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 figured an analogy for the contrast in modern shows/movies. Its like if you took every song and compressed/gated the hell out of them so the only frequencies that remain are the mid range. Doesn't matter how great the performances are, everything would just have the same murky tone.
I just rewatched Dark City, which I remembered nothing about other than it was very cool and very good.
What strikes me is how well lit the film is w/ a depth to the color contrast. Modern stuff is so muted and I dunno if that's digital or just an aesthetic. I just binged Silo and it's so muddy.
What strikes me is how well lit the film is w/ a depth to the color contrast. Modern stuff is so muted and I dunno if that's digital or just an aesthetic. I just binged Silo and it's so muddy.
November 27, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I figured an analogy for the contrast in modern shows/movies. Its like if you took every song and compressed/gated the hell out of them so the only frequencies that remain are the mid range. Doesn't matter how great the performances are, everything would just have the same murky tone.
I just rewatched Dark City, which I remembered nothing about other than it was very cool and very good.
What strikes me is how well lit the film is w/ a depth to the color contrast. Modern stuff is so muted and I dunno if that's digital or just an aesthetic. I just binged Silo and it's so muddy.
What strikes me is how well lit the film is w/ a depth to the color contrast. Modern stuff is so muted and I dunno if that's digital or just an aesthetic. I just binged Silo and it's so muddy.
November 27, 2025 at 4:43 AM
I just rewatched Dark City, which I remembered nothing about other than it was very cool and very good.
What strikes me is how well lit the film is w/ a depth to the color contrast. Modern stuff is so muted and I dunno if that's digital or just an aesthetic. I just binged Silo and it's so muddy.
What strikes me is how well lit the film is w/ a depth to the color contrast. Modern stuff is so muted and I dunno if that's digital or just an aesthetic. I just binged Silo and it's so muddy.
Tangent to this, I've been rewatching Bond films and I totally forgot that Mitchell (Joe Don Baker) is in The Living Daylights.
Since it’s nearly turkey day, it’s time for a new top 10 #MST3K post. Which are your favorites? (In no particular order)
Jack Frost
I accuse my parents
Space Mutiny
Pod People
Manos: the hands of fate
Cave Dwellers
The Sword and the Dragon
Tormented
She (Rifftrax)
The Touch of Satan
Jack Frost
I accuse my parents
Space Mutiny
Pod People
Manos: the hands of fate
Cave Dwellers
The Sword and the Dragon
Tormented
She (Rifftrax)
The Touch of Satan
Since it's nearly Turkey Day it's time for a new Top Ten #MST3K post. Which are your favorites?
#1 Manos the Hands of Fate
#2 Carnival Magic
#3 Final Sacrifice
#4 Pod People
#5 Demon Squad
#6 Beyond Atlantis
#7 Mac and Me
#8 Mitchell
#9 I Accuse My Parents
#10 Hobgoblins
#1 Manos the Hands of Fate
#2 Carnival Magic
#3 Final Sacrifice
#4 Pod People
#5 Demon Squad
#6 Beyond Atlantis
#7 Mac and Me
#8 Mitchell
#9 I Accuse My Parents
#10 Hobgoblins
November 27, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Tangent to this, I've been rewatching Bond films and I totally forgot that Mitchell (Joe Don Baker) is in The Living Daylights.
Reposted by Mike Chen
As I reported at the time: bsky.app/profile/chri...
Contrary to what you might read on Axios, DOJ is not filing an Emergency Appeal on Jia Cobb's Guard deployment order BECAUSE of the shooting. They noticed their appeal on Tuesday.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 27, 2025 at 1:11 AM
As I reported at the time: bsky.app/profile/chri...
If you want the biggest video game challenge of all time, Battletoads has been added to the NES emulator library on Nintendo Switch.
My childhood friend has the biggest grudge against that game and this is his reaction to the news
November 27, 2025 at 1:01 AM
If you want the biggest video game challenge of all time, Battletoads has been added to the NES emulator library on Nintendo Switch.
Reposted by Mike Chen
If you're interested, this tribute to Alice Wong was written by one of the people who knew her best
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
A Tribute to an Oracle, Alice Wong
Alice had the ability to look to the future and a world where laws and attitudes did not keep disabled people poor, pitied, and isolated.
www.thenation.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:18 PM
If you're interested, this tribute to Alice Wong was written by one of the people who knew her best
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Excellent thread by @portersqbooks.bsky.social on supporting local book stores.
Why not preorder Star Wars: Low Red Moon from them? The title was inspired by one of their locals! portersquarebooks.com/book/9780593...
Then submit the preorder for a free book plate! readstarwars.com/lrm-preorder
Why not preorder Star Wars: Low Red Moon from them? The title was inspired by one of their locals! portersquarebooks.com/book/9780593...
Then submit the preorder for a free book plate! readstarwars.com/lrm-preorder
We know that, for a ton of reasons, a lot of folks don't have as much to spend as they'd like this holiday season. Sooooooo, here's a thread of things you can do that will support your local indie bookstore or other business WITHOUT spending any more than you intended...
November 26, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Excellent thread by @portersqbooks.bsky.social on supporting local book stores.
Why not preorder Star Wars: Low Red Moon from them? The title was inspired by one of their locals! portersquarebooks.com/book/9780593...
Then submit the preorder for a free book plate! readstarwars.com/lrm-preorder
Why not preorder Star Wars: Low Red Moon from them? The title was inspired by one of their locals! portersquarebooks.com/book/9780593...
Then submit the preorder for a free book plate! readstarwars.com/lrm-preorder
Reposted by Mike Chen
I feel like there need's to be some clarification around use of "harm's way" here... 99.9999 of the time this is a super super super super safe area. The point is there was never a real reason for the National Guard to be here.
Whether this was random street crime or targeted political violence, I think it was bad for the president to unnecessarily put the National Guard in harm’s way like this. They simply don’t need to be there.
November 26, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I feel like there need's to be some clarification around use of "harm's way" here... 99.9999 of the time this is a super super super super safe area. The point is there was never a real reason for the National Guard to be here.
I went to PT today for this repetitive strain injury so your Star Wars books can have signed book plates. Go request below to make it worthwhile!
Who wants hot droids and signed bookplates? The preorder campaign for Star Wars Outlaws: Low Red Moon is now live! Submit your info here for a free bookplate: readstarwars.com/lrm-preorder
I signed so many of them that I aggravated my repetitive strain injury, so please take advantage of my pain!
I signed so many of them that I aggravated my repetitive strain injury, so please take advantage of my pain!
November 26, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I went to PT today for this repetitive strain injury so your Star Wars books can have signed book plates. Go request below to make it worthwhile!
Reposted by Mike Chen
Who wants FREE BOOKS from THE FUTURE? Instead of waiting for April 2026, read a digital ARC THE PHOTONIC EFFECT right now on @netgalley.bsky.social with an instant Read Now request - no approval required. Get it here: www.netgalley.com/catalog/book...
The Photonic Effect
NetGalley helps publishers and authors promote digital review copies to book advocates and industry professionals. Publishers make digital review copies and audiobooks available for the NetGalley comm...
www.netgalley.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Who wants FREE BOOKS from THE FUTURE? Instead of waiting for April 2026, read a digital ARC THE PHOTONIC EFFECT right now on @netgalley.bsky.social with an instant Read Now request - no approval required. Get it here: www.netgalley.com/catalog/book...
Reposted by Mike Chen
TIP: Anyone who posts wild speculation as something that is “almost certainly” the case right now is ~almost certainly~ someone you should not rely on in moments where news is breaking and a story is rapidly developing.
November 26, 2025 at 9:09 PM
TIP: Anyone who posts wild speculation as something that is “almost certainly” the case right now is ~almost certainly~ someone you should not rely on in moments where news is breaking and a story is rapidly developing.
Who wants FREE BOOKS from THE FUTURE? Instead of waiting for April 2026, read a digital ARC THE PHOTONIC EFFECT right now on @netgalley.bsky.social with an instant Read Now request - no approval required. Get it here: www.netgalley.com/catalog/book...
The Photonic Effect
NetGalley helps publishers and authors promote digital review copies to book advocates and industry professionals. Publishers make digital review copies and audiobooks available for the NetGalley comm...
www.netgalley.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Who wants FREE BOOKS from THE FUTURE? Instead of waiting for April 2026, read a digital ARC THE PHOTONIC EFFECT right now on @netgalley.bsky.social with an instant Read Now request - no approval required. Get it here: www.netgalley.com/catalog/book...
Reposted by Mike Chen
I want this moment for us
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I want this moment for us
Reposted by Mike Chen
Hey, wouldn't you rather disappear in a DS9xVoyager space opera than deal with your family this week? Saga Books is giving away free Netgalley ebooks of THE PHOTONIC EFFECT at this IG link-instant download, no approval needed. www.instagram.com/p/DRfpeGfjQS...
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Hey, wouldn't you rather disappear in a DS9xVoyager space opera than deal with your family this week? Saga Books is giving away free Netgalley ebooks of THE PHOTONIC EFFECT at this IG link-instant download, no approval needed. www.instagram.com/p/DRfpeGfjQS...
Reposted by Mike Chen
Vaccine preventable diseases literally KILL CHILDREN, there is NO EVIDENCE they cause autism & the fact that we’re even having this conversation in 2025 would be a FUCKING JOKE if it didn’t mean that kids who can’t help the fact that their parents are making BAD DECISIONS are ACTUALLY GOING TO DIE.
November 25, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Vaccine preventable diseases literally KILL CHILDREN, there is NO EVIDENCE they cause autism & the fact that we’re even having this conversation in 2025 would be a FUCKING JOKE if it didn’t mean that kids who can’t help the fact that their parents are making BAD DECISIONS are ACTUALLY GOING TO DIE.
Hey, wouldn't you rather disappear in a DS9xVoyager space opera than deal with your family this week? Saga Books is giving away free Netgalley ebooks of THE PHOTONIC EFFECT at this IG link-instant download, no approval needed. www.instagram.com/p/DRfpeGfjQS...
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Hey, wouldn't you rather disappear in a DS9xVoyager space opera than deal with your family this week? Saga Books is giving away free Netgalley ebooks of THE PHOTONIC EFFECT at this IG link-instant download, no approval needed. www.instagram.com/p/DRfpeGfjQS...
I have a full-time corporate job. My wife has health issues and we need corporate insurance. My book stuff basically is earmarked for my child's education and veterinary bills.
I know we know this, but authors need to get better at talking about how they actually make their money. Stop pretending it's from the books.
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 PM
I have a full-time corporate job. My wife has health issues and we need corporate insurance. My book stuff basically is earmarked for my child's education and veterinary bills.
I don't know if it's just me, but has anyone noticed that there's a stretch of Deep Space Nine's 5th season (Paramount+ via Amazon) that just looks remarkably cleaner than the rest of the show? S1 looks like a VHS recording of the broadcast turned MPEG, but this looks near-HD.
November 25, 2025 at 9:59 PM
I don't know if it's just me, but has anyone noticed that there's a stretch of Deep Space Nine's 5th season (Paramount+ via Amazon) that just looks remarkably cleaner than the rest of the show? S1 looks like a VHS recording of the broadcast turned MPEG, but this looks near-HD.
My hot take for the day is that even the technically worst show/game/movie/book/song means something to someone out there, and that's totally fine, let people love what they love
November 25, 2025 at 9:16 PM
My hot take for the day is that even the technically worst show/game/movie/book/song means something to someone out there, and that's totally fine, let people love what they love
Reposted by Mike Chen
My phone is doing all the same things from 2015 with only minimal benefits. The only reason we have to upgrade is increased software bloat.
We should actually just have phones that last 15 years now.
We should actually just have phones that last 15 years now.
www.cnbc.com/2025/11/23/h... "please, buy new phone. the economy is dying" is an incredible gaslight
Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever and it's costing economy
Americans are holding onto devices longer than ever before, and while it may be consumer smart, it comes at a cost to work productivity and the U.S. economy.
www.cnbc.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:58 PM
My phone is doing all the same things from 2015 with only minimal benefits. The only reason we have to upgrade is increased software bloat.
We should actually just have phones that last 15 years now.
We should actually just have phones that last 15 years now.
Reposted by Mike Chen
Three things about the Witkoff tapes:
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
EXCLUSIVE: US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff advised Russia on how to pitch Ukraine plans to Trump, in audio files reviewed by Bloomberg
Witkoff Advised Russia on How to Pitch Ukraine Plan to Trump
US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, fresh from the triumph of the Gaza peace deal, held a phone call last month with a senior Kremlin official to suggest they work together on a similar plan for Ukraine — and that Vladimir Putin should raise it with Donald Trump.
bloom.bg
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Three things about the Witkoff tapes:
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
1) It appears Western intelligence services have decided to let Witkoff (and Trump) know they have recordings of their traitorous conversations w/Russia.
2) This Ukraine "deal" was all Witkoff's idea.
3) Congressional leaders should demand he be fired.
Reposted by Mike Chen
I sometimes go down various science conspiracy rabbit holes, so when the big Genesis Mission announcement dropped yesterday, it triggered me to go off on one of my favorites: MAHA medbeds.
All the AIxBio hype in the world does not make fantasy a reality
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/i-demand-m...
All the AIxBio hype in the world does not make fantasy a reality
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/i-demand-m...
I Demand My MAHA Genesis Mission Medbed
But I'll settle for vaccines and a functional health system since medbeds don't exist no matter how much AI you throw at it
rasmussenretorts.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:43 PM
I sometimes go down various science conspiracy rabbit holes, so when the big Genesis Mission announcement dropped yesterday, it triggered me to go off on one of my favorites: MAHA medbeds.
All the AIxBio hype in the world does not make fantasy a reality
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/i-demand-m...
All the AIxBio hype in the world does not make fantasy a reality
rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/i-demand-m...
I'm a 538R, how about you?
new personality type based on ranking top four Star Wars episodes
"oh, I'm a 4516"
"that's so rare"
"oh, I'm a 4516"
"that's so rare"
November 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I'm a 538R, how about you?
Also shoutout to @katwithsword.bsky.social who has seen SO MUCH of my early drafts to make sure they work before I send to @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social or my editorial team. You should hire her for freelance editing, I would not exist without her great brain! www.kathowardbooks.com/editing
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Also shoutout to @katwithsword.bsky.social who has seen SO MUCH of my early drafts to make sure they work before I send to @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social or my editorial team. You should hire her for freelance editing, I would not exist without her great brain! www.kathowardbooks.com/editing
I know she's not really on here but a huge shoutout to @gmunoz6991.bsky.social who guided me while writing a snarky alien symbiote in 2nd person and a sexy "he just wants to be loved" murder droid in 1st person. (Not in the same book, but Venom/ND-5 crossover eventually???)
By the way, it's National Editor Appreciation Day.
Nobody ever reads a great article and thinks, "Dang, that was some tight editing." But editing is a big part of how it got to be great.
So writers, if you've ever worked with a good editor, shout 'em out.
Nobody ever reads a great article and thinks, "Dang, that was some tight editing." But editing is a big part of how it got to be great.
So writers, if you've ever worked with a good editor, shout 'em out.
November 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I know she's not really on here but a huge shoutout to @gmunoz6991.bsky.social who guided me while writing a snarky alien symbiote in 2nd person and a sexy "he just wants to be loved" murder droid in 1st person. (Not in the same book, but Venom/ND-5 crossover eventually???)