Well, friends, I have been listening to Phantom of the Opera and reading Harrow the Ninth, so that’s how I’m doing. Like, in case you were curious. I love these two things so much it hurts me, but especially I love Harrow the Ninth. If you haven’t read Gideon the Ninth yet, can I highly recommend that you hop to it before Harrow comes out this summer? You will not be sorry. You will rejoice in having done so. Be blessed.
I miss Grantland all the time, but I’m so glad The Ringer exists. Here’s a terrific piece on how The Bachelor became a pipeline for social media influencers.
A wonderful profile of NK Jemisin, one of the most amazing SFF authors currently working.
Cancel culture is chaotic good (with some history and context).
“It’s like the Hunger Games, but dangerous.” How to not get murdered if you find yourself in an English murder village.
Here’s a guide to protecting your security online.
Myriam Gurba, on the death threats you’ll receive when you challenge white supremacy. And Patrice Caldwell on how publishing continues to shut out the voices of people of color, to the benefit of books like American Dirt. And David Bowles on the whiteness and brokenness of the publishing industry.
And yes, to answer your next question: The publishing industry remains very, very white.
The British royal family has a massive online fandom. It is now in turmoil.
Marginalized people can tell true authentic stories that in aggregate contribute to dominant cultural narratives that are harmful. This is because the culture chooses which marginalized voices and stories to uplift.
Men have talked us to death about the sex they’ve had with women, but they have said very little about the abortions they did or didn’t pay for.
Here’s Evette Dione on Kobe Bryant and his complicated legacy.
How did fingers get their names in all different languages? Today is a good day to find out! (Also, this is your semiannual reminder that if you are ever in a kidnapping situation and the bad guys are going to cut off one of your fingers to show your family that they mean business, and they let you choose which finger, you should choose the index finger on your nondominant hand. You need the other fingers for gripping stuff, but your middle finger makes a pretty good substitute index finger.)
Happy weekend, friends! I hope yours is calm and peaceful, or if not that then I hope it’s full of reading Gideon the Ninth and shrieking in giddy glee as you read.