Grim Realities Meet Magic And Absurdity In 'The Wrong Heaven'
NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with author Amy Bonnaffons about her first collection of short stories, The Wrong Heaven.
Arts
In 'The Captain,' Clothes Make The Man — And The Monster
A German deserter in the waning days of World War II dons a discarded Nazi officer's uniform for warmth, but soon finds himself wielding its authority with unnerving and violent cruelty.
Bookmarks Announces Festival Lineup, First Kids' Keynote Speaker
Local literary arts organization, Bookmarks, has announced the lineup for its fall festival.
Tom Cruise Keeps Gaining Momentum In 'Mission: Impossible — Fallout'
Cruise shows no sign of slowing down as he takes on the role of secret agent Ethan Hunt once again. Critic Justin Chang says the new Mission: Impossible is full of "exhilarating, large-scale action."
Stephen King: 'My Imagination Was Very Active — Even At A Young Age'
Bad things happen in Castle Rock, a new Hulu series based on King's fictional town. King spoke to Fresh Air in 1992, 2000 and 2013 about his career writing horror and his fear of losing his mind.
Jessica Walter's Alter Egos
Jessica Walter talks about playing boozy, acerbic moms on Arrested Development and Archer — and shares stories from her early days on TV.
The Artist Responsible For Chance The Rapper's Meme-Inspired Abstract Art
Illustrator Brandon Breaux has, since Chance The Rapper's debut mixtape, created the evocative portraits used on his covers. But for a recent series, Breaux went abstract — and meme-y.
Zachary Wood: Why Should We Listen To Views We Find Offensive?
In college, Zachary Wood joined a group that invites provocative speakers to campus, hoping to spark dialogue. But he soon learned not everyone wants to hear from those with whom they disagree.
Jeffrey Howard: Should A Culture Dedicated To Free Speech Limit Hate Speech?
Political scientist Jeffrey Howard says democracies should allow all types of speech — even if they're hurtful. The key, he says, is to respond with conversation rather than confrontation.
Elif Shafak: What Happens When Different Viewpoints Are Silenced?
Turkish novelist Elif Shafak has seen firsthand what can happen when a country restricts free speech. She says democracy depends on the right to openly exchange diverse, even oppositional, ideas.