Mishell Baker
Author of Borderline
Series
Works by Mishell Baker
Throwing Stones [short fiction] 2 copies
Associated Works
The Best of Beneath Ceaseless Skies Online Magazine, Year Two (2011) — Contributor — 5 copies, 1 review
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Birthdate
- 1976
- Gender
- agender
- Agent
- Russell Galen
- Short biography
- Mishell Baker is a 2009 graduate of the Clarion Fantasy & Science Fiction Writers’ Workshop. Her short fiction has appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Daily Science Fiction, Redstone Science Fiction, and Electric Velocipede.
Her urban fantasy series The Arcadia Project is being released by Simon & Schuster’s Saga imprint, beginning with Borderline. The series is narrated by Millicent Roper, a snarky double-amputee and suicide survivor who works with a ragtag collection of society’s least-wanted, keeping the world safe from the chaotic whims of supernatural beasties.
When Mishell isn’t convention-hopping or going on wild research adventures, she lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two changelings. When her offspring are older, she will probably remember what her hobbies are. In the meantime, she enjoys sending and receiving old-fashioned handwritten paper letters. - Nationality
- USA
- Places of residence
- Los Angeles Area, California, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- California, USA
Members
Reviews
Millie Roper's suicide attempt has left her in a psych hospital with two prosthetic legs and a truncated career as a film director. Unsure of her next step in life, she is recruited by the Arcadia Project, an agency that regulates the Accord between two worlds: human and fey. Millie's first assigned task is to locate a vanished movie star who also happens to be a faerie nobleman, and it's no exaggeration to say that the peace between worlds hangs in the balance.
Urban fantasy is one of those show more genres I always plan to explore more of, and this book is a great example of why: the noirish tone, the discovery of a new reality. Baker's debut, however, offers more than this. She has developed a cast of characters that are complex, unreliable, self-sabotaging, jaggedly human and larger than life at the same time. The book is a fusion of non-themes that feels very current, but unlike the American social environment today, Baker belittles nobody. In fact, she doesn't even use her characters to push her worldview. She nudges but does not linger on topics of race, sexuality, religion ... I expected Agenda 101 to rear its head at some point, but this never happened. Everything is organic. Each of these diverse characters is a compilation of all his/her traits, not just one. Each of these characters is broken, and each of them is respected by the author.
Now about Millie. Yes, there's a bit of ensemble vibe with the group from Residence Four, but Millie is unquestionably the driving force of the narrative. She nudges the line of anti-hero more than once due to her struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder, which often gets the best of her and results in aggressive or abusive behavior toward everyone around her. One of the most interesting elements of Millie's first-person voice is her attempt to explain to the reader what happens in the thought processes of those with Borderline. Done with less skill, this could have come across either as author intrusion--dear reader, see what you missed?--or as author manipulation--dear reader, see why you should give Millie unending excuses? Instead, Millie is a sharply realized character whom we can understand if not always relate to; we can want better for her as she wants to get better herself. No, not everyone will like Millie. I loved her.
The plot is smart and twisty and turns Millie into a veritable detective by the end (no complaints from this crime/noir reader). Plenty of elements are left open for the sequel, but there's a balance of resolution here too. Dialogue is edgy, cool, and confrontational (well, it's Millie).
I spent most of the book knowing it worked for me but not quite sure why. The characterizations are so extreme, the dialogue so take-no-prisoners from every voice on the page, I couldn't figure out why I wasn't disbelieving it. Then I read a review that compares Baker's dialogue to Elmore Leonard's, and ... well, I got it. Like Mr. Leonard, Mishell Baker has that rare ability to write larger than life in a way that makes me forget it's larger. No wonder I ate this up: Millie Roper is urban fantasy's Raylan Givens.
Oh, and in case there was any doubt: yes, I will be reading the sequel. show less
Urban fantasy is one of those show more genres I always plan to explore more of, and this book is a great example of why: the noirish tone, the discovery of a new reality. Baker's debut, however, offers more than this. She has developed a cast of characters that are complex, unreliable, self-sabotaging, jaggedly human and larger than life at the same time. The book is a fusion of non-themes that feels very current, but unlike the American social environment today, Baker belittles nobody. In fact, she doesn't even use her characters to push her worldview. She nudges but does not linger on topics of race, sexuality, religion ... I expected Agenda 101 to rear its head at some point, but this never happened. Everything is organic. Each of these diverse characters is a compilation of all his/her traits, not just one. Each of these characters is broken, and each of them is respected by the author.
Now about Millie. Yes, there's a bit of ensemble vibe with the group from Residence Four, but Millie is unquestionably the driving force of the narrative. She nudges the line of anti-hero more than once due to her struggle with Borderline Personality Disorder, which often gets the best of her and results in aggressive or abusive behavior toward everyone around her. One of the most interesting elements of Millie's first-person voice is her attempt to explain to the reader what happens in the thought processes of those with Borderline. Done with less skill, this could have come across either as author intrusion--dear reader, see what you missed?--or as author manipulation--dear reader, see why you should give Millie unending excuses? Instead, Millie is a sharply realized character whom we can understand if not always relate to; we can want better for her as she wants to get better herself. No, not everyone will like Millie. I loved her.
The plot is smart and twisty and turns Millie into a veritable detective by the end (no complaints from this crime/noir reader). Plenty of elements are left open for the sequel, but there's a balance of resolution here too. Dialogue is edgy, cool, and confrontational (well, it's Millie).
I spent most of the book knowing it worked for me but not quite sure why. The characterizations are so extreme, the dialogue so take-no-prisoners from every voice on the page, I couldn't figure out why I wasn't disbelieving it. Then I read a review that compares Baker's dialogue to Elmore Leonard's, and ... well, I got it. Like Mr. Leonard, Mishell Baker has that rare ability to write larger than life in a way that makes me forget it's larger. No wonder I ate this up: Millie Roper is urban fantasy's Raylan Givens.
Oh, and in case there was any doubt: yes, I will be reading the sequel. show less
Trigger warning: self harm
Borderline is one of the best urban fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time. Having been reading urban fantasy for a while, certain elements feel familiar. The protagonist is usually snarky, and if female, conventionally attractive and probably wears black leather. The protagonist is likely to be some sort of detective, and there’s a mystery to be solved.
Mishell Baker’s Borderline both uses genre conventions and yet is unlike almost other urban fantasy novels show more out there. There’s fey, which are probably third most popular UF creatures after vampires and werewolves. There’s a mystery to be solved. The heroine can be snarky at times. However, it is this very heroine who makes the book so distinct.
One year before Borderline begins, Millie, a young filmmaker in LA with Borderline Personality Disorder, tries to kill herself by jumping off a seven story building. She survives but loses both her legs. She’s residing in a mental hospital when she receives a mysterious job offer from a group called the Arcadia project that polices the traffic between our realm and the fey.
Millie is a messy, complicated, almost unlikable narrator, and she was utterly compelling. Her mood is prone to rapid changes and she can lash out in sudden fits of anger. She’s also very self aware, and she often knows that what she’s feeling is a result of her BPD. At best she can exercise some control over it, but that doesn’t always mean she’ll be able to stop herself. All in all, Millie is one of the best anti-heroines I’ve encountered.
I often find a litmus test of how good a book is to be how well I like the supporting cast. Borderline has a very strong set of supporting characters. When Millie joins the Arcadia project, she goes to live in a house with the other project employees, all of whom have some form of mental health issue. My favorite was probably, Caryl, the head of the LA chapter of the Arcadia project, but I also really liked Teo, Millie’s partner on the investigation.
Once Millie joins up, she becomes embroiled in a missing person’s case. The fey who come through to our world act as muses, providing inspirations to their “Echos.” The fey partner of a big name Hollywood director has gone missing, and a larger conspiracy seems to be at play. The plot and magic elements weren’t bad by any means, but they weren’t what made me enjoy this book so much.
Millie was what made the book so stand out, and because of her I had the pleasure of reading an urban fantasy novel that felt genuinely new and not just like a retread of all of the other books in the genre. I’d recommend Borderline to anyone looking for an exceptional urban fantasy novel, particularly one with a complicated female lead.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page. show less
Borderline is one of the best urban fantasy novels I’ve read in a long time. Having been reading urban fantasy for a while, certain elements feel familiar. The protagonist is usually snarky, and if female, conventionally attractive and probably wears black leather. The protagonist is likely to be some sort of detective, and there’s a mystery to be solved.
Mishell Baker’s Borderline both uses genre conventions and yet is unlike almost other urban fantasy novels show more out there. There’s fey, which are probably third most popular UF creatures after vampires and werewolves. There’s a mystery to be solved. The heroine can be snarky at times. However, it is this very heroine who makes the book so distinct.
One year before Borderline begins, Millie, a young filmmaker in LA with Borderline Personality Disorder, tries to kill herself by jumping off a seven story building. She survives but loses both her legs. She’s residing in a mental hospital when she receives a mysterious job offer from a group called the Arcadia project that polices the traffic between our realm and the fey.
“From across the room, I’ll admit death looks like a real babe. But I’ve been close enough to see what’s under her makeup, and no thanks. Really.”
Millie is a messy, complicated, almost unlikable narrator, and she was utterly compelling. Her mood is prone to rapid changes and she can lash out in sudden fits of anger. She’s also very self aware, and she often knows that what she’s feeling is a result of her BPD. At best she can exercise some control over it, but that doesn’t always mean she’ll be able to stop herself. All in all, Millie is one of the best anti-heroines I’ve encountered.
I often find a litmus test of how good a book is to be how well I like the supporting cast. Borderline has a very strong set of supporting characters. When Millie joins the Arcadia project, she goes to live in a house with the other project employees, all of whom have some form of mental health issue. My favorite was probably, Caryl, the head of the LA chapter of the Arcadia project, but I also really liked Teo, Millie’s partner on the investigation.
Once Millie joins up, she becomes embroiled in a missing person’s case. The fey who come through to our world act as muses, providing inspirations to their “Echos.” The fey partner of a big name Hollywood director has gone missing, and a larger conspiracy seems to be at play. The plot and magic elements weren’t bad by any means, but they weren’t what made me enjoy this book so much.
Millie was what made the book so stand out, and because of her I had the pleasure of reading an urban fantasy novel that felt genuinely new and not just like a retread of all of the other books in the genre. I’d recommend Borderline to anyone looking for an exceptional urban fantasy novel, particularly one with a complicated female lead.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page. show less
'Borderline' is an unusual book. The premise, someone joining a secret global organisation that polices the border between our world and the world of the Fae, sounds fairly traditional in an MIB-with-a-twist sort of way, so I expected either a thriller of the 24-hours-to-save-the-earth kind or something humorous or hybrid of the two. What I got was more interesting: a book focused on someone who is broken and who is trying to find a reason to keep living. The borderline that the title refers show more to isn't just between Earth and Arcadia but between normal behaviour and psychotic behaviour.
Milie, our protagonist (heroine doesn't really fit here), has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) which, amongst other things, makes her subject to intense mood swings and impulsive behaviour. This partially explains why Millie, a film director with a couple of successful Indie productions behind her, ended her time at the prestigious UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television by jumping from a building, She failed to kill herself but succeeded in destroying both of her legs.
When, six months later, after having mastered her prosthetic limbs but not her trauma, Millie is approached by the Arcadia Project (the secret global organisation that polices the Fae border - the Brits are blamed for the classical name), she is told it is because her BPD allows her to see the world differently and makes her better able to cope with the Fae and their glamours. Only when she has started to invest her personal salvation in her new role does she learn that the Arcadia Project recruits throwaway people. People who won't be believed if they try to reveal the Project's secrets. People who won't be missed if the get killed in the Project's service. People like Millie.
I enjoyed the world-building as Millie learns about the Fae and the deal the humans have cut with them. I had to smile at the all-too-plausible relationship between the Fae and Hollywood.
I admired the character-building. I felt that I got inside Millie's rather unusual head and saw the world through her eyes. Her relationships with the people around her, turbulent, distorted but deeply-felt, brought the book alive.
The mystery/thriller plot around missing Fae and evil intrigue which moves the action forward works mostly to reveal the Fae/human connections and to push Millie into confronting who she is and who she's going to choose to become.
If you're looking for a fast-paced, high body count Urban Fantasy thriller, 'Borderline' isn't it. If you're looking for something original and thoughtful with an emotional payload, you'll enjoy this.
'Borderline' is the first book in a series. I intend to visit Millie's world again to see what she's made of herself.
I recommend the audiobook version of 'Borderline'. Arden Hammersmith did a great job as the narrator and made Millie a real voice in my head. Click on the SoundCloud link below to hear a sample.
https://soundcloud.com/simonschuster/borderline-audiobook-excerpt show less
Milie, our protagonist (heroine doesn't really fit here), has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) which, amongst other things, makes her subject to intense mood swings and impulsive behaviour. This partially explains why Millie, a film director with a couple of successful Indie productions behind her, ended her time at the prestigious UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television by jumping from a building, She failed to kill herself but succeeded in destroying both of her legs.
When, six months later, after having mastered her prosthetic limbs but not her trauma, Millie is approached by the Arcadia Project (the secret global organisation that polices the Fae border - the Brits are blamed for the classical name), she is told it is because her BPD allows her to see the world differently and makes her better able to cope with the Fae and their glamours. Only when she has started to invest her personal salvation in her new role does she learn that the Arcadia Project recruits throwaway people. People who won't be believed if they try to reveal the Project's secrets. People who won't be missed if the get killed in the Project's service. People like Millie.
I enjoyed the world-building as Millie learns about the Fae and the deal the humans have cut with them. I had to smile at the all-too-plausible relationship between the Fae and Hollywood.
I admired the character-building. I felt that I got inside Millie's rather unusual head and saw the world through her eyes. Her relationships with the people around her, turbulent, distorted but deeply-felt, brought the book alive.
The mystery/thriller plot around missing Fae and evil intrigue which moves the action forward works mostly to reveal the Fae/human connections and to push Millie into confronting who she is and who she's going to choose to become.
If you're looking for a fast-paced, high body count Urban Fantasy thriller, 'Borderline' isn't it. If you're looking for something original and thoughtful with an emotional payload, you'll enjoy this.
'Borderline' is the first book in a series. I intend to visit Millie's world again to see what she's made of herself.
I recommend the audiobook version of 'Borderline'. Arden Hammersmith did a great job as the narrator and made Millie a real voice in my head. Click on the SoundCloud link below to hear a sample.
https://soundcloud.com/simonschuster/borderline-audiobook-excerpt show less
I've been hearing about this book since before it was released and even pre-ordered it. But it took until now for me to finally get around to reading it. Halfway through, I stopped reading to buy the second book. (Of course, me being me, I haven't yet started the sequel...)
This was such an inventive book! It broke genre conventions. The main character is apologetically unlikable. She has borderline personality disorder, and it was really interesting to get inside her head since I'm more used show more to dealing with a borderline's victims, and it was a bit of a mind-bender for me to see the other side. I really appreciated having my horizons broadened that way.
I loved how the author embedded elves and magic into Holllywood, and created a whole world which facilitates fae crossing into our own world in order to be our muses. The characters were all interesting, and all are pretty flawed.
In hindsight, the various parts of the book should not have worked together but they did, and I loved every second. I really should read the second book. show less
This was such an inventive book! It broke genre conventions. The main character is apologetically unlikable. She has borderline personality disorder, and it was really interesting to get inside her head since I'm more used show more to dealing with a borderline's victims, and it was a bit of a mind-bender for me to see the other side. I really appreciated having my horizons broadened that way.
I loved how the author embedded elves and magic into Holllywood, and created a whole world which facilitates fae crossing into our own world in order to be our muses. The characters were all interesting, and all are pretty flawed.
In hindsight, the various parts of the book should not have worked together but they did, and I loved every second. I really should read the second book. show less
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