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The penguin is ecstatic, and Waterstones, sharing the newest updates on literature, came across several animated images with a common theme that I had never seen before: “Take my money”. The devoted fans pleaded, asking to take their money and expedite the book’s delivery.
The announcement of Keanu Reeves’ collaboration with award-winning British author China Miéville to write his debut novel, The Book of Elsewhere, has sparked reactions from everyone.
“I just had a nerdy freak-out moment that was so intense it caused me to strain my back,” was a common reaction expressed on Twitter. And when I say “common”, I mean that just like snowflakes (the real ones, not the ones used in cultural debates), each fan of Keanu Reeves is unique and beautiful in their own way.
“Another fan expressed their extreme excitement about this, and even more so about the possibility of China Miéville and Keanu Reeves being friends.” Sangeeta Waldron described it as the perfect writing collaboration.”
Book-ish, a local bookstore in Crickhowell, Wales, was just as shocked and excited as everyone else when they heard about the upcoming collaboration between the renowned Keanu Reeves and esteemed writer China Miéville. Their tweet expressed their disbelief and anticipation for this incredible news.
How can we interpret this response? To put it simply, it is similar to the marriage of Eleanor of Portugal and Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III, who may not have seemed like a perfect match, but together they established an empire that maintained power for the next 400 years. In this sense, Reeves and Miéville are likely to hold the title of “Weird Novel” champions for a potentially indefinite amount of time.
Which of these pairings is less likely to occur? What is the reason for the excitement? What is the subject matter? Let’s begin with this one: it takes place in the BRZRKR comic book universe, which was created by Reeves three years ago. The story follows an immortal warrior on a quest to find the secret to his eternal life. The first issue of this comic became the top-selling single-issue since Star Wars No 1 in 2015. The rest of the details all explore what Reeves represents to us and the projections we place on his enigmatic persona. His cultural contributions are like enigmatic messages from outer space or the past. They are complex and intentional. What is the significance? Is it something tangible?
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The puzzle has generated its own cultural spin-offs, such as James King’s 2020 book, Be More Keanu, and the forthcoming Keanu Is Not in Love With You. They are probably as different as two books could get: the first is a cute little toilet book, patch-working together wisdom to live by from lines in his classic films. The second is a chatty investigative book about romantic scammers, many of whom, apparently, pretend to be Reeves.
Despite their differences, both books focus on a common characteristic: what King refers to as “that well-known expressionless look”. Reeves’ appearance could be seen as the perfect romantic deception, lacking any specific identity and appealing to all. King further describes the lack of emotion as “a face as unyielding as Michelangelo’s, yet also fully immersed in the present moment”. Have you ever noticed how babies can seem so incredibly wise? While I would never dare compare him to a baby (considering his massive fanbase), Reeves possesses that emptiness. He is like a blank canvas onto which entire universes can be projected.
In the community known as the “manosphere”, people have associated Keanu Reeves’ character Neo from the Matrix with the red pill/blue pill concept. This idea has been used by those in the alt-right movement to symbolize a sense of enlightenment. They believe that by taking the “red pill”, they can reject liberal beliefs and embrace their own power and superiority (which is represented by the red pill). Another popular meme featuring Reeves is “Sad Keanu”, which originated on 4chan, a popular online forum for the manosphere. However, this meme does not align with the beliefs of the manosphere, as it portrays Reeves as a symbol of human vulnerability and sadness rather than dominant masculinity.
He did not actively choose to be the spokesperson or the head of any of this, but the stories and beliefs surrounding him always overshadow him and are beyond his influence. In 2011, he expressed a desire to not have his photo taken while eating a sandwich, but at the same time, he published a book of poetry, “Ode to Happiness,” which may have had references to his personal life, in collaboration with artist Alexandra Grant. This book was limited in availability even at the time, with rumors that his local bookstore had more copies than Amazon. Currently, a used hardcover copy costs nearly $2,000 (£1,700).
The act of manipulating his seemingly uncontrollable persona and guiding it towards an unconventional path is mirrored in the BRZRKR universe. The core idea of a strong, superhuman protagonist with a vulnerable heart, tormented by the enigma of this paradox and its source, serves as both a reflection and a redemption of the Keanu legend. Regardless of his reasons, financial gain is not one of them: he holds the title of the highest earning actor in history.
The Book of Elsewhere is a collaboration between two individuals. What does Miéville gain from it? It aligns with his reputation as a prominent figure in the “new weird” genre, which emerged in the late 1990s with a focus on blurring boundaries. His strong left-wing beliefs may also play a role, as he rejects the divide between popular and high culture through a Marxist lens. Alexander Cochran, from C&W literary agency, comments, “I cannot imagine a better duo than a devoted genre fan like Keanu Reeves and the literary mastermind China Miéville. I am eager to see what they produce.”
Source: theguardian.com
