The story begins in the waning days of 1916, with the United States soon to be embroiled in World War I under President Woodrow Wilson. In a crime that presages the violent conflict to come, a married wealthy couple, the Blandens, are brutally slaughtered in their home. The only other person known to be in…
The author focuses on a trio of figures he describes as standing at the forefront of “determinist advocacy” who argue that free will is an illusion: Sam Harris, who wrote the 2012 book Free Will, Robert Sapolsky, whose 2023 book was titled Determined, and Sabine Hossenfelder, who runs a popular podcast that discusses the subject.…
In a world filled with people possessing fantastic powers, 15-year-old Alé Aragón was once deemed a Deficient, lacking an “accelerated ability” that many others have. But he survived a brutal fight, marking him as a Feral, a designation that means his ability—to come back from the dead—is outside the Common Six (such as the telekinesis…
In the summer of 2003, the author, a NICU nurse, traveled to California after leaving an unhealthy relationship. A routine trip to the Santa Monica Farmers Market turned into a life-altering tragedy when 86-year-old Russell Weller’s “pedal error” caused his Buick to speed through the crowd, killing 10 and injuring many more. Cronin was hospitalized…
In this collection, Gedaliah confidently conjures the past, contemplates the future, and connects with the natural world. The first section, “Moods and Musings,” centers on “the heart of memory” and opens with “I Am Becoming,” written from the perspective of a child recently freed from a stroller: “I am locomotion. / I am wind. /…
Fares Hashem’s story begins before his birth, with his father, Mansour, whose friendship with the educated Iskandar Haleem introduces him to science, geography, Western medicine, and the possibilities of education. After witnessing the effectiveness of modern medicine firsthand, Mansour becomes determined that his son will receive a proper education, something Mansour himself never had. Fares…
In 1872, Christian Maclagan, a “Lady Associate” of the Society of Antiquaries, travels to a farm in Scotland to seek out a carved stone ball similar to the Towie ball, an ancient relic. A real-life historical figure, she has a narrative voice that reflects her outspoken personality: “The underlying fact that women are not taken…
Throughout its recorded history, “the Rock” has dwelled in the Atlantic world as much as the Mediterranean, a pillar of Hercules closely tied to Spain and Morocco but distinct from both. Since the Anglo-Dutch appropriation of Gibraltar in 1704, which separated the peninsular colony from Spain, there have been many accommodations between London and Madrid…
Two seemingly unconnected narratives intersect in this blood-soaked novel. One revolves around Joseph, a writer from Richmond, Virginia, who arrives in Bogotá, Colombia, on an assignment in 1991. He seeks a sense of purpose after his wife’s sexual betrayal and is hoping to write a book on the violent chaos roiling the country. There is…
Back in August, a rumor suggested that Oppo was testing a teleconverter lens for its upcoming Reno17 series. Now, a new leak claims that the lineup could launch in China as early as next month. According to tipster Smart Pikachu, the Oppo Reno17 series is scheduled to launch in China next month. Oppo Reno16 Pro…