The acclaimed American author and literary critic talks to Zoe West

Epic yet parochial: the director/writer discusses his first science fiction novel

The Irish author, 62, on escaping the news through writing, staying sober and scrolling the internet for pretty things

Our books editor Zoe West’s favourite picks for the month

THE LIBRARY OF TRAUMATIC MEMORY Tragic moments ★ ...

Which childhood book sparked your love of reading? The Shoe Shop Bears by Margaret J Baker, now sadly out of print. It was the first book I bought with my own money. I was bored by picture books and w