IDs: Transfeminine, Asian, Chronic Illness, Mental Illness

Author IDs: Transgender, Asian

CW: Contains depictions of sexual abuse/coercion, partner abuse, addiction, and a pandemic 

In Thom’s “What You Sow,” a strange illness has afflicted the world, affecting people’s sleep. They call the illness the "Undreaming,” and it causes madness and a total inability to sleep. The protagonist is Yun, a trans woman who is a “Celestial." Celestials have a genetic condition that causes strange abilities and changes to appearance. Instead of blood running through her veins, Yun has "ichor," a reference to the Greek mythological term "Ichor" meaning "an ethereal fluid taking the place of blood in the veins of the ancient Greek gods" ("Ichor"). Yun takes suppressants in order to keep her "condition" under control, but she still has patches of scales on her body, golden eyes, and crescent-shaped scars on her face. Yun, like all Celestials, is immune to the Undreaming. Because of this, her Ichor is used via transfusion to treat those with the Undreaming. Yun works at a medical facility, providing treatment to those afflicted through these transfusions. The treatment is effective, but causes side effects such as dizziness, fatigue, and pain for Celestials. 

Yun's coworker, Clementina Astrid, is also a Celestial. The story follows Yun as she navigates her and Clementina's embodied experiences of Celestial identity. Clementina has snakes all over her head. She is older than Yun, and did not have the option for suppressants or surgery to repress her Celestial identity when she was young like Yun did. She receives notice that she has been approved for surgery to remove the snakes from her head. Yun is supportive of her, but when Clementina reveals more about the invention of the Undreaming and the rebellion of the Celestials, Yun begins to question her own suppression of her Celestial identity.

At the beginning of the story, Yun is berated on the train when a man realizes she is a “Celestial." He begs her for her ichor, and is aggressive towards her when she refuses (Thom 323). The protagonist’s partner, Michael, is a researcher on the Undreaming. His supervisor convinced him to try an experimental cure, but instead of curing him, it made him sick. Throughout the narrative, Michael coerces Yun for ichor through seduction, threat of violence, and pity. She gives in and gives him ichor despite her pain and fatigue from working with patients all day. After observing Clemetina's surgery and hearing about "Empusa," the fire-breathing leader of the Celestial rebellion, Yun flushes all her suppression pills down the toilet. She tells Michael to get out, and when he refuses, she breathes fire at him. 

Thom’s story places magic literally into the body, while demonstrating the ways that trans identity and shapeshifting is tied to that magic. Thom explores the ways that such embodied magic can be both empowering and terrifying. Yun is targeted because she is a “Celestial.” She is coerced and abused by her partner because of her status. Yet, she also has the ability to treat the illness that is affecting so many people, and it is her choice to embrace her magic that ultimately leads her to kick Michael out. Thom’s story presents an embodied experience of trans magic, while still demonstrating the ways that such magic can be a danger for trans people.

Discussion Questions 

1. How are we meant to interpret the end of the story? Is Yun empowered? What about Clementina?

2. What real-world phenomena do you think parallel the Celestials? What about the sleeping sickness? What do these parallels mean?

3. Why do you think Thom chose to reference the Greek gods throughout the story?