@micaiahjohnson.bsky.social
Author. Scholar. Enthusiast of ancient robots and overweight rodents. The Space Between Worlds and Those Beyond the Wall available now. The Unhaunting out this Fall. Yes, a Dr. No, not that kind.
@erininthemorning.comReposted by @micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialJust a reminder that when Dems turn against trans people for power, it's also a reminder that they'll do other things for power that you might not like too, such as supporting billionaires.
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialYessss Simon Jimenez!! NK Jemisin also uses it really effectively (in a Calvino/ People of Paper way, where it’s one POV in a novel with others) but of course she does.
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialIt’s exactly that. 1st can deliver emotional intimacy (or deny it in interesting ways) but if you’re reading a bunch of flat characters maybe people are beginning to associate 1st person with those failures? Like what they really dislike is badly written protagonists and that is more obvious in 1st?
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.sociallol bad choose your own adventure exactly! It’s hard for 2nd to pass beyond “gimmick.” I hadn’t noticed the “adult” reference, but you’re right! It’s weird. Generally, I think of Dr. Cottom as one of the clearer thinkers of our time, but this is admittedly a niche thing I’m just VERY FOCUSED ON lol
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialRight? Like bad 1st person sucks. So does bad 3rd. Bad writing isn’t good; POV is just one element it’s possible to fail at, but probably something else is also going wrong if “this POV is bad” is happening? (Arguably the “when it’s bad it’s soooo bad” award would go to 2nd person.)
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialChosen and the Beautiful and Piranesi are both unambiguously genre. Is it books that use 1st but don’t do anything with it? 1st makes different promise with the reader than 3rd. It’s a POV in which kinda-flat protagonists become GLARINGLY BAD, but all POVs their own version of this failure point.
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.social(For transparency’s sake, scope/theme/desired effect is the VERY loose rubric I run through when choosing a POV. My first two published books were 1st, my second 2 published books will be mostly 3rd, my fifth maybe 1st again?)
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialCouldn’t agree with 1 and 3 more. Re: 2, my fav books recently (Chosen & the Beautiful, Piranesi, much of The Dissappearers, James) are 1st person so there’s something about these POV complaints that I’m missing. Is there a specific trend within 1st Person people don’t like? WHAT AM I MISSING?
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialAwwwww thank you, Love! 💜💜💜
@lisacowanpineo.bsky.socialReposted by @micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialBlack Speculative Fiction Month invites readers to view Black characters at the heart of imaginative narratives. Here are YA and adult books by Black authors writing speculative fiction.
Book lists in ALT text.
#blackspeculativefictionweek #blackspeculativefiction #bipocbooks #blackauthors #booksky
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialIf you like free books, elaborate costumes, and my smiling face you can get all three at once tomorrow at @newyorkcomiccon.bsky.social !!
@usmantm.bsky.socialReposted by @micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialElise Tobler, editor of the fabled SHIMMER magazine and now THE DEADLANDS is hospitalized after cancer and an infection. She made SFF an inclusive, interesting place and broke out many authors.
Help if u can
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialCan’t believe tomorrow The Center for Fiction in Brooklyn is giving me and P. Djèlí Clark microphones to yap to our hearts’ content about books, history, and writing. Hope to see you there (or sense your presence virtually).
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.social💜💜💜💜💜💜💜
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialThank you for these kind words. I am so sorry for your loss, and all our losses that continue to stay 💜
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialHappy Publication Day to The Unhaunting and to me!
It’s actually a dual publication day because in the dead of night I put out this month’s My Favorite Thing. It is depressing, has nothing to do with the book, and probably too personal but it was in my brain:
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialDid I wait until nearly the end of September to write this month's "My Favorite Thing" because the subject made me cry? Yes. Am I posting it at midnight when everyone is asleep because I am a coward? Also yes. Bon Appétit!
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialI mean, maybe he wants to go all the way. He’s not stopping until he’s in an ACME/Coyote style tire explosion.
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.social“Pop” is definitely a failure point of that particular device, (though the success point of the other).
@micaiahjohnson.bsky.socialI would LOVE to be sent to Ireland, and am hoping 2027 will be the year! ( @sarahreesbrennan.bsky.social makes a COMPELLING case for more writers to head out that way and I have been very persuaded).
