Lydia Millet on Writing a Double Novel of Grief and Loss

Lydia Millet is an American author known for her sharp, sardonic writing style and themes often tied to climate change and extinct creatures, as seen in her 2022 novel Dinosaurs and her 2025 story collection Atavists.

Her latest work, Fair Ones, marks a shift from these themes to explore gun violence and its emotional aftermath.

The novel is structured as a double novel, meaning it consists of two interrelated books.

Fair, narrated by Mara, begins immediately after the murder of their close friend Claire, while Ones, told from Jen’s perspective, starts a year later.

The story is set in New York City and follows Mara and Jen as they navigate grief, shock, and the lingering presence of Claire in their lives.

Millet’s writing is characterized by ultra-human characters, swift pacing, and sharp dialogue, aiming to capture the complexity of human relationships in the face of loss.