John MacNeill Miller
@snarlsdickens.bsky.social
Writer and former English professor. Author of *The Ecological Plot: How Stories Gave Rise to a Science* (Virginia 2024). Death positive. Interested in animals, environments, and all things Victorian.
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
The James Bond franchise faces a big problem: me, the viewer, has been shot at the start of the movie through the barrel of my gun, and I'm dripping blood over my own eye balls (they're in the gun)
November 11, 2025 at 7:40 PM
The James Bond franchise faces a big problem: me, the viewer, has been shot at the start of the movie through the barrel of my gun, and I'm dripping blood over my own eye balls (they're in the gun)
Ironically, pretending to be knowledgeable about books he hasn’t read is the most relatable thing Elon Musk has ever done
November 11, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Ironically, pretending to be knowledgeable about books he hasn’t read is the most relatable thing Elon Musk has ever done
James Bond exploded into pieces and you don’t know how to keep the series going? Just stitch the dude together using whatever parts you can find. Have you never read Frankenstein?! Have you never read Dog Man?!?!
November 11, 2025 at 7:34 PM
James Bond exploded into pieces and you don’t know how to keep the series going? Just stitch the dude together using whatever parts you can find. Have you never read Frankenstein?! Have you never read Dog Man?!?!
If we lose Shelley, we lose a foundational text for modern thought and a major influence in genres ranging from horror to melodrama to science fiction. But if we lose Austen, we never get the classic 90s film Clueless. In other words, it’s a toss-up
You can only pick one. I’m sorry.
Jane Austen or Mary Shelley
Jane Austen or Mary Shelley
November 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
If we lose Shelley, we lose a foundational text for modern thought and a major influence in genres ranging from horror to melodrama to science fiction. But if we lose Austen, we never get the classic 90s film Clueless. In other words, it’s a toss-up
I like that JCO was like “this man doesn’t read books; he has never experienced love or even fellow-feeling; not even the smallest joys are available to him; he has never even bonded with a pet” and Musk’s reply was “Not true!!!! I’ve read several books!!”
history will ultimately decide this but i think joyce carol oates might have just landed the most devastating burn in human history. like the death star trench run of posting
oh my god
November 10, 2025 at 7:55 PM
I like that JCO was like “this man doesn’t read books; he has never experienced love or even fellow-feeling; not even the smallest joys are available to him; he has never even bonded with a pet” and Musk’s reply was “Not true!!!! I’ve read several books!!”
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
November 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
Okay, here are some first reflections on Watson.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
November 8, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Okay, here are some first reflections on Watson.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
Stochastic Book Fair
November 7, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Stochastic Book Fair
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
Bookplate illustration for @cadaverformosus.bsky.social with a special thanks to @colindickey.com.
November 7, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Bookplate illustration for @cadaverformosus.bsky.social with a special thanks to @colindickey.com.
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
you hear about how Ithaca is gorges, but less about all the _caves_ at Cornell.
November 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
you hear about how Ithaca is gorges, but less about all the _caves_ at Cornell.
Thrilled to learn about this review in Choice! “The Ecological Plot serves as a model for interdisciplinary writing. Miller's prose is clear and highly engaging…This book (Miller's first) represents a highly important contribution to the environmental humanities. Summing Up: Highly recommended.”
November 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Thrilled to learn about this review in Choice! “The Ecological Plot serves as a model for interdisciplinary writing. Miller's prose is clear and highly engaging…This book (Miller's first) represents a highly important contribution to the environmental humanities. Summing Up: Highly recommended.”
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
An ongoing thread of short story collections coming in 2026, of work weird/surreal/dark/uncanny/unsettling/ghostly/ghastly, across genres, so that they're all in one place that I can refer back to when I inevitably forget what books I was meaning to request review copies of:
October 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
An ongoing thread of short story collections coming in 2026, of work weird/surreal/dark/uncanny/unsettling/ghostly/ghastly, across genres, so that they're all in one place that I can refer back to when I inevitably forget what books I was meaning to request review copies of:
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
I’m trying to write and suffering a terrible case of essayist incontinence (“we”-ing all over the place)
November 4, 2025 at 6:43 PM
I’m trying to write and suffering a terrible case of essayist incontinence (“we”-ing all over the place)
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
Now I understand 67. This morning the clock said 6 and my body knew it was 7.
November 2, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Now I understand 67. This morning the clock said 6 and my body knew it was 7.
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
[stomp stomp clap
stomp stomp clap
stomp stomp clap
stomp stomp clap]
Ozy you're a boy, makin' big works
Visage in the sand, gonna be a big MANdias
A cold sneer on your face
shattered remains
Nothin' but sand all 'round the decay
singin'
LEGS OF
LEGS OF
ROCK HEWN
LEGS OF
LEGS OF
ROCK HEWN
stomp stomp clap
stomp stomp clap
stomp stomp clap]
Ozy you're a boy, makin' big works
Visage in the sand, gonna be a big MANdias
A cold sneer on your face
shattered remains
Nothin' but sand all 'round the decay
singin'
LEGS OF
LEGS OF
ROCK HEWN
LEGS OF
LEGS OF
ROCK HEWN
Me and my boys went to a strange LAND
The sun beat down on the desert SAND
My man Ad-rock turned to us and said
Yo, you two see that BIG-ASS HEAD?
We approached this ancient, beat up MASS
We learned his name was OZYMANDIAS
A sign said take a look AND DESPAIR
But we saw no works, nothing was THERE
The sun beat down on the desert SAND
My man Ad-rock turned to us and said
Yo, you two see that BIG-ASS HEAD?
We approached this ancient, beat up MASS
We learned his name was OZYMANDIAS
A sign said take a look AND DESPAIR
But we saw no works, nothing was THERE
Ozyman, Ozyman-
dias does what no mortal can
and his works? are they there?
no, but maybe still despair
dias does what no mortal can
and his works? are they there?
no, but maybe still despair
October 30, 2025 at 11:39 PM
[stomp stomp clap
stomp stomp clap
stomp stomp clap
stomp stomp clap]
Ozy you're a boy, makin' big works
Visage in the sand, gonna be a big MANdias
A cold sneer on your face
shattered remains
Nothin' but sand all 'round the decay
singin'
LEGS OF
LEGS OF
ROCK HEWN
LEGS OF
LEGS OF
ROCK HEWN
stomp stomp clap
stomp stomp clap
stomp stomp clap]
Ozy you're a boy, makin' big works
Visage in the sand, gonna be a big MANdias
A cold sneer on your face
shattered remains
Nothin' but sand all 'round the decay
singin'
LEGS OF
LEGS OF
ROCK HEWN
LEGS OF
LEGS OF
ROCK HEWN
Happy Halloween to everyone old enough to have watched reruns of the ‘70s cartoon Witch’s Night Out on TV! (We had a tape of it that my mom made once when it aired and we watched it every October in the ‘80s)
Witches Night Out 1978
YouTube video by Gravewave
youtu.be
October 31, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Happy Halloween to everyone old enough to have watched reruns of the ‘70s cartoon Witch’s Night Out on TV! (We had a tape of it that my mom made once when it aired and we watched it every October in the ‘80s)
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
Wishing a blessed #Samhain to all those celebrating today.
May the turning of the Wheel of the Year bring much needed rest and new beginnings to us all, and may the coming year be a damn sight better than the passing one.
May the turning of the Wheel of the Year bring much needed rest and new beginnings to us all, and may the coming year be a damn sight better than the passing one.
a group of people are dancing around a fire in the dark .
ALT: a group of people are dancing around a fire in the dark .
media.tenor.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Wishing a blessed #Samhain to all those celebrating today.
May the turning of the Wheel of the Year bring much needed rest and new beginnings to us all, and may the coming year be a damn sight better than the passing one.
May the turning of the Wheel of the Year bring much needed rest and new beginnings to us all, and may the coming year be a damn sight better than the passing one.
This is the dawning of the Age of Ozymandias!
The Age of Ozymandiaaaa—
Shit. Nevermind. Nothing beside remains
The Age of Ozymandiaaaa—
Shit. Nevermind. Nothing beside remains
My name is Ozymandias, King Of Kings. You looked on my works. Prepare to die.
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my works and no worries if not.
October 30, 2025 at 11:14 PM
This is the dawning of the Age of Ozymandias!
The Age of Ozymandiaaaa—
Shit. Nevermind. Nothing beside remains
The Age of Ozymandiaaaa—
Shit. Nevermind. Nothing beside remains
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
Ozymandias
Time destroyed his statue
Yes
YES
The statue is just feet
Time destroyed his statue
Yes
YES
The statue is just feet
Ozyman, Ozyman-
dias does what no mortal can
and his works? are they there?
no, but maybe still despair
dias does what no mortal can
and his works? are they there?
no, but maybe still despair
This is just to say
I have looked on
the works
that were in
the desert
and which
you were probably
thinking
would still stand
Forgive me
they were trunkless
so vast
and so old
I have looked on
the works
that were in
the desert
and which
you were probably
thinking
would still stand
Forgive me
they were trunkless
so vast
and so old
October 30, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Ozymandias
Time destroyed his statue
Yes
YES
The statue is just feet
Time destroyed his statue
Yes
YES
The statue is just feet
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
If you were teaching a module on NeoVictorian fiction what is the one Victorian novel you would want students to have read (if it had to be just one) as a useful/informing baseline of knowledge?
October 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
If you were teaching a module on NeoVictorian fiction what is the one Victorian novel you would want students to have read (if it had to be just one) as a useful/informing baseline of knowledge?
Reposted by John MacNeill Miller
Yes, Lord of the Rings is about how you must trust the “hard men.” Just as Narnia is about an evil lion. And the New Testament tells a tale of a wimp who wouldn’t fight back. Next week on “fascists read classics,” we’ll meet tech visionary George Orwell…
October 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Yes, Lord of the Rings is about how you must trust the “hard men.” Just as Narnia is about an evil lion. And the New Testament tells a tale of a wimp who wouldn’t fight back. Next week on “fascists read classics,” we’ll meet tech visionary George Orwell…
The guy who wrote the 1961 children’s classic The Cricket in Times Square also wrote a queer pornographic novel about the underground sex scene in New York in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Just thought you all should know!
October 25, 2025 at 7:56 PM
The guy who wrote the 1961 children’s classic The Cricket in Times Square also wrote a queer pornographic novel about the underground sex scene in New York in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Just thought you all should know!
Increasingly I think that Tom McCarthy’s *Remainder* is a direct literary descendant of Joris-Karl Huysmans’s *A Rebours*
October 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Increasingly I think that Tom McCarthy’s *Remainder* is a direct literary descendant of Joris-Karl Huysmans’s *A Rebours*