Fiction

The Irishman

‘The Irishman’ Tells the Story of the Corruption of Empire ‘The Irishman’ Tells the Story of the Corruption of Empire

Scorsese’s gangster epic highlights the personal and political cost of counterrevolutionary violence.

Dec 6, 2019 / Jeet Heer

Ted Chiang’s Sci-Fi Goes Beyond the Promise of Technology

Ted Chiang’s Sci-Fi Goes Beyond the Promise of Technology Ted Chiang’s Sci-Fi Goes Beyond the Promise of Technology

In his short story collection Exhalation, he builds social worlds where every character and object is deeply intertwined in history and in future possibility.

Nov 19, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Stephen Kearse

‘The Inheritance’ Takes E.M. Forster Out of the Closet

‘The Inheritance’ Takes E.M. Forster Out of the Closet ‘The Inheritance’ Takes E.M. Forster Out of the Closet

Bringing Howards End into today’s gay Manhattan, playwright Matthew Lopez shows that “Only Connect” is still a radical message.

Nov 12, 2019 / Feature / Darryl Pinckney

Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Narratives of Freedom

Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Narratives of Freedom Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Narratives of Freedom

History has always been a weapon in the hands of Ta-Nehisi Coates. Now, in his debut novel, the social critic and essayist sets out to recover those struggles for emancipation that...

Oct 29, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Elias Rodriques

Zadie Smith’s Turn to Short Fiction

Zadie Smith’s Turn to Short Fiction Zadie Smith’s Turn to Short Fiction

In her first short story collection, the novelist and essayist offers us both cautionary tales and experimental riffs.

Oct 29, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Rumaan Alam

Jonathan Safran Foer and the Limits of Liberal Climate Politics

Jonathan Safran Foer and the Limits of Liberal Climate Politics Jonathan Safran Foer and the Limits of Liberal Climate Politics

Addressing climate change will take a whole lot more than changing our diets.

Oct 29, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Kate Aronoff

Even Straight People Will Know the ‘Call Me by Your Name’ Sequel Is Bad

Even Straight People Will Know the ‘Call Me by Your Name’ Sequel Is Bad Even Straight People Will Know the ‘Call Me by Your Name’ Sequel Is Bad

André Aciman’s Find Me reinforces what felt so lacking in his breakout hit.

Oct 25, 2019 / Sam Huber

For Yiyun Li, All Writing Is Autobiographical

For Yiyun Li, All Writing Is Autobiographical For Yiyun Li, All Writing Is Autobiographical

We had a wide ranging conversation with Li about her feelings on autofiction, bad readers, and why her work has yet to be translated into Chinese.  

Oct 21, 2019 / Q&A / Rosemarie Ho

Ben Lerner’s Quandary

Ben Lerner’s Quandary Ben Lerner’s Quandary

The Topeka School captures the novelist at a crossroads between politics and aesthetics, fiction and poetry.

Oct 14, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Evan Kindley

Lynda Barry’s Infectious Genius

Lynda Barry’s Infectious Genius Lynda Barry’s Infectious Genius

The award-winning cartoonist is not only a great artist but a wellspring of inspiration for others.

Sep 30, 2019 / Jeet Heer

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