm🔥

IT WORKED!!! I’m going to have to wear that shirt for the rest of the season now!

Photo of a black and blue Nottingham Forest top.

I dug out this top for my run today - a third kit from the early 2000s modelled on Inter Milan. I’m hoping it will bring us luck (and an Italian defensive display) against Porto this evening.

Nicholas Royle ends his much appreciated comments on A Personal Anthology by saying that, like a favourite bar or secondhand bookshop, it shouldn't be allowed to close.

I agree! But it can only go on as long as there are contributors, so if you'd like to take part, please get in touch!

#GoldsmithsPrize2025 judge, @simonokotie.bsky.social, on C.D. Rose's We Live Here Now:

It's publication day for this beauty, with stories by David Bevan @iancritchley.bsky.social @pippagoldschmidt.bsky.social, Alison Moore, Okechukwu Nzelu, @simonokotie.bsky.social, C.D. Rose, Iain Sinclair, Naomi Wood, lucky old me! et al. Thank you @nicholasroyle.bsky.social & @saltpublishing.com 🔥

#GoldsmithsPrize2015 judge, @simonokotie.bsky.social, on Yrsa Daley-Ward's 'extraordinary shape-shifting, genre-defying work of fiction'

Our '25 judges, @simonokotie.bsky.social Amy Sackville (Chair) & Mark Haddon together @goldsmithsuol.bsky.social to decide this year's shortlist! Megan Nolan joining virtually.

Announcement next Thursday, 2nd October around 9pm! 🔥

Literary Bluesky! According to Maeve Binchy in the Irish Times (14th May 1980) Samuel Beckett "had admired Myles na Gopaleen and laughed so much at everything he had written but had been a bit disappointed when he met him because he had expected too much." Details of the encounter? When and where?

I told Her Majesty that I had to leave to be with my mum (before realising she was no longer with us). It was definitely some sort of monarchical/matriarchal dream.

She was. (Will await a punchline.)

In my dream last night I played tennis against the Queen.

Nightjar Press: An Interview with Nicholas Royle We’ve just started stocking short story chapbooks from Nightjar Press. If you, like us, are fans of the gothic, the weird, the surreal, and the supernatural, we recommend you check them out here in th...

We’re delighted that @deadinkbookshop.bsky.social is now stocking Nightjars. Little interview about it here deadinkbookshop.com/blogs/requir...

Picture of Simon Okotie next to the festival dates: 10-19 October 2025. Tickets go on sale Thursday 4 September.

I’m delighted to be speaking about my book The Future of the Novel at this year’s Cheltenham Literature Festival.

As someone who spans 'the two cultures' of science and the humanities, I am pleased with organiser's title for the event. So much to say!

www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/events/autho...

Have just submitted my intention to submit [my PhD] form, which I have been intending to submit for some time.

What I actually say in the book is that there is no sign as yet that the machine might be capable of cleansing 'its own cliché-clogged circuits' and producing something truly innovative. I think it will continue to be incapable of this. What do you think?