Katherine Alejandra Cross
@quinnae.com
Sociologist, Mistress of Information Systems || Techy TransLatina Ph.D Candidate @UW iSchool || The Saturday Paper VG Columnist || Contributing Editor Liberal Currents ||📍Seattle || 🏳️⚧️ || Author of LOG OFF; order here! https://www.littlepuss.net/shop
Speaking of Star Wars, let's do this. Does McDowell get better at writing women in Book 2? Eh.
I'll start with the structure. Instead of intercutting between everyone's stories, this book is divided into three novellas devoted to the main perspective character for each, Lando, Luke, and Leia.
I'll start with the structure. Instead of intercutting between everyone's stories, this book is divided into three novellas devoted to the main perspective character for each, Lando, Luke, and Leia.
November 25, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Speaking of Star Wars, let's do this. Does McDowell get better at writing women in Book 2? Eh.
I'll start with the structure. Instead of intercutting between everyone's stories, this book is divided into three novellas devoted to the main perspective character for each, Lando, Luke, and Leia.
I'll start with the structure. Instead of intercutting between everyone's stories, this book is divided into three novellas devoted to the main perspective character for each, Lando, Luke, and Leia.
What was the line? Ladies and gentlebeings, I give you glory:
November 24, 2025 at 12:45 AM
What was the line? Ladies and gentlebeings, I give you glory:
So we don't even get a good sense of what's actually going on with her, just vague gestures that are left incomplete.
And then the coup de grace, right near the end of the book. He actually lampshades the sexism.
Mate, it's because she's a woman that you wrote her this way.
And then the coup de grace, right near the end of the book. He actually lampshades the sexism.
Mate, it's because she's a woman that you wrote her this way.
November 16, 2025 at 11:36 PM
So we don't even get a good sense of what's actually going on with her, just vague gestures that are left incomplete.
And then the coup de grace, right near the end of the book. He actually lampshades the sexism.
Mate, it's because she's a woman that you wrote her this way.
And then the coup de grace, right near the end of the book. He actually lampshades the sexism.
Mate, it's because she's a woman that you wrote her this way.
Folks, I found a Q&A on McDowell's website where he specifically addresses this issue with Leia and, well, it's... interesting in the proverbial sense, for sure.
November 16, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Folks, I found a Q&A on McDowell's website where he specifically addresses this issue with Leia and, well, it's... interesting in the proverbial sense, for sure.
Nearly done rereading Before the Storm, and it's... such a frustrating book. Genuinely interesting intrigue and political drama. It's the Geopolitical Star Wars.
But McDowell cannot write women (and with narrow exception simply doesn't try). And Leia's portrayal as a naif is unforgivable.
But McDowell cannot write women (and with narrow exception simply doesn't try). And Leia's portrayal as a naif is unforgivable.
November 15, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Nearly done rereading Before the Storm, and it's... such a frustrating book. Genuinely interesting intrigue and political drama. It's the Geopolitical Star Wars.
But McDowell cannot write women (and with narrow exception simply doesn't try). And Leia's portrayal as a naif is unforgivable.
But McDowell cannot write women (and with narrow exception simply doesn't try). And Leia's portrayal as a naif is unforgivable.
What the World Needs Ross Douthat to Not Write.
November 13, 2025 at 9:17 AM
What the World Needs Ross Douthat to Not Write.
She's breaking away, folks.
November 12, 2025 at 12:05 AM
She's breaking away, folks.
Here at the Grace Hopper Celebration, repping @ischool.uw.edu, I decided to contribute to a free response wall that asked how we feel about generative AI/LLMs. I got a little pretentious with it. Also drew one of my slugs.
Point blank, with all tech, we must always be in the loop and responsible.
Point blank, with all tech, we must always be in the loop and responsible.
November 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Here at the Grace Hopper Celebration, repping @ischool.uw.edu, I decided to contribute to a free response wall that asked how we feel about generative AI/LLMs. I got a little pretentious with it. Also drew one of my slugs.
Point blank, with all tech, we must always be in the loop and responsible.
Point blank, with all tech, we must always be in the loop and responsible.
Man, these last 24 hours...
November 5, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Man, these last 24 hours...
Me, currently out of town at a conference:
November 5, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Me, currently out of town at a conference:
To further cement this point, from an editorial by Roger Chelsey:
November 5, 2025 at 8:56 PM
To further cement this point, from an editorial by Roger Chelsey:
Here's a sample of the genre, from an interview of Jon Stewart conducted by the New Yorker's David Remnick. You see this everywhere.
Whenever I make such an assertion in one of my Liberal Currents essays, my editors make me cite it. Funny how more elite outlets seem to have different standards.
Whenever I make such an assertion in one of my Liberal Currents essays, my editors make me cite it. Funny how more elite outlets seem to have different standards.
November 5, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Here's a sample of the genre, from an interview of Jon Stewart conducted by the New Yorker's David Remnick. You see this everywhere.
Whenever I make such an assertion in one of my Liberal Currents essays, my editors make me cite it. Funny how more elite outlets seem to have different standards.
Whenever I make such an assertion in one of my Liberal Currents essays, my editors make me cite it. Funny how more elite outlets seem to have different standards.
🎶Canada's shoreline has been calling out to me...
Hello old friend, welcome me home again
Well, I've been away but that's all over now, now
Say I can stay for October now
Stay awhile and play...🎶
Hello old friend, welcome me home again
Well, I've been away but that's all over now, now
Say I can stay for October now
Stay awhile and play...🎶
October 31, 2025 at 11:34 PM
🎶Canada's shoreline has been calling out to me...
Hello old friend, welcome me home again
Well, I've been away but that's all over now, now
Say I can stay for October now
Stay awhile and play...🎶
Hello old friend, welcome me home again
Well, I've been away but that's all over now, now
Say I can stay for October now
Stay awhile and play...🎶
Alright, Jays, as the M's flame out, my message to you is this:
October 21, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Alright, Jays, as the M's flame out, my message to you is this:
How was my evening? Well...
July 1, 2025 at 6:37 AM
How was my evening? Well...
Hey hey Seattle! I'm going to be speaking at the Seattle Interactive Media-lab about my book. 7PM, be there!
June 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Hey hey Seattle! I'm going to be speaking at the Seattle Interactive Media-lab about my book. 7PM, be there!
This is what's actually happening.
June 25, 2025 at 8:27 AM
This is what's actually happening.
Just as a little coda for the months-old mom saga, she texted me about tonight's news from New York. Got both my parents to vote for him and--not gonna lie--feeling really proud of having won them over on this.
June 25, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Just as a little coda for the months-old mom saga, she texted me about tonight's news from New York. Got both my parents to vote for him and--not gonna lie--feeling really proud of having won them over on this.
For example: there's things I'd quibble with here (e.g., the numbers), but I'd say this is broadly accurate. I have interacted with trans advocates who literally measure their success by social media metrics; you've likely followed and reskeeted them a bunch.
June 18, 2025 at 12:01 AM
For example: there's things I'd quibble with here (e.g., the numbers), but I'd say this is broadly accurate. I have interacted with trans advocates who literally measure their success by social media metrics; you've likely followed and reskeeted them a bunch.
As is often the case with huge blocks of text that take ages to read, people are putting out ChatGPT-level hallucinations of what McBride actually said in the interview. She is not "victim-blaming the trans community for our predicament" nor "ignoring the hate machine directed at us."
June 17, 2025 at 11:55 PM
As is often the case with huge blocks of text that take ages to read, people are putting out ChatGPT-level hallucinations of what McBride actually said in the interview. She is not "victim-blaming the trans community for our predicament" nor "ignoring the hate machine directed at us."