I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself by Marisa Crane

The extra shadow has two purposes: to shame the “Shadester,” serving as a constant reminder of their crime, and as a warning to “NoShads”-that is, people without extra shadows-that this person should be avoided. And this ended up guiding the rules of my world and the shadow creation.Įssentially, the Department of Balance assigns wrongdoers extra shadows for their crimes, although the Department is corrupt and oppressive, disproportionately giving extra shadows to innocent marginalized people, especially those sitting at the intersection of several marginalized identities. What they might replace prisons and police with. But then I began to imagine how the powers that be could manage to fuck up so badly in the face of abolition.

Q: Can you briefly explain the role of 'shadows' in your book and how it connects to concepts like policing and prison abolition?Ĭrane: Well, prior to and while drafting this book, I’d begun reading more and more about prison and police abolition, and I strongly believe that abolition is the only way forward if we want to create a safer world, especially for Black and brown people, trans and queer people, mentally ill and disabled folks, immigrants, sex workers, and beyond. This interview has been edited for clarity, length, and flow. RELATED: 10 books about transgender and nonbinary folks you don't want to miss They also chatted with us about the importance of voting, activism, and how to confront the ongoing anti-queer and anti-trans rhetoric from Republican extremists. Luckily for all of us (including, and especially, me!) Crane sat down with Daily Kos for an email interview about what went into creating the dystopian surveillance state in their lyric, fragmented novel about an oppressive government that feels eerily similar to what our futures could look like. (Their glowing reviews in places like Publishers Weekly probably help my case, too.) But I feel confident that hearing from the writer themself about the creation of this dystopian government, where people are assigned “shadows” to represent crimes they’ve committed and ostracize criminals from their peers, and the way queer people ultimately find chosen family and joy amid an oppressive environment, will prove I’m not just blowing smoke. I love their work because reading it makes me a better writer. In full transparency, yes-but I don’t just love their work because they’re my friend. Am I biased in so warmly recommending my friend’s work? A good question.

I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself by Marisa Crane