Mike Chen
@mikechenwriter.bsky.social
NYT Bestselling Author
Dabbles in time travel and vampires, Star Wars and Star Trek, novels and comics. Former NHL guy. Friend of dogs.
Next: The Photonic Effect, Star Wars: Low Red Moon
Mikechenwriter on all socials.
Dabbles in time travel and vampires, Star Wars and Star Trek, novels and comics. Former NHL guy. Friend of dogs.
Next: The Photonic Effect, Star Wars: Low Red Moon
Mikechenwriter on all socials.
Pinned
Mike Chen
@mikechenwriter.bsky.social
· Jul 25
The news is out! For fans of underworld stories and the Outlaws video game, Star Wars: Low Red Moon will be loads of fun and have plenty of gut-punching emotional beats as we get to see how ND-5 and Jaylen Vrax became partners. THREAD!
I find my despair-to-righteous-anger swings are faster and faster these days. Right now, I'm in full righteous anger mode, and that also means the importance of coupling joy while waving a middle finger to the world.
So, what brought you joy on the Monday back?
So, what brought you joy on the Monday back?
January 6, 2026 at 1:12 AM
I find my despair-to-righteous-anger swings are faster and faster these days. Right now, I'm in full righteous anger mode, and that also means the importance of coupling joy while waving a middle finger to the world.
So, what brought you joy on the Monday back?
So, what brought you joy on the Monday back?
Reposted by Mike Chen
The Trump administration is slashing routine vaccine recommendations during childhood from 17 to 11 jabs – the biggest change to vaccines yet under the purview of longtime anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr. My latest (currently being updated!)
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
US to slash routine vaccine recommendations for children in major change experts say creates doubt
Jabs to prevent influenza, rotavirus, RSV and other vaccines are no longer fully recommended
www.theguardian.com
January 5, 2026 at 8:28 PM
The Trump administration is slashing routine vaccine recommendations during childhood from 17 to 11 jabs – the biggest change to vaccines yet under the purview of longtime anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy Jr. My latest (currently being updated!)
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
Quick reminders that:
-Eric Johnson (Jaylen)/Jay Rincon (ND-5) narrate the audiobook
-US preorders across formats qualify for signed bookplates here: readstarwars.com/lrm-preorder
-Join me and @kristinbaver.bsky.social in San Francisco for a launch event! www.eventbrite.com/e/mike-chen-...
-Eric Johnson (Jaylen)/Jay Rincon (ND-5) narrate the audiobook
-US preorders across formats qualify for signed bookplates here: readstarwars.com/lrm-preorder
-Join me and @kristinbaver.bsky.social in San Francisco for a launch event! www.eventbrite.com/e/mike-chen-...
First novel of 2026 down. I cannot yet comment on the degree of ass it whips. #StarWars
January 5, 2026 at 5:56 PM
Quick reminders that:
-Eric Johnson (Jaylen)/Jay Rincon (ND-5) narrate the audiobook
-US preorders across formats qualify for signed bookplates here: readstarwars.com/lrm-preorder
-Join me and @kristinbaver.bsky.social in San Francisco for a launch event! www.eventbrite.com/e/mike-chen-...
-Eric Johnson (Jaylen)/Jay Rincon (ND-5) narrate the audiobook
-US preorders across formats qualify for signed bookplates here: readstarwars.com/lrm-preorder
-Join me and @kristinbaver.bsky.social in San Francisco for a launch event! www.eventbrite.com/e/mike-chen-...
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is the perfect balance of heart, theme, action, and character. The English dub is so freaking good with Patrick Stewart as a perfect Lord Yupa.
If you read Star Wars: Brotherhood, Nausicaa was a huge inspiration for Mill Alibeth.
If you read Star Wars: Brotherhood, Nausicaa was a huge inspiration for Mill Alibeth.
In honor of Hayao Miyazaki's birthday, what's your favorite Studio Ghibli film? Doesn't have to be the one you think is "the best," just the one that nestled in your heart. Mine is Howl's Moving Castle.
a painting of howl 's moving castle shows a cloudy night sky
Alt: a pixelated gif of Howl's Castle sitting on a hillside under an evening sky.
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind is the perfect balance of heart, theme, action, and character. The English dub is so freaking good with Patrick Stewart as a perfect Lord Yupa.
If you read Star Wars: Brotherhood, Nausicaa was a huge inspiration for Mill Alibeth.
If you read Star Wars: Brotherhood, Nausicaa was a huge inspiration for Mill Alibeth.
Reposted by Mike Chen
This is also the issue with ChatGPT/all LLMs. I heard someone describe it as Robo-Smithers and I can't look at it the same way since
there is a subtle and persistent mental warping effect that occurs when you have 30 to 500 people agreeing with your every opinion no matter what it is
January 4, 2026 at 10:41 PM
This is also the issue with ChatGPT/all LLMs. I heard someone describe it as Robo-Smithers and I can't look at it the same way since
When the people "playing" guitar aren't even trying to mime the correct chords. It's really petty but it bugs the fuck out of me.
#FilmSky, a quick question; what is the pettiest thing you have had to be annoyed at a film? I ask because I am watching The Gift from 2000, and the main character does divination with Zener Cards, which are not the same thing as Tarot at all. Why go for a more boring looking option?
January 5, 2026 at 5:07 AM
When the people "playing" guitar aren't even trying to mime the correct chords. It's really petty but it bugs the fuck out of me.
Sports people on this app are expressing disbelief but apparently they were watching something other than Canada blow the WJC semifinal game?
January 5, 2026 at 4:48 AM
Sports people on this app are expressing disbelief but apparently they were watching something other than Canada blow the WJC semifinal game?
Reposted by Mike Chen
Reminder
Masks work for flu too
Masks work for flu too
January 5, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Reminder
Masks work for flu too
Masks work for flu too
Reposted by Mike Chen
From yesterday, but if you haven't called yet, please do it tonight. Leave a message. Just call.
Call your reps + please read the thread. Do it now, please.
Script.
Script.
January 4, 2026 at 11:21 PM
From yesterday, but if you haven't called yet, please do it tonight. Leave a message. Just call.
Reposted by Mike Chen
Random House Worlds really stepped up the marketing for @mikechenwriter.bsky.social’s upcoming Star Wars novel:
January 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Random House Worlds really stepped up the marketing for @mikechenwriter.bsky.social’s upcoming Star Wars novel:
Reposted by Mike Chen
Thread.
As the Trump regime tries to finagle its way through the mess they've created, I PLEAD with you to watch what they do, not what they say, and to understand that this is a group of people who have lied their way through life, and changed their stories as soon as a better transaction became clear.
January 4, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Thread.
Why...why would anyone put energy into making a list like this when there's SO MUCH MORE for everyone to deal with right now? Oh my fucking god.
You know you're living the real author's life when you see your book pop up on The Worst & Most Disappointing Novels of 2025 list.
Sigh.
Sigh.
January 4, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Why...why would anyone put energy into making a list like this when there's SO MUCH MORE for everyone to deal with right now? Oh my fucking god.
Reposted by Mike Chen
All of this has a “Mission Accomplished” feel, and like that precedent, will be seen and evaluated through the prism of what happens over the next few months, not this weekend’s moment of self proclaimed triumphalism.
January 4, 2026 at 7:05 PM
All of this has a “Mission Accomplished” feel, and like that precedent, will be seen and evaluated through the prism of what happens over the next few months, not this weekend’s moment of self proclaimed triumphalism.
Reposted by Mike Chen
So it increasingly appears Trump just made up the idea that he was in charge of Venezuela. Made it up. Confabulated it. Confirming he is not aware of what is happening around him, and should no longer be in this job. Can't walk this one back peeps.
Yeah, people are fixating on a Cabinet Secretary being given a sovereign country to run because the president waged war without congressional approval and kidnapped the old leader. Weird that they’d get hung up on that.
WELKER: Mr. Secretary, are you running Venezuela right now?
MARCO RUBIO: Yeah. People are fixating on that. Here's the bottom line -- we expect to see changes in Venezuela
MARCO RUBIO: Yeah. People are fixating on that. Here's the bottom line -- we expect to see changes in Venezuela
January 4, 2026 at 3:41 PM
So it increasingly appears Trump just made up the idea that he was in charge of Venezuela. Made it up. Confabulated it. Confirming he is not aware of what is happening around him, and should no longer be in this job. Can't walk this one back peeps.
A friendly reminder that anywhere on the spectrum of passive nihilism >> doomerism is an automatic mute or block from me. To quote Springer from Transformers: The Movie, "I got better things to do tonight than die." Take that shit elsewhere.
January 4, 2026 at 5:54 AM
A friendly reminder that anywhere on the spectrum of passive nihilism >> doomerism is an automatic mute or block from me. To quote Springer from Transformers: The Movie, "I got better things to do tonight than die." Take that shit elsewhere.
Reposted by Mike Chen
This is a question worth asking and thinking about.
I saw so many deliberately contrarian small accounts today that seemed hellbent on sewing dissent in every single discussion thread, and it struck me that Bluesky probably has no idea just how many bots and disruptive foreign actors are running around here.
January 4, 2026 at 4:24 AM
This is a question worth asking and thinking about.
Reposted by Mike Chen
contrarian.substack.com/p/we-toppled... sharp analysis
We Toppled Venezuela for Oil: Trump Just Told Us So
The president admitted the crude part of his attack.
contrarian.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 4:45 AM
contrarian.substack.com/p/we-toppled... sharp analysis
Reposted by Mike Chen
It seems to me that democracy is kind of like Tinkerbell. We simply all have to clap our hands and believe that democracy is real, and it will be real. But if we al decide it won't work, it won't.
January 4, 2026 at 3:03 AM
It seems to me that democracy is kind of like Tinkerbell. We simply all have to clap our hands and believe that democracy is real, and it will be real. But if we al decide it won't work, it won't.
Reposted by Mike Chen
My attitude on this is that I'm not calling them because I think I can change their minds.
I'm calling them because it is unthinkable to let them do this without hearing how evil and awful they are.
My spite powers me. If I can get just 500 people a day to join me, we could fuck up their day.
I'm calling them because it is unthinkable to let them do this without hearing how evil and awful they are.
My spite powers me. If I can get just 500 people a day to join me, we could fuck up their day.
I call Tommy Tuberville every fucking week, multiple times a week, because he can be evil but I don't have to let him do it without pushback.
So I don't need to hear excuses. I call the dumbest senator in the country. 😂
So I don't need to hear excuses. I call the dumbest senator in the country. 😂
January 3, 2026 at 7:03 PM
My attitude on this is that I'm not calling them because I think I can change their minds.
I'm calling them because it is unthinkable to let them do this without hearing how evil and awful they are.
My spite powers me. If I can get just 500 people a day to join me, we could fuck up their day.
I'm calling them because it is unthinkable to let them do this without hearing how evil and awful they are.
My spite powers me. If I can get just 500 people a day to join me, we could fuck up their day.
Reposted by Mike Chen
Look, after what happened on CBS tonight + Semafor's reporting about NYT and WaPo?
I'm putting this out there again. Publishing friends, so many of you have been so great about this - I'd appreciate another boost.
Because I'm worried. 😕
I'm putting this out there again. Publishing friends, so many of you have been so great about this - I'd appreciate another boost.
Because I'm worried. 😕
Also: I've said it before, and I'll say it again:
Publishing, let me write a media literacy book, I am begging you. I keep being told that there's no appetite for this...
But how can there NOT be, when it's an urgent and pressing issue, especially with how we aggregate news + use of AI?
Publishing, let me write a media literacy book, I am begging you. I keep being told that there's no appetite for this...
But how can there NOT be, when it's an urgent and pressing issue, especially with how we aggregate news + use of AI?
January 4, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Look, after what happened on CBS tonight + Semafor's reporting about NYT and WaPo?
I'm putting this out there again. Publishing friends, so many of you have been so great about this - I'd appreciate another boost.
Because I'm worried. 😕
I'm putting this out there again. Publishing friends, so many of you have been so great about this - I'd appreciate another boost.
Because I'm worried. 😕
Reposted by Mike Chen
Boosting my call script again, since I think some people are only catching the second post, which is call tips.
Call your reps + please read the thread. Do it now, please.
Script.
Script.
January 4, 2026 at 2:52 AM
Boosting my call script again, since I think some people are only catching the second post, which is call tips.
Friendly reminder that W's Iraq invasion had 65% bipartisan approval when it started, even with debate about whether or not Saddam Hussein actually had WMDs. So the fact that this can't even crack 60% within the GOP is telling. 60% own-party support would typically kill a policy immediately.
Jan 3 poll of 1,902 U.S. adults (+/-2.8 points)
% who support | oppose the U.S. running Venezuela following the U.S. military's capture of President Nicolás Maduro
U.S. adults 34% | 41%
Democrats 16% | 64%
Independents 26% | 43%
Republicans 60% | 16%
today.yougov.com/topics/polit...
% who support | oppose the U.S. running Venezuela following the U.S. military's capture of President Nicolás Maduro
U.S. adults 34% | 41%
Democrats 16% | 64%
Independents 26% | 43%
Republicans 60% | 16%
today.yougov.com/topics/polit...
January 4, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Friendly reminder that W's Iraq invasion had 65% bipartisan approval when it started, even with debate about whether or not Saddam Hussein actually had WMDs. So the fact that this can't even crack 60% within the GOP is telling. 60% own-party support would typically kill a policy immediately.
Reposted by Mike Chen
love it when someone’s response to “call your reps” is: no. i’m not going to bc my rep should be able to read my mind and/or be perfect in every way. since they are incapable of either, i quit.
smh. grow up already, ffs.
smh. grow up already, ffs.
January 4, 2026 at 12:34 AM
love it when someone’s response to “call your reps” is: no. i’m not going to bc my rep should be able to read my mind and/or be perfect in every way. since they are incapable of either, i quit.
smh. grow up already, ffs.
smh. grow up already, ffs.
I'm apologizing in advance because apparently we're not easing into 2026's fuckery but I also have February 3rd and April 21st book launches to promote. Sorry for the emotional whiplash of "let's take constructive political action against fascism" vs "buy my book, here's some fun easter eggs"
January 4, 2026 at 12:10 AM
I'm apologizing in advance because apparently we're not easing into 2026's fuckery but I also have February 3rd and April 21st book launches to promote. Sorry for the emotional whiplash of "let's take constructive political action against fascism" vs "buy my book, here's some fun easter eggs"
Reposted by Mike Chen
I'm boosting myself to say this:
You're going to see people On Here tell you calling electeds doesn't matter. That's not true.
Some are bots. Some are people who like being contrary to be edgy.
But calling moves the needle, especially against a blatantly illegal act by Trump and Co. ACT.
You're going to see people On Here tell you calling electeds doesn't matter. That's not true.
Some are bots. Some are people who like being contrary to be edgy.
But calling moves the needle, especially against a blatantly illegal act by Trump and Co. ACT.
Candid answer - as someone who handled constituent affairs calls for years - while they’re not checking the phone right now, the urgency of the moment is important.
Show them you care enough to make the weekend call, and be counted that way. Staffers will clock and report this upstream.
Show them you care enough to make the weekend call, and be counted that way. Staffers will clock and report this upstream.
Is there actually a benefit to leaving a VM now vs getting a staffer on Monday? Can do both but just curious
January 3, 2026 at 10:48 PM
I'm boosting myself to say this:
You're going to see people On Here tell you calling electeds doesn't matter. That's not true.
Some are bots. Some are people who like being contrary to be edgy.
But calling moves the needle, especially against a blatantly illegal act by Trump and Co. ACT.
You're going to see people On Here tell you calling electeds doesn't matter. That's not true.
Some are bots. Some are people who like being contrary to be edgy.
But calling moves the needle, especially against a blatantly illegal act by Trump and Co. ACT.