Writer for page and screen, guru of short stories, editor of Fiction on the Web. Rumoured to have killed wife with Scrabble and married self. He/him.
London
Joined June 2011
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Who here is migrating to Bluesky? I've started posting over there instead. Come follow me: buff.ly/3UW45HP
Watched Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India. 19th century Indian farmers stand up to their colonial oppressors by means of cricket. Not much of a musical - I think only one song in the first hour (out of nearly four hours). An operatic approach to emotional and dramatic subtlety.
Brand new literary magazine "Around", from an editor based in Bulgaria, has its first issue available to read online now: around.ink/
Fiction on the Web's Friday story, “Death at the Double Kiss” by Lituo Huang, was mentioned in the Topiary Stories Sunday Fiction Review. topiary.code.blog/2026/10/24…
Demand universal access: End "Scheduled-Only" captioning in UK venues c.org/BJhfsMSgZ6 via @UKChange
Charlie Fish and Fiction on the Web retweeted
In 2024, @FishCharlie accepted my short story, The Emerald Emergent, to be published on Fiction on The Web. In the acceptance email he likened the story to Bora Chung. Just finished the first story and now I understand why! 😄
I read Harlan Ellison's Greatest Hits. I've read loads of Golden Age/New Wave sci-fi, yet somehow missed Ellison. This is an eclectic and impressive collection, infused throughout with anger, wisdom and astonishing prescience. Too many highlights to meaningfully list. Inspiring.
Watched 2046. In counterpoint to the chasteness of predecessor In the Mood for Love, here the heartbroken protagonist becomes a sex pest. Interwoven stories about unrealised love. "Love is all a matter of timing. It's no good meeting the right person too soon or too late."
Reader comments on John Leahy's refreshingly original sci-fi short story: "Very cool story! Great blend of economic jargon and sci-fi concepts. A fun one to read." "It leaves plenty to think about after reading!" "fascinating!" fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/1…
Paul Stapleton's story got strong reader reactions: "That was powerful, short and direct, with an especially strong ending." "I love the ambiguity and the mythic allusions." "A powerful story which pulls you down the river at top speed." fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/1…
Saw The Social Reckoning. Terrifying reminder of the pervasive harm caused by social media & Zuckerberg’s (ongoing) decisions to prioritise growth even at the cost of propagating disinformation, mental ill health & social division on a massive scale. Felt exposition-y in places.
Saw Forgotten Island. Two Filipinas discover the power of friendship when they are transported to a fantastic island populated by creatures from Philippine folklore. Same kind of hyperactive ultra-colourful animation style as Bad Guys or K-Pop Demon Hunters. Imaginative and fun.
Saw NAZA at the cinema. Documentary interviewing Israeli ex-intelligence officers about the systems and ethos behind the genocidal killings in Gaza. Highlights the monstrous hypocrisy of the Netenhayu regime, and draws strong parallels to the Nuremberg defense. Cold and brutal.
I was interviewed for the "Let's Have a Renaissance" podcast. It's on Apple, YouTube, Spotify, etc. I talk about starting Fiction on the Web in the 90s, the meaning of freedom, losing a bet to my wife and getting a tattoo, and lots more. music.youtube.com/watch?v=-T…
Bishop Bob by Mary Jo Rabe. Reader comments: "I enjoyed Bishop Bob's unconventional piety and his detailed backstory. That final sentence was surprising yet perfectly in character." "A lovely human story, so smoothly told." "Loved it!!" fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/0…
Reader comments on Patrick Carella's short story, published on Monday: "Some of the passages here reminded me of vintage Damon Runyon or Nat Fleischer, vintage sports writing from the Golden Age." "Vivid and amusing. I loved the ending." fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/1…
Joseph Hirsch's irreverent ghost story got a good reaction from readers: "I really enjoyed this! Very absorbing, it hums along from start to finish. Very cool!" fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/1…
Reader reactions to D. C. Martin's short story: "Wow, a writer totally lost in a rich fantasy life. He experiences almost a waking dream; or is it a nightmare. ... Very well done!" "A very interesting story. Well done, D.C." fictionontheweb.co.uk/2026/1…
Watched In The Mood for Love. My first Wong Kar-Wai, and I want to see more. Kind of a Chinese Brief Encounter. Very distinctive cinematography. The music choices, and Mrs. Chan's dresses, both stood out too. Enjoyed this, but perhaps admired it more than I enjoyed it.
Rewatched Disney's Pinocchio. Child-trafficking body horror movie, you know, for kids. The animation is very creative. Story's a little all over the place, but at least it has a happier ending than the original book (in which Pinocchio gets hanged).
