Arts

Books
Arts

'Cold Silver' Drags Epic Fantasy Through The Mud, Wonderfully

3:54pm April 15, 2015

by Jason Heller

Alex Marshall (a pseudonym for an established author taking an epic new path) creates a memorable heroine in Cobalt Zosia, a retired general who's drawn back into blood and struggle against her will.

Books
Arts

Lewis And Clark Battle Giant Spiders In 'Dead Lands'

2:43pm April 15, 2015

by Jason Sheehan

Benjamin Percy's new thriller re-tells the story of Lewis and Clark's expedition, against a postapocalyptic future backdrop where the Mississippi has dried up and monsters roam the West.

Arts

'Justified' Ends With An Unpredictable, Poetic And Memorable Finale

2:22pm April 15, 2015

by David Bianculli

After six seasons on the FX network, Justified ended Tuesday. "What a triumph," says critic David Bianculli who adds that he loved the finale's "touches of grace" and "emphasis on character and tone."

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Books
Arts

'The Fishermen' Ventures Into Dark Waters

12:19pm April 15, 2015

by Michael Schaub

Chigozie Obioma's novel follows a group of young boys who disobey their elders to spend afternoons fishing on the banks of an unlucky river, and the terrible consequences that flow from that choice.

Arts

NC A&T State University Presents "No Dwelling: Homeless in America"

10:40am April 15, 2015

by David Ford

Last year, Guilford County Schools reported that 2,800 students experienced homelessness.

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In Ex Machina, the world's first artificial intelligence, played by Alicia Vikander, possesses more emotional intelligence than originally intended.

Arts

More Fear Of Human Intelligence Than Artificial Intelligence In 'Ex Machina'

7:45pm April 14, 2015

by NPR Staff

"The anxiety in this film is much more directed at the humans," director Alex Garland tells NPR's Audie Cornish. "It was more in defense of artificial intelligence."

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Presidential Campaign Logos Reach New Level Of Sophistication

7:45pm April 14, 2015

From water bottles and bumper stickers, to fundraising emails and Twitter accounts, the logos of the 2016 presidential candidates will soon be plastered across the country.

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Timothy Olyphant plays Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens on FX's Justified. The series finale airs tonight.

Arts

The 'Justified' Finale Brings An End To Another TV Western

5:30pm April 14, 2015

by Eric Deggans

FX's powerful modern-day Western 'Justified' airs its series finale tonight. NPR TV Critic Eric Deggans says its end underscores the decline of a once-powerful TV genre.

Books
Arts

'The Children's Crusade': A Heavily Plotted Family Saga To Dive Into And Savor

5:13pm April 14, 2015

by Maureen Corrigan

Ann Packer's latest is about a young Navy doctor who, after the Korean War, builds a house south of San Francisco. Fifty years later, his four adult children argue over the property.

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In House of Cards, Kevin Spacey plays Frank Underwood, a politician who climbs to power using ruthless manipulation. Underwood's wife is Claire, played by Robin Wright.

Arts

Forget Right And Wrong: 'House Of Cards' Is About Pragmatism And Power

3:05pm April 14, 2015

Kevin Spacey strangles a dog in the pilot, which creator Beau Willimon says producers balked at because they'd lose viewers. But "why not provide that litmus test right at the beginning?" he says.

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