THE COMMUNIST & THE CELEBRITY

CHINA MIÉVILLE WRITES A NOVEL WITH THE INTERNET'S BOYFRIEND.

- HANNAH ZEAVIN

ONA RECENT FRIDAY afternoon, I found myself interviewing the Internet's Boyfriend. His name is Keanu Reeves. I introduce him this way because it may be the only time the actor has been treated as a side character in a story.

Reeves' kindness given that arrangement surprised me boyfriend material indeed-as did the reason for our chat: a collaboration between Reeves and the main character of this story, the writer China Miéville. The two of them have written a book together called The Book of Elsewhere, which comes out this summer and takes place in the world of BRZRKR, Reeves' 12-issue comic. (Possibly also surprising: that Keanu Reeves made a comic book.)

The idea for the collaboration was Keanu's back in 2021, just after the first volume of BRZRKR was released. Yes, one might assume there will be BRZRKR movies some day, likely starring Reeves, but for now the comic would be subject to novelization. I would learn later this is called a "tie-in"-an extension of the brand, basically. Toys, lunch boxes, who knows, may follow. "I was really afraid China would say no," Keanu told me. "Why?!" I exclaimed, convinced nobody could possibly say no to working with this man. "Because," Keanu replied, "he's a big deal!"