Zdena Salivarova, Publisher Who Kept Czech Literature Alive, Dies at 91

In exile in Canada, she and her husband, the novelist Josef Skvorecky, published books that had been outlawed by the Soviet-backed Communist regime.

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An Environmental Villain, Reconsidered

The award-winning science writer Peter Brannen makes the case for an often vilified compound in “The Story of CO2 Is the Story of Everything.”

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A New ‘Hansel and Gretel’ Unites Stephen King With Maurice Sendak

Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen follow the breadcrumbs.

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A.I. Bots or Us: Who Will End Humanity First?

Three new books run the gamut from dismissive to alarmed about our automated future.

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Spy Novels: A Starter Pack

Interested in espionage fiction, but don’t know where to start? Let our expert guide you.

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Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Favorite Haunted House Novels

The best-selling horror and fantasy author recommends books about the terrors that lurk under the stairs.

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A Tender New Biography Emphasizes James Baldwin’s Romantic Side

In “Baldwin: A Love Story,” Nicholas Boggs goes far beyond other scholars in tracing Baldwin’s relationships and their role in his work.

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Vacation Vibes: Match These Novels to Their Settings

Try this short quiz on popular novels that take you places, even if you’re staying home this summer.

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What’s Wrong With White People? A Story Collection Counts the Ways.

Mark Doten’s new book examines a contemporary American culture that routinely defies satire.

Teddy Wayne | NYTimes Books | Disclosure

A Novel That Offers the Pleasure of Seeing a Perfect Family Crumble

“Dominion,” by Addie E. Citchens, recounts the many sins of a prominent household in a Mississippi town.

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‘War Is Too Serious to Take Seriously All the Time,’ So He Wrote a Comic Novel

Elliot Ackerman, a Marine veteran and prolific author, switched gears with “Sheepdogs,” a caper story featuring down-on-their-luck ex-military buddies.

Celia McGee | NYTimes Books | Disclosure

These Science Fiction Novels Will Take You on an Epic Journey

The author of the Red Rising series recommends books cloaked in myth that use fantastic adventures to explore what it means to be human.

When Pierce Brown, the acclaimed author behind the Red Rising series, shares his reading recommendations, science fiction fans take notice. In a recent feature in The New York Times article "These Science Fiction Novels Will Take You on an Epic Journey," Brown offers compelling insights into the type of storytelling that captivates both readers and fellow authors.

What Makes Science Fiction Truly Epic According to Pierce Brown

Brown's approach to science fiction book recommendations focuses on novels that transcend mere space opera spectacle. Instead, he champions stories "cloaked in myth" – narratives that utilise the boundless possibilities of speculative fiction to delve deeply into fundamental questions about human existence, morality, and our place in the universe.

The Power of Mythological Storytelling in Modern Science Fiction

The concept of science fiction novels cloaked in myth represents a powerful literary tradition that dates back to foundational works like Frank Herbert's Dune and Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness. These stories leverage:

• Archetypal characters and situations that resonate across cultures
• Universal themes wrapped in futuristic or fantastical settings
• Philosophical depth that questions what defines humanity
• Epic scope that spans generations, worlds, or entire civilizations

Why "Fantastic Adventures" Matter in Exploring Human Nature

Brown's emphasis on fantastic adventures that explore human nature reflects a sophisticated understanding of how genre fiction operates. The best science fiction doesn't just transport readers to other worlds – it uses those alien landscapes as mirrors to examine our own:

Character Development Through Adversity: Epic journeys force characters to confront their deepest fears, strongest convictions, and hidden potential, revealing truths about human resilience and growth.

Moral Complexity in Extreme Situations: Fantastical scenarios allow authors to explore ethical dilemmas without the constraints of contemporary politics or social expectations.

Universal Themes in Unique Settings: Whether it's loyalty tested in the vacuum of space or love challenged by time travel, these adventures illuminate timeless human experiences.

The Red Rising Legacy: How Pierce Brown Practices What He Preaches

Brown's own Red Rising book series exemplifies this philosophy perfectly. Set in a color-coded caste society centuries in the future, the saga follows Darrow's transformation from Red miner to revolutionary leader. While the setting is pure science fiction, the themes – class struggle, the cost of revolution, the corrupting nature of power – are deeply human and historically resonant.

The series demonstrates how epic science fiction journeys can simultaneously entertain and enlighten, using thrilling space battles and political intrigue to examine questions about:

• Social justice and systemic oppression
• The price of violent change versus gradual reform
• Leadership, sacrifice, and moral compromise
• Love, friendship, and betrayal under extreme circumstances

Finding Your Next Epic Science Fiction Adventure

For readers seeking science fiction novels that explore humanity, Brown's recommendations point toward books that offer more than escapism. Look for stories that combine:

1. Mythic storytelling structures (hero's journeys, chosen ones, fallen empires)
2. Philosophical depth beneath the adventure
3. Complex world-building that serves character development
4. Universal themes explored through speculative elements
5. Epic scope that spans multiple books or generations

These elements create the kind of transformative reading experience that stays with readers long after the final page, proving that the best science fiction adventures are ultimately journeys into the depths of human nature itself.

What science fiction novels have taken you on epic journeys that changed how you see humanity? Share your recommendations in the comments below.

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Do You Know These Books and Their Television Adaptations?

Try this short quiz on the memoirs and other nonfiction titles that have inspired popular streaming and network shows.

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This Tale of Boyhood Is Brutal. It’s Also Unforgettable.

In C. Mallon’s novel, a teenager’s night out with friends dissolves into a collision of catastrophes.

Isaac Fitzgerald | NYTimes Books | Disclosure

Jason Mott Doesn’t Get the Love for Cormac McCarthy’s Last Books

This “huge” fan of the writer (and of Nicolas Cage) says he “pretty much hated” “The Passenger” and “Stella Maris.” His own new novel is “People Like Us.”

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A Life of Threadbare Bohemian Privilege, Revisited

Esther Freud returns to the autofictional world of her breakout novel, “Hideous Kinky,” published more than 30 years ago.

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