Lee Martindale (1949–2026)
Lee Martindale, a Kentucky‑born short‑fiction writer and editor, died on March 10, 2026 after a brief illness. She broke into publishing at 43 with the story “YearBride” and subsequently appeared in prominent fantasy anthologies such as Sword and Sorceress and Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Fantasy. Martindale authored several collections, including The Folly of Assumption and Bard’s Road, and edited the anthology Such a Pretty Face. A lifelong SFWA member, she earned the 2019 Kevin O’Donnell Jr. Service to SFWA Award.
Books Our Editors Loved This Week
The New York Times editors spotlight two new releases in their March 12, 2026 roundup. "Her Last Breath" by Taylor Adams is a claustrophobic thriller set in a pitch‑black cave, while Anand Gopal’s "Days of Love and Rage" offers a meticulously researched chronicle of...
2026 Robert E. Howard Awards Nominees
The Robert E. Howard Foundation unveiled the 2026 award nominees, covering categories from nonfiction biography to literary fiction, essays, emerging scholarship, web‑based projects, and artistic achievement. Highlights include Willard M. Oliver’s new biography, multiple Titan‑published Conan titles, and academic works...
This Tale of a Chicago School Book Ban Was Inspired by True Events
Chicago Public Schools abruptly removed Marjane Satrapi’s graphic memoir Persepolis from several classrooms in 2013, sparking student-led protests. Librarian Jarrett Dapier’s debut graphic novel Wake Now in the Fire fictionalizes those events, following high‑schoolers at Lane Tech as they document the ban and organize...
I’m a Book Critic. This Is a Novel You’ll See Everywhere This Year
Caro Claire Burke’s debut novel *Yesteryear* is set to dominate 2026 literary conversation, with its April release already sparking a fierce 11‑way film‑rights bidding war won by Anne Hathaway. The story follows a trad‑wife influencer who time‑travels from a curated Instagram...
Greedy by Callie Kazumi
British-Japanese author Callie Kazumi’s second novel, "Greedy," follows Ed Cook, a down‑on‑his‑luck immigrant in Tokyo who lands a lucrative private‑chef gig with reclusive philanthropist Hazeline Yamamoto. Despite no culinary training, Ed is drawn into a high‑tech mansion where he serves...
The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery
Ross Montgomery’s debut, *The Murder at World’s End*, is a locked‑room mystery set on a remote Cornish manor in autumn 1910. The story pivots on Viscount Stockingham‑Welt’s apocalyptic fear of Halley’s Comet, which leads to a sealed household and his...
Dark and Stormy Thrillers by Stephen King, Ruth Ware and More
Best‑selling author Lisa Unger spotlights a niche of dark, storm‑driven thrillers, highlighting Ruth Ware’s reality‑show murder mystery One Perfect Couple and Alyssa Cole’s psychological suspense One of Us Knows. Both novels use extreme weather to isolate characters, intensifying fear and forcing desperate...
The 2026 Indies Choice Awards Shortlists Are Here
The American Booksellers Association has unveiled the shortlists for the 2026 Indies Choice Book Awards, marking the awards' return after a hiatus since 2019. The shortlists cover seven categories, including adult fiction, young adult, adult nonfiction, picture books, and middle‑grade,...
I’ve Read 50 Books in the Last Year, but This Is My Standout Favourite
Florence Knapp’s debut literary novel *The Names* has surged to number two on the Sunday Times bestseller list and earned a 4.18 average rating on Goodreads. The book’s high‑concept structure follows three parallel lives of a boy whose destiny is shaped by the...
Crews Control
Frederick Crews’s 2017 magnum opus, *Freud: The Making of an Illusion*, delivers a sweeping 666‑page indictment of Sigmund Freud’s life and the myth he cultivated. Drawing on newly released correspondence and archival material, Crews portrays Freud as an ambitious, insecure...
The Rest Is History
The article curates a series of literary and philosophical reflections, ranging from a Slovak novelist’s questions about societal organization to Virginia Woolf’s notion of unconditional looking. It underscores how classic works interrogate universal themes such as devotion, education, and individual...
The Rest Is History
The article curates a eclectic roundup of recent cultural and scientific pieces, from new scholarship on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and the Celtic roots of Halloween to Sleepy Hollow’s tourism rebrand and a gravestone‑recipe cookbook. It highlights breakthroughs such as the...
The Rest Is History
The article curates a diverse set of cultural essays and reviews, ranging from the influence of "American Psycho" on contemporary masculinity to Agatha Christie’s rule‑breaking detective novel. It highlights historical investigations such as Henry Ford’s Amazon town project, a family’s...
Save on New Titles in Asian Studies
Duke University Press is offering a 40% discount on all Asian studies books and journal issues for attendees of the AAS 2026 conference in Vancouver. The coupon code AAS26 is valid through April 23, 2026 and can be used online...
A Portrait or a Parable? | Review of Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
Allen Levi’s debut novel, Theo of Golden, follows an elderly New Yorker who purchases portrait sketches in a small Southern town and seeks out the subjects, listening to their stories. The narrative unfolds with deliberate calm, emphasizing gentle human connection...
Goa, Desired and Disputed: Review of Appetite, an Anthology of Stories, Essays and Poems
The new anthology *Appetite*, edited by Shivranjana Rathore and Tino De Sa, gathers stories, essays, and poems from Goa‑based writers to confront the state’s rapid cultural and economic transformation. It frames Goa’s challenges—land grabs, tourism‑driven displacement, and eroding linguistic heritage—through a...
‘Senior Musicians Are Not Promoting the Next Generation,’ Says Violinist Kala Ramnath in the Book The Call of Music
The new book *The Call of Music* by Priya Purushothamam profiles eight living Indian classical musicians, including violinist Kala Ramnath, who criticizes senior artists for failing to promote the next generation. The essays blend biographical detail with personal reflections, covering themes...
Blood in the Boondocks | Review of The Jasmine Murders by Roopa Unnikrishnan
Roopa Unnikrishnan’s debut novel *The Jasmine Murders* is a 1960s‑set murder mystery in a small Tamil Nadu town, following Malayali police officer Jayan and his newly‑wed wife Uma as they untangle a series of decapitations and robberies. The narrative weaves communal tensions,...
Book Review: Sam Elkin’s Detachable Penis: A Queer Legal Saga
Sam Elkin’s debut memoir "Detachable Penis: A Queer Legal Saga" chronicles his experience as the first LGBTQIA+ community outreach lawyer in Victoria, Australia, while navigating his own gender transition. The book offers a candid, humor‑infused account of the challenges faced...
Exclusive Cover Reveal of “Staying Still” By Hieu Minh Nguyen
Electric Literature unveiled the cover of Hieu Minh Nguyen’s forthcoming poetry collection Staying Still, slated for publication on September 1, 2026 by Tin House/Zando. The book follows Nguyen’s award‑winning debut Not Here and delves into anxieties of belonging, queer boyhood, and the refugee...
Must Love Pets: Romance Novels with the Best Animal Characters
The article spotlights romance novels that elevate their stories with memorable animal characters, ranging from dogs and cats to fantastical baby dragons. It highlights five titles—*The Re‑Do List*, *Get a Life, Chloe Brown*, *Alice Rue Evades the Truth*, *The Baby...
Author Spotlight: Matthew Kressel
Matthew Kressel, featured in Lightspeed Magazine’s March 2026 issue, discusses how his short story “Espie Droger Dreams of War” emerged from anger over the fictional DOGE crisis that destabilized U.S. institutions. He explains his writing process—sometimes subconscious, sometimes meticulously planned—and how...
“The Art of Living in Avant-Garde Paris”: A Playlist by Rachel Silveri
Rachel Silveri, an assistant professor at the University of Florida, has released *The Art of Living in Avant‑Garde Paris*, a new monograph that examines how interwar Paris artists wove creative practice into everyday life. The book is paired with a...
Two Playwrights Tackle Father Figures
Two recent New York theater productions revisit father figures in unconventional ways. Clare Barron's revived “You Got Older” at Cherry Lane, under A24’s management, depicts a tender, realistic bond between an adult daughter and her ailing father, highlighted by Peter...
On the Power of Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer, One of the Most Banned Books of Its Era
Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir *Gender Queer*, first published in 2019, has become a cultural flashpoint, topping the American Library Association’s list of most challenged books from 2021 to 2023 and ranking second in 2024. The memoir chronicles Kobabe’s non‑binary journey,...
On Lio Min’s Beating Heart Baby as “Portable Fortress of Dreams”
Lio Min’s debut novel *Beating Heart Baby* follows Santi, a queer Filipino high‑school senior, as he navigates love with Suwa, a trans‑masculine Korean‑American trumpet star, within a vibrant Los Angeles marching band. The story shifts to Tokyo, where Suwa performs in...
On the Pure Pleasure of Plot in Gretchen Felker-Martin’s Manhunt
Gretchen Felker‑Martin’s horror novel *Manhunt* has emerged as a breakout work that re‑centers plot and visceral storytelling in a literary market dominated by experimental autofiction. The book situates itself within the “gender apocalypse” subgenre, but flips the script by foregrounding...
DNA of Authoritarianism | Interview with Anne Applebaum on Her Book Autocracy, Inc.
Anne Applebaum’s new book Autocracy, Inc. maps how authoritarian regimes—Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and formerly Venezuela—collaborate by sharing surveillance tech and financial tactics to sustain power. She argues these practices, from internet control to offshore money laundering, transcend ideology...
Review of The Corpse Collector by Vinu P. And Niyas Kareem
The Hindu review highlights *The Corpse Collector*, a memoir by Vinu P. and Niyas Kareem that chronicles Vinu’s 25‑year career retrieving unclaimed bodies across Kerala. Vinu’s work, performed with reverence, has saved thousands of families the trauma of unknown deaths, yet he...
Noelle W. Ihli on Reading Survival Thrillers in a World of Real Danger
Noelle W. Ihli explains why she writes survival thrillers despite living in a world saturated with real‑life danger. She argues that the genre gives anxiety a clear beginning, middle and end, offering readers a finite story arc that real life...
London Book Fair 2026: At the LBF’s Literary Translation Center, Panels Address Ongoing Concerns for Translators
The London Book Fair’s Literary Translation Center hosted two packed panels highlighting ongoing translator concerns. One session reviewed the five‑year #TranslatorsOnTheCover campaign, noting that cover credits have become far more common, especially among independent publishers. A second panel explored translators...
Exploring New Revenue Opportunities Through Licensing
At the London Book Fair, a panel of publishing leaders highlighted licensing as a critical growth engine, especially as large language models demand high‑quality text. They urged publishers to adopt a pragmatic stance—accepting imperfect licenses rather than forgoing deals—to capture...
Media Control and NielsenIQ BookData to Publish BookTok Charts for the U.K.
Media Control and NielsenIQ BookData have launched an official BookTok Charts for the United Kingdom, extending the successful German model. The monthly list merges verified retail sales data with #BookTok engagement metrics to rank the top titles. By providing real‑time,...
Why Populists Are Winning and How to Beat Them by Liam Byrne Review – a Surprisingly Original Prescription
Liam Byrne, former New Labour minister, releases a sharply written book diagnosing Britain’s right‑wing populist surge and proposing centrist counter‑strategies. He argues austerity and elite disconnect fueled voter disillusionment, while populists succeed through clear, informal messaging that resonates with “sixth‑sense”...
Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite
Olivia Waite’s novella *Murder by Memory* follows detective Dorothy Gentleman aboard the thousand‑year‑long generation ship Fairweather, where a mind‑backup system called the Library normally guarantees seamless reincarnation. When a magnetic storm sabotages the Library, Dorothy awakens in a stranger’s body,...
7 Life-Changing Books that Can Transform Your Mindset
YourStory highlights seven books that consistently reshape readers' mindsets and drive personal growth. Each title—from James Clear’s *Atomic Habits* to Eckhart Tolle’s *The Power of Now*—offers distinct strategies for habit formation, purpose discovery, effective leadership, entrepreneurial thinking, spiritual awareness, and...
Patricia Cornwell on Crime and Creativity
Patricia Cornwell, author of over 40 novels and 120 million copies sold, is preparing the launch of her “Scarpetta” series on Amazon starring Nicole Kidman. She announced her upcoming memoir, “True Crime,” slated for May, in which she shares lessons on...
Nowhere Burning by Catriona Ward
Catriona Ward’s latest thriller, *Nowhere Burning*, intertwines three eras around an isolated Rocky Mountain estate called Nowhere. The novel follows a 1920s movie star’s sinister architect, 1970s orphaned siblings fleeing abuse, and contemporary filmmakers hunting a rumored community of feral...
Rebecca Solnit Says the Left’s Next Hero Is Already Here
Rebecca Solnit’s New York Times interview, tied to her book *The Beginning Comes After the End*, frames hope as a form of defiance and argues that real change emerges from collective civil society rather than a single heroic figure. She...
Richard Hell on and Poetry as a Way of Life
Richard Hell, the seminal punk‑rock figure, joins NYRB’s Private Life podcast to discuss his novel *Godlike*. The book, first published in 2005, has been reissued by NYRB Classics with a new afterword by Raymond Foye. *Godlike* fuses Hell’s 1970s New York...
The National Book Trust’s India@75 Series Brings Forgotten Figures Into the Limelight
The National Book Trust’s India@75 series has spotlighted overlooked Indian women scientists, releasing a biography of meteorologist Anna Mani that details her design of over 100 weather instruments and contributions to renewable energy research. Authored by neuroscientist Asha Gopinathan, the book aims...
From the Archive: Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Measure of Constraint
In 1974 a lost diary of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, covering June 1831‑April 1832, was published, offering a vivid portrait of her constrained upbringing. The entries detail her rigorous self‑education in Latin and Greek, a passionate yet platonic attachment to the...
The Latest Author Protest Against AI
Around 10,000 UK authors have jointly released an empty volume titled *Don’t Steal This Book* to protest the use of their works in training AI systems. The book, containing only a roster of contributors, will be distributed at the London...
The Perils of Adapting Kazuo Ishiguro
Japanese director Kei Ishikawa’s new film adapts Kazuo Ishiguro’s debut novel “A Pale View of Hills,” which the Nobel laureate has long described as technically unsophisticated. The movie foregrounds Etsuko’s daughter Niki, a journalist who records her mother’s recollections, while...
Jill Biden to Publish Memoir About Her Tenure as First Lady
Jill Biden is set to release her second memoir, *View from the East Wing*, on June 2, 2026, published by Gallery Books, with an audiobook narrated by Biden herself. The book offers a candid look at her tenure as First...
Help Me, Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates, a six‑decade literary titan and four‑time Pulitzer finalist, remains active on X, offering candid commentary on culture and creativity. In a recent i‑D interview, she shared practical advice ranging from job hunting to overcoming writer’s block, even...
Bolaño’s Heresy: On Distant Star
Roberto Bolaño’s introduction to *Distant Star* deliberately withholds any actual poems, replacing them with paraphrased descriptions and sky‑writing fragments. The narrator recounts three brief verses by the mysterious Ruiz‑Tagle, then shifts to the surreal aerial messages of Carlos Wieder, a...
Dan Simmons, Genre-Leaping Author of ‘The Terror,’ Dies at 77
Dan Simmons, the celebrated author behind the genre‑spanning Hyperion Cantos and more than 30 novels, died at 77 after suffering a stroke. His work traversed science fiction, horror, fantasy, crime and historical fiction, earning both critical acclaim and commercial success....
Orbiting
Cambridge University Press has released *Elizabeth Bowen in Context*, an edited collection that assembles newly sourced essays, letters, and criticism on the Anglo‑Irish novelist. The volume, edited by Allan Hepburn, brings together contributions that probe Bowen’s engagement with technology, comedy,...