J.D. Moyer

science fiction author, beatmaker, against fascism

The Portishead Tunnel (Biolibertas)

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On July 1, 2026

In Creative Work/Career, Fiction Writing

For my current novel-in-progress “Saint Arcology”, I made up a Latin-y word, Biolibertas, to refer to a philosophical/civilizational movement towards increased freedom via intentional biology. In this world, both humans and artificial sentient entities pursue freedom from the economic chains of poorly regulated capitalism by taking advantage of enhanced biological capabilities and specialized engineered organisms and symbiotes (enabling human photosynthesis, regeneration, reverse-aging, biologically created housing structures, etc.).

(To my half-dozen or so fiction fans who’ve done a deep dive into my N.E.N.T. theory of everything, this corresponds to the Gensynth evolutionary layer.)

I’ve been toiling away, developing characters and stories around these ideas, for years now (two-and-half yet-to-be published novels worth). But we’ve had a breakthrough! LaShawn Wanak, editor of the esteemed GigaNotoSaurus web magazine (and also author), saw some value in my recent novelette “The Portishead Tunnel,” and picked it up. It’s live as of today, and free to read.

Also, a huge thanks to Beth Dawkins who provided some early, extremely helpful feedback on this story.

Read The Portishead Tunnel on GigaNotoSaurus.

It’s a long one! Hope you enjoy.

Cultivating Boredom

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On June 19, 2026

In Mental Health, Metaprogramming, Personal Updates

New rule for self, as of today: no news, Reddit, YouTube, chess, social media, scrolling, or entertainment of any kind during weekdays (with exceptions for being outside walking–I don’t want to quit Pokemon GO).

It’s not that these activities are inherently bad, or even that they take up time, attention, energy, and willpower (though they certainly do). The main issue–at least for me–is that the endless entertainment and distraction made available via the internet too easily satisfies my mind’s constant need for novelty and stimulation.

So I’m never bored, or even close to bored. And that’s a problem.

When I’m bored or close to bored, the creative hallucinations set in. That’s what I want! The endless stream of ideas, both good and bad, that results from my mind trying to entertain itself.

As well as the desire to get up and move, even if it’s just to do chores or take a walk.

In the past I’ve tried rationing screen time, or setting up timers that block certain sites after x amount of minutes. But that never works. What I need is a simple rule, a commitment, that changes my mindset.

And I think understanding my why will help.

Wish me luck and perseverance!

New Story Acceptance

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On June 6, 2026

In Creative Work/Career, Fiction Writing

I’m excited to announce that my novelette The Portishead Tunnel will be published by GigaNotoSaurus on or around July 1st. LaShawn M. Wanak’s esteemed zine of long short fiction is one of the few publications to accept submissions of the awkward lengths where my stories often end up, and I’m extremely pleased that she’s pickup this one up.

The Portishead Tunnel will be the first published fiction in the Saint Arcology world that I’ve now been developing for several years. What happens when progressive eco-radical geneticists go rogue and start engineering anti-capitalistic solutions? This world explores that scenario.

Please visit GigaNotoSaurus for free online reading and/or to load up your e-reader with great fiction, and I’ll update this post when the story goes live.

My Big Weekend

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On June 1, 2026

In Creative Work/Career, Electronic Music, Personal Updates, Writing

My big weekend actually began on Thursday, sitting in the customer lounge of Albany Subaru, calculating how much time I had to finish the first draft of a remix. John Digweed was scheduled to play in San Francisco the following night, and thanks to some networking done by my friend and music collaborator Mark Musselman, we had a channel to get him some tracks. But I hadn’t made much progress on the remix, and it would take something of a miracle to get it into shape. You don’t want to send one of your favorite DJs something half-baked!

But then I remembered my 2026 motto. For the past few years I’ve been doing an annual motto instead of resolutions. A theme for the year, a few words to encapsulate what I’m focusing on or going for or just trying to remember. My 2026 motto is “Swing Big,” and when I remembered that I realized I had to at least try to finish a draft of the remix. Better to swing and miss than to let an easy pitch go by…

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The Present Has Always Moved Fast

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On April 12, 2026

In Personal Updates, Tech

Historian Ada Palmer recently blew my mind with the idea that history has always moved quickly, and that the idea that change has accelerated in modernity (which is taught in both history books and games such as Civilization) is a lie.

My initial reaction was the same as Dwarkesh Patel’s (the interviewer), which was to point out the technological change has obviously accelerated, with AI being a big one. But Palmer has a great counterpoint: we just don’t care about historical technological progress because we take all of it for granted. But in fact big changes were always happening just as quickly: chairs with backs, scissors, advances in metallurgy, new paint pigments, etc.

Maybe her argument breaks down if you go all the way back to the Stone Age. But maybe even then, the discovery of a new medicinal plant, or a new freshwater spring, or a new type of flint tool might have changed everything for a small tribe, and quickly.

What we’ve gotten better at, as a global civilization, is retaining and sharing new knowledge and inventions. If there’s been any acceleration of change (and/or progress), it’s because of that.

Life Updates

  • My kid is touring colleges, and will soon make a decision! Life moves so quickly…
  • I posted my first TikTok (for the new Jondi & Spesh release, throwback to clubbing days at 111 Minna)
  • I’m still writing my second Saint Arcology novel, which takes place in San Francisco, and will in fact be the first in the series (followed by the Mumbai book, which I wrote first). I’m 60k words in, about halfway through the first draft. Progress is slow, but I’m having a blast, and it might even be good.

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