#fiction

#fiction

It was once commonly understood that fiction was in the wisdom business, that it offered not only aesthetic pleasure but also moral improvement. This function of literature was not tough to spot. One of the first English novels was Samuel Richardson's 1740 work, Pamela: Or, Virtue Rewarded-a title not meant ironically. Through the 19th century, many authors turned directly to the reader with philosophical and social (if sometimes ironic) commentary: "It is a truth universally acknowledged"; "It was the best of times"; "All happy families are alike." For readers not up to the challenge of full George Eliot novels, her enterprising publisher compiled a volume of Eliot's many Wise, Witty, and Tender Sayings, in order to more broadly distribute "a morality as pure as it is impassioned."

Two fiction books about good friends coming from different circumstances. Two biographies of people whose influence on American culture is, arguably, still underrated. One Liza Minnelli memoir. These are just a handful of books coming out in the first few months of 2026 that we've got our eye on. Fiction 'Autobiography of Cotton' by Cristina Rivera Garza, Feb. 3 Garza, who won a Pulitzer in 2024 for memoir/autobiography, actually first published Autobiography of Cotton back in 2020, but it's only now getting an English translation.

What is available is the daydream-a limitless realm of freedom. In this other world, one might be famous or rich, finally catch the attention of their beloved, or simply sit on a beach as a waiter brings them cocktails. They might fly or speak to animals, heroically save a child, tell off their boss with no consequences, win the Super Bowl at the whistle, or travel to another continent, planet, or time period. No one can stop them; no one can even object.

Brooklyn's librarians have spoken-and they've delivered a reading list with more range than the G train on a good day. The Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) has unveiled its 100 favorite books of 2025, a staff-curated mix of fiction, poetry, memoir, kids' picks and wonderfully odd gems that prove librarians remain the city's most reliable tastemakers.

Illustration by The New Yorker; Source photograph by Liana Blum

James Drayton, born to north London academics, is a socially awkward high achiever who privately measures himself against Christopher Columbus and Napoleon.

Bruno Lacombe, now in self-exile, believes the left must understand the increased divide between humanity and nature since the Neanderthal extinction, surpassing economic class warfare.

The tech industry is often inspired by movies, with many gadgets resembling those from iconic films like Ready Player One, Her, and Minority Report.

In her debut novel, the Portland author follows Annie, clutching a plush caterpillar toy and ignoring a gash in her elbow, as she walks - walks! - in her inadequate Birkenstocks and ridiculous maternity romper through a hellish landscape. She treks all the way from the big Ikea out by the Portland airport to a school in Southeast Portland, where a fellow traveler searches for her daughter in the rubble.

In this summer's collection of anticipated novels, R.F. Kuang, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Gary Shteyngart bring unique narratives to readers seeking captivating summer reads.

Yiyun Li discusses the depth and intricacies found in William Trevor's short story "The Piano Tuner's Wives," revealing its emotional resonance and layered themes, inviting readers to explore shared human experiences.

Murata's characters often engage in perverse behaviors to appear normal, showcasing the extremes of human effort to conform to societal expectations.

The Doctor and Belinda navigate a high-stakes adventure on a radiation-saturated planet while questioning humanity's future, touching on themes of exploration and survival.