Mcniven, Steve

A collection of notes/impressions from titles where I didn’t find enough to necessitate a dedicated page. Usually short works of fiction.

Unknown Number

Unknown Number. Blue Neustifter. twitter.com . genderdysphoria.fyi . Jul 27, 2021. Accessed Sep 6, 2022.

tells the story of a person who has gender dysphoria. In an alternate universe, they never transitioned but went on to become an established physicist who could communicate across parallel universes.

MATT. “All part of God’s plan.” What a beautiful phrase. Kind of covers it all. Dark. Light. Don’t get yourself bothered. It’s all God’s plan. Nothing you could have done about it in any case. I understand the attraction. It’s a nice bit of hand-waving. A catchall that pushes aside the necessity for deeper examination of responsibility.

MATT. Rage. It’s everywhere in this city. People are terrified. Of what’s happened, of what might happen. Everyone is everyone’s enemy. Anyone who needs help is weak. They can’t let themselves be weak. Not in this world. They tell themselves they’re strong. They’re just afraid.

Snapshots

[Mrs. Sharpe] Goliath knew what he was doing. He was breaking a law designed to save people’s lives. If he’d only gone legitimate. He’d still be alive. This is no more your fault than a cop could be blamed for shooting a punk who pulls a gun on him.