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A review by yourbookishbff
Those Beyond the Wall by Micaiah Johnson
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was a stunning follow-up to The Space Between Worlds, and in many ways, functions as theoretical counterpoint to that narrative. Where TSBW tells us the story of a hero, Those Beyond the Wall tells us the story of an anti-hero. Where TSBW shows us evil being held accountable, Those Beyond the Wall shows us the extent to which evil will avoid accountability. Where TSBW focuses on change from within, Those Beyond the Wall focuses on revolution from without. Micaiah Johnson is explicit in her inspiration for this book, telling readers in the dedication that this book was born out of her experience as part of the 62-day sit-in at The People's Plaza in Nashville, and you feel it on every page. This is the book you write about revolution when your peaceful resistance was met with state-sanctioned violence.
Most interesting is the return of Cara from TSBW as an on-page foil to our main character and narrator in Those Beyond the Wall, Mr. Scales. As Scales and Cara circle each other on page, you can see warring philosophies played out, and as readers, we are challenged with uncomfortable questions: can abusive people be redeemed in their lifetimes, does violence ever engender peace, can apartheid states ever achieve equity without retribution? This is a violent narrative, dark and unforgiving and at times incredibly bleak, but Johnson has this unparalleled ability to weave into even the darkest moments glimmers of human connection and community. She credits this, too, to her experience in resistance movements, and you can feel its authenticity.
Foundational to Johnson's beyond-the-wall community is The House. We were introduced to The House and its sex workers in TSBW, but we see so much more of its rehabilitative work in this installment, and Johnson's portrayal of healing - physical, sexual, emotional, communal - is remarkably nuanced. We also have a broader discussion of gender identity and gender fluidity in this installment that speaks to the battles we've seen play out over trans rights in the years since TSBW was published.
This duo should, ideally, be read in order, because the two books are speaking to each other in a way that evidences Johnson's own political experiences and the years in which they were written. That said, she does an excellent job rebuilding the world in a way that I think even a new reader would be able to connect to the world-building and character arcs in Those Beyond the Wall as an entry point.
This book is an example of sci fi at its most relevant and its most insightful. As Johnson notes in her author's note at the book's start:
"Science fiction is fueled by dreams of a different, but possible, future. The same is true for Rage. While bitterness is an isolator, a repellent to community, Rage is a beacon calling out to others. It is as much a communal invitation as any bonfire.
Come join me, Rage says, at this spark that is lit by the distance between what the world is, and what we could make it."
Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for an advanced reader's copy.
Most interesting is the return of Cara from TSBW as an on-page foil to our main character and narrator in Those Beyond the Wall, Mr. Scales. As Scales and Cara circle each other on page, you can see warring philosophies played out, and as readers, we are challenged with uncomfortable questions: can abusive people be redeemed in their lifetimes, does violence ever engender peace, can apartheid states ever achieve equity without retribution? This is a violent narrative, dark and unforgiving and at times incredibly bleak, but Johnson has this unparalleled ability to weave into even the darkest moments glimmers of human connection and community. She credits this, too, to her experience in resistance movements, and you can feel its authenticity.
Foundational to Johnson's beyond-the-wall community is The House. We were introduced to The House and its sex workers in TSBW, but we see so much more of its rehabilitative work in this installment, and Johnson's portrayal of healing - physical, sexual, emotional, communal - is remarkably nuanced. We also have a broader discussion of gender identity and gender fluidity in this installment that speaks to the battles we've seen play out over trans rights in the years since TSBW was published.
This duo should, ideally, be read in order, because the two books are speaking to each other in a way that evidences Johnson's own political experiences and the years in which they were written. That said, she does an excellent job rebuilding the world in a way that I think even a new reader would be able to connect to the world-building and character arcs in Those Beyond the Wall as an entry point.
This book is an example of sci fi at its most relevant and its most insightful. As Johnson notes in her author's note at the book's start:
"Science fiction is fueled by dreams of a different, but possible, future. The same is true for Rage. While bitterness is an isolator, a repellent to community, Rage is a beacon calling out to others. It is as much a communal invitation as any bonfire.
Come join me, Rage says, at this spark that is lit by the distance between what the world is, and what we could make it."
Thank you to Netgalley and Del Rey for an advanced reader's copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Toxic friendship, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Minor: Gun violence