Author of scifi novels Sailor to a Siren & The Wages of Sin: https://nitter.cf/t.co/ifm4vW1AFe. Fencer. Football & cricket. She/her
Joined January 2012
- Tweets54.6K
- Following2.9K
- Followers3K
- Likes362K
Pinned Tweet
New novel: THE WAGES OF SIN - magic, murder and mayhem within a faraway planet's underbelly. bit.ly/WagesOfSin #scifi #spaceopera
Zoë Sumra retweeted
In Fahrenheit 451, the chief book-burner, Captain Beatty, describes how reading became obsolete because the public demanded increasingly fast-paced entertainments, and those entertainments slowly corroded their ability to think. “Books cut shorter. Condensations. Digests, tabloids. Everything boils down to the gag, the snap ending. Classics cut to fit fifteen-minute radio shows, then cut again to fill a two-minute book column … Many were those whose sole knowledge of Hamlet was a one-page digest in a book that claimed, ‘Now at last you can read all the classics.’ … School is shortened, discipline relaxed, philosophies, histories, languages dropped, English and spelling gradually neglected, finally almost completely ignored. Life is immediate, the job counts, pleasure lies all about after work. Why learn anything save pressing buttons, pulling switches?”
In this passage Ray Bradbury foretells the intellectual hollowing out of the working class, the advent of AI-generated “summaries” of classic novels, the attention-frying culture of short-form video, the relaxation of educational standards into non-existence. All of this in a book published in 1953.
Zoë Sumra retweeted
This powerful intelligence can't look at its own theft and figure out what it stole and to whom it owes restitution. Hundreds of writers must pause writing and look it all up for it. It can't simply pay up? So this is the AI we are all impressed with? – at McKenna, WA
Zoë Sumra retweeted
Why can’t hackers do something useful and relatable? Don’t be fucking around with freezers. Hack into Mastercard and wipe out all evidence of spending. Lower the prices at petrol pumps. Shut down Microsoft Teams, or takedown Outlook for 72 hours. Win hearts and minds!
Zoë Sumra retweeted
In light of recent ao3 related events, I have stumbled upon a website that I think authors need to be made aware of.
The website ao3 [DOT] life has been scraping and downloading fics published to ao3 for who knows how long. 🧵
Zoë Sumra retweeted
A reminder that Suella was heavily involved in the £700 million Rwanda plan which resulted in 4 volunteers being deported, backed Liz Truss in the leadership battle and resigned as Home Secretary because of an accidental breach of the ministerial code then sacked during her second go.
Oops.
Blue Planet III has just premiered. So far it's pretty relaxing. Just saying. #AO3 #BluePlanet #BluePlanet3
Zoë Sumra retweeted
if this great ao3 offline fiasco has shown you anything it’s how integral to your joy and fandom experience fic writers are. so make the effort to leave a comment, a kudos, and recommend their stuff at any opportunity. uplift your fellow community members.
Zoë Sumra retweeted
"You're not allowed to make a living with art because it's not a real job."
*spends every evening watching movies and playing games and reading comics*
Zoë Sumra retweeted
The vast majority of artists are working class freelancers, many of which have to hold non-art jobs to pay their bills. The idea that being an artist means you've got an abundance of spare time and money is a complete fabrication. "Starving artist" is a stereotype for a reason.
Zoë Sumra retweeted
I feel like some of yall are losing the plot… THE HISTORY OF FANFICTION IS PASSING STORIES BETWEEN FANS
THE STAR TREK FANDOM, FOUNDERS OF FANFICTION, WOULD TYPE FICS ON THEIR LITTLE TYPEWRITERS, PHOTOCOPY THEM, AND PASS THEM AROUND AT CONS
Zoë Sumra retweeted
Tesco are making £4bn a year in profit.
About 50% of their staff are on Universal Credit.
Why don't we crackdown on this unneeded benefit for billionaires?
Zoë Sumra retweeted
BREAKING: Neuroscientists confirm that ADHD brains struggle with "emotional co-regulation boundaries"—meaning an ADHD parent or child will walk into a room, instantly absorb everyone else’s stress like a sponge, and blow up without realizing the anger wasn't even theirs.
In a house full of neurodivergent brains, emotions are deeply contagious:1/7
Zoë Sumra retweeted
I know thr pro-AI crowd isn't going to like this but if you do not put in the time and effort it takes to learn an artistic skill (draw, paint, animated, write, music) you do NOT deserve to make it, simple as that. It is a human skill that people dedicate their lives to.
