Tragic Magic: Michael Chabon | Substack

The Blessing of Babel

A revision

READ THE LATEST

Recent posts

Agnes, 6/10/2016-1/6/2026

Jan 8 • Michael Chabon

My First Writing Teacher Was Lou Grant

And other thoughts on re-reading Chandler for the 𝑛th time

Dec 18, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Let’s Get It Started (But Not, Alas, Finished) in Here

42 years of abandonments, petering-outs, and fine starts that went nowhere

Dec 2, 2025

Recommendations

Emma Straub's Newsletter

Emma Straub

Sherman Alexie

Stephen Thomas Erlewine

StoryWorlds with Junot Díaz

Junot Díaz

Alex Bailey

Novelandia Without A Map

Part 5: The Parable of the Sandwich

Screenwriting and self-delusion

Aug 2, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Part 4: "Wolfboys"

Jul 18, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Part 3: Shipments from Schenectady

Direct from the source

Jul 13, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Part 2: The Shelnutt Method

A continuing series tracing the long, strange trip to my forthcoming novel, The Night Garden

Jul 11, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Part 1: The Habit of Novelism

A continuing series tracing the long, strange trip to my forthcoming novel, The Night Garden

Jul 10, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Handmade Playlists

Handmade Playlist of the Day: "Some Bright Nowhere"

A reader’s mixtape

Nov 11, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Handmade Playlist of the Day (Special Video Edition): Standin’ On The Corner

Rockin' around in NYC

Sep 21, 2025

Handmade Playlist of the Day: “Power Pop 4: Crypto-Power Pop"

Not that kind of crypto.

Sep 16, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Handmade Playlist of the Day: "Among The Missing"

Of the Greyed-Out

Aug 21, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Handmade Playlist of the Day: "Hornutopia"

Grazing in the Brass

Jul 31, 2025 • Michael Chabon

New Handmade Playlist: "Cool Rocks"

Neglected Jagger/Richards Gems of the Pre-Beggars Banquet Era, Unneglected

Jul 27, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Handmade Playlist of the Day: "Sanduskyism"

Acoustic-driven instrumentals by vocals-driven artists

Jul 20, 2025 • Michael Chabon

Handmade Playlist Box Set: The Complete Works of Summer

Collect 'em all!

Jul 16, 2025 • Michael Chabon

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts