Gus Ryer

@gusryer.bsky.social

175 Followers 84 Following

Reader, writer, tinkerer. Querying CASCADE- far-future SF w/ nanotech, ancient gods, & hidden history. Also LIFT, space elevator derring-do. gusryer.com He/him #AmQuerying

A page from Toilers of the Sea, by Victor Hugo. The excerpt discusses sea urchins, with the following line highlighted: "...whose mouth is known, for some unknown reason, as Aristotle's lantern..."
A pair of swing top glass jars filled with cucumbers- one whole and one sliced- along with dill flower, garlic, and onion.
A black hole spirals in the distance, a fiery trail of material getting sucked into it from across the image. Approaching is a circular, doughnut-like spaceship or station. The title LANE BREAKERS runs along the bottom, the second word highlighted in bright purple and appearing to fall off the edge. A red ALERT box connected to the ship says 'Now Querying', and the wormhole is labeled 'Taurine Strait'
A giant spaceship hovers over a dusty, walled fantasy cityscape. In the foreground, two figures stand in shadow looking out over the scene. The words "An Agent's Guide to CASCADE, by Gus Ryer" is along the top. His website, gusryer.com, is below.
A black hole spirals in the distance, a fiery trail of material getting sucked into it from across the image. Approaching is a circular, doughnut-like spaceship or station. The title LANE BREAKERS runs along the bottom, the second word highlighted in bright purple and appearing to fall off the edge. A red ALERT box connected to the ship says 'Now Querying', and the wormhole is labeled 'Taurine Strait'
A black hole spirals in the distance, a fiery trail of material getting sucked into it from across the image. Approaching is a circular, doughnut-like spaceship or station. The title LANE BREAKERS runs along the bottom, the second word highlighted in bright purple and appearing to fall off the edge. A red ALERT box connected to the ship says 'Now Querying', and the wormhole is labeled 'Taurine Strait'
Toilers of the Sea, by Victor Hugo against the backdrop of a sandy beach. The cover shows a wind and sea-battered rock.
From a paperback book: Grace, a pretty and coquettish girl, kept scanning the horizon with the watchfulness of a cat: like Douce, she had a gallant, but also, it was said, a husband, a seaman whose return she dreaded. But that is none of our business.
Some deliciously crispy fried chicken on a paper towel. oil bubbling in a cast iron pot in the background.
A hand holds a copy of Toilers of the Sea, by Victor Hugo against the backdrop of a sandy beach. The cover shows a wind and sea-battered rock.
Audible book cover for TREAD OF ANGELS, by Rebecca Roanhorse. A golden feather falls across the title, itself surrounded by gold filigree.
Penguin Classics cover for Moby-Dick, or, The Whale, by Herman Melville. A wood-block style image of a sperm whale breaching the sea, water streaming off it in ribbons as light shines off it like a holy thing.
A hand holds a copy of THE CRYING OF LOT 49, by Thomas Pynchon against the backdrop of a cluttered bookshelf. The title is spray painted with n stencils over a painting of a figure looking at a distant billboard that displays a brass horn.
Audible cover for DEATH OF THE AUTHOR, by Nnedi Okorafor. The title is laid over the image of a Black woman in profile. She looks to the left against a background of orange and teal Ankara cloth in a pattern of microchips.
An obviously edited tweet from Pope Leo XIV: Dear everyone, you need Gus' book, LANEBREAKERS, his narrative creativity and, frankly, unhinged thinking. We need books like his on our bookshelves and in our Kindle/audiobook libraries within which diving grace can make the promise of consolation and peace resound.
A black-and-white sketch of an older woman with attitude against the backdrop of swirling stars. She's smoking and holds a pink and purple glowing martini in one hand, and she has a brace on her propped-up leg. The title LANEBREAKERS leans along the top of the image in gold and neon pink. A tagline reads, "She's waited eighty years for the heist of a lifetime."
A hand holds a copy of THE CRYING OF LOT 49, by Thomas Pynchon. The title is spray painted with n stencils over a painting of a figure looking at a distant billboard that displays a bugle.
A hand holds a copy of THE GREAT WORK, by Sheldon Costa against the backdrop of a bookshelf. Mystic symbols in gold decorate its edges, while a pale salamander with blazing eyes stares out from a collection of colorful plants and tangled bones.
Audible cover showing the novel DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL. A man in a leather jacket runs away from a spiked tank crewed by a green goblin. A white cat follows behind.
Four books arranged like polaroid pictures next to a mountainscape with blooming purple flowers. The Month's Reads, April/May 2026: Dawn, Octavia E. Butler Swirling reds, oranges, and teal, seeming like abstracted flowing fabric, partially obscures the profile of a young Black woman. Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry A cowboy with white hair and hat sits astride a white horse, looking away from a woman standing nearby in front of what looks like a small tipi. In the background, melting into the dust, is a cattle drive. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, Stephen Graham Jones A buffalo’s head and shoulders appear from the side of the cover, and the title is in bright crimson. Outlaw Planet, M. R. Carey A lone figure with a billowing coat strides across a desert flanked by red cliffs. A sun sets in the distance, and the sky fades to stars.
AudiobookShelf screenshot showing the novel DUNGEON CRAWLER CARL, by Matt Dinniman. A man in a leather jacket runs away from a spiked tank crewed by a green goblin. A white cat follows behind.
Audible image for THE WAGER, by David Grann: A tale of shipwreck, mutiny, and murder. Read by Dion Graham. A man of war ship, sails reefed, is tossed about in a stormy sea. Rocks loom in the distance.
Audible cover for OUTLAW PLANET, by M. R. Carey. A lone figure with a billowing coat strides across a desert flanked by red cliffs. A sun sets in the distance, and the sky fades to stars.
A hand holds a copy of THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER, by Stephen Graham Jones against a backdrop of a crowded bookshelf. On it, a buffalo’s head and shoulders appear from the side of the cover, and the title is in bright crimson.
Title image of The Return of the Obra Dinn. In a sketched monochrome, a silhouetted tall ship sits on a still sea surrounded by moonlight.
A hand holds a paperback copy of WE, THE DROWNED, by Carsten Jensen. In a woodblock style and as if the pupil of an eye, a tall ship sails on a wavy sea surrounded by large, swirling waves.
Audible cover for Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry. A cowboy with white hair and hat sits astride a white horse, looking away from a woman standing nearby in front of what looks like a small tipi. In the background, melting into the dust, is a cattle drive.
A hand holds a small wine glass filled with a golden liquid in front of a bookshelf as if in cheers, filled with books and knickknacks. A lemon peel perches on its rim.
A giant spaceship hovers over a dusty, walled fantasy cityscape. In the foreground, two figures stand in shadow looking out over the scene. The words "An Agent's Guide to CASCADE, by Gus Ryer" is along the top. His website, gusryer.com, is below.
A black hole spirals in the distance, a fiery trail of material getting sucked into it from across the image. Approaching is a circular, doughnut-like spaceship or station. The title LANE BREAKERS runs along the bottom, the second word highlighted in bright purple and appearing to fall off the edge. A red ALERT box connected to the ship says 'Soon to be Querying', and the wormhole is labeled 'Taurine Strait'
A giant spaceship hovers over a dusty, walled fantasy cityscape. In the foreground, two figures stand in shadow looking out over the scene. The words "An Agent's Guide to CASCADE, by Gus Ryer" is along the top. His website, gusryer.com, is below.
A black hole spirals in the distance, a fiery trail of material getting sucked into it from across the image. Approaching is a circular, doughnut-like spaceship or station. The title LANE BREAKERS runs along the bottom, the second word highlighted in bright purple and appearing to fall off the edge. A red ALERT box connected to the ship says 'Soon to be Querying', and the wormhole is labeled 'Taurine Strait'
Robert Stack, from Unsolved Mysteries, in what appears to a gloomy basement, approaches the viewer and says, "Join me. Perhaps we can get some agent and/or editor likes."
A spaceship flies, low, over a rocky plain, a towering city with earthen walls in the distance. A large moon looms overhead, and two figures stand silhouetted in the foreground near a low hut: one holding a spear, and one an upraised and defiant sword. Fake accolades adorn the top of the image as in a movie posted, and the tagline: THE GODS ARE BACK AND THEY WANT YOUR PLANET runs along the city wall. The title, CASCADE, sits at the bottom just over fake movie credits.
A hand holds a small wineglass filled with a dark amber liquid. A lime wedge perches on the rim. A garden at night is in the background.
A black-and-white sketch of an older lady with attitude against the backdrop of swirling stars. She's smoking and holds a pink and purple glowing martini in one hand, and she has a brace on her propped-up leg. The title LANEBREAKERS leans along the top of the image in gold and neon pink. A tagline reads, "She's waited eighty years for the heist of a lifetime." Fake movie credits line the bottom of the image along with a notice that it's coming to query trenches this spring.
A spaceship flies, low, over a rocky plain, a towering city with earthen walls in the distance. A large moon looms overhead, and two figures stand silhouetted in the foreground near a low hut: one holding a spear, and one an upraised and defiant sword. Fake accolades adorn the top of the image as in a movie posted, and the tagline: THE GODS ARE BACK AND THEY WANT YOUR PLANET runs along the city wall. The title, CASCADE, sits at the bottom just over fake movie credits.
A black-and-white sketch of an older lady with attitude against the backdrop of swirling stars. She's smoking and holds a pink and purple glowing martini in one hand, and she has a brace on her propped-up leg. The title LANEBREAKERS leans along the top of the image in gold and neon pink. A tagline reads, "She's waited eighty years for the heist of a lifetime." Fake movie credits line the bottom of the image along with a notice that it's coming to query trenches this spring.
A hand holds a copy of THE BUFFALO HUNTER HUNTER, by Stephen Graham Jones against a backdrop of early spring blooms. On it, a buffalo’s head and shoulders appear from the side of the cover, and the title is in bright crimson.
A black hole spirals in the distance, a fiery trail of material getting sucked into it from across the image. Approaching is a circular, doughnut-like spaceship or station. The title LANE BREAKERS runs along the bottom, the second word highlighted in bright purple and appearing to fall off the edge.
On the left, the name Desdemona 'Dez' Skene sits above the following information: Age: 81 Occupation: Traffic Controller, Taurine Strait Wormhole Work History: Petty crime, insurance fraud, freightline pilot, race manager, gambler Personal Life: She won't say Hobbies: Gambling, drinking, wishing she could escape this hellhole of a station To the right, an old white woman with a deeply-lined face sits in some kind of control room, a screen of orange vectors behind her. She wears a brown bomber jacket, a green worksuit, and has a brace on her left leg. Her short hair is pushed upward by a pair of goggles, and a cigarette hangs from her mouth. She's holding a martini with two olives in one hand and looks annoyed that you've bothered her. In a red outline with exclamation point are the words RECCOMENDATION: TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT
A black hole spirals in the distance, a fiery trail of material getting sucked into it from across the image. Approaching is a circular, doughnut-like spaceship or station. The title LANE BREAKERS runs along the bottom, the second word highlighted in bright purple and appearing to fall off the edge.
On the left, the name Desdemona 'Dez' Skene sits above the following information: Age: 81 Occupation: Traffic Controller, Taurine Strait Wormhole Work History: Petty crime, insurance fraud, freightline pilot, race manager, gambler Personal Life: She won't say Hobbies: Gambling, drinking, wishing she could escape this hellhole of a station To the right, an old white woman with a deeply-lined face sits in some kind of control room, a screen of orange vectors behind her. She wears a brown bomber jacket, a green worksuit, and has a brace on her left leg. Her short hair is pushed upward by a pair of goggles, and a cigarette hangs from her mouth. She's holding a martini with two olives in one hand and looks annoyed that you've bothered her. In a red outline with exclamation point are the words RECCOMENDATION: TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT
A black hole spirals in the distance, a fiery trail of material getting sucked into it from across the image. Approaching is a circular, doughnut-like spaceship or station. The title LANE BREAKERS runs along the bottom, the second word highlighted in bright purple and appearing to fall off the edge.
On the left, the name Desdemona 'Dez' Skene sits above the following information: Age: 81 Occupation: Traffic Controller, Taurine Strait Wormhole Work History: Petty crime, insurance fraud, freightline pilot, race manager, gambler Personal Life: She won't say Hobbies: Gambling, drinking, wishing she could escape this hellhole of a station To the right, an old white woman with a deeply-lined face sits in some kind of control room, a screen of orange vectors behind her. She wears a brown bomber jacket, a green worksuit, and has a brace on her left leg. Her short hair is pushed upward by a pair of goggles, and a cigarette hangs from her mouth. She's holding a martini with two olives in one hand and looks annoyed that you've bothered her. In a red outline with exclamation point are the words RECCOMENDATION: TERMINATE EMPLOYMENT
A striped cat stretches out, upside down, on a cream-colored office chair, paws in the air
Book cover for Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. A painted scene of a medieval fair, where a young squire in yellow passes a mounted knight a lance.
A black hole spirals in the distance, a fiery trail of material getting sucked into it from across the image. Approaching is a circular, doughnut-like spaceship or station. The title LANE BREAKERS runs along the bottom, the second word highlighted in bright purple and appearing to fall off the edge.
An old white woman with a deeply-lined face sits in some kind of control room, a screen of orange vectors behind her. She wears a brown bomber jacket, a green worksuit, and has a brace on her left leg. Her short hair is pushed upward by a pair of goggles, and a cigarette hangs from her mouth. She's holding a martini with two olives in one hand and looks annoyed that you've bothered her.
A grid of book covers labeled The Month's Reads: March 2026. Project Hail Mary Andy Weir An astronaut trailing a rope tether falls from a backdrop of gold into blackness. The Great River, Boyce Upholt A map of a section of the Mississippi River with its various floodzones and wetlands shaded in various colors. The river itself winds behind and through the title of the book. Too Cursed to Kiss, J. Morgyn White A pair of shadowy hands within a golden, filigreed frame holds a pearlescent orb. When the Moon Hits Your Eye, John Scalzi An astronaut stands on the moon (which looks to be made of yellow cheese), leaning back while giving space the middle finger. Untethered Sky, Fonda Lee A woman in a reddish shirt and tan skirt stands upon an ornate chariot. Above her, and enormous bird of prey blots out most of the sky, except for dramatically lit clouds.
A pale yellow cocktail rests in a slim wineglass with a lemon twist. It sits on a wooden table with a horse lamp and an old fashioned typewriter
Audiobook cover for DAWN, by Octavia E Butler (a Lilith's Brood Novel). Swirling reds, oranges, and teal, seeming like abstracted flowing fabric, partially obscures the profile of a young Black woman.
A book holds a copy of UNTETHERED SKY, by Fonda Lee against the backdrop of a bookshelf (upon which a fake white owl perches). On the book cover, a woman in a reddish shirt and tan skirt stands upon an ornate chariot. Above her, and enormous bird of prey blots out most of the sky, except for dramatically lit clouds.
Audible cover for WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE, by John Scalzi. An astronaut stands on the moon (which looks to be made of yellow cheese), leaning back while giving space the middle finger
A hand holds a copy of TOO CURSED TO KISS, by J. Morgyn White, against the backdrop of a bookshelf. On the cover, a pair of shadowy hands within a golden, filigreed frame holds a pearlescent orb.
A small wooden boat model sits on a table and is sniffed by a cat with green eyes.
THE GREAT RIVER: THE MAKING AND UNMAKING OF THE MISSISSIPPI, by Boyce Upholt. A map of a section of the Mississippi River with its various floodzones and wetlands shaded in various colors. The river itself winds behind and through the title of the book.
A glass with a pale amber liquid rests in a small wooden table. Beside it is an old fashioned typewriter and a small lamp with a pair of horses.
A hand holds a book against the backdrop of a bookshelf. A distorted, smoky silhouette of a bull, or other cattle's, head. The Táin: From the Irish Epic Táin Bó Cúailnge. Translated by Thomas Kinsella