Category Archives: American literature

April 9, 2018

Q&A with Joseph Vogel, author of “James Baldwin and the 1980s”

Posted by michael
in African American Studies, american history, American literature, author commentary, authors, new books, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Q&A with Joseph Vogel, author of “James Baldwin and the 1980s”

Joseph Vogel is an assistant professor of English at Merrimack College. He is the author of Man in the Music: The Creative Life and Work of Michael Jackson. He recently answered some questions about his new book, James Baldwin and the 1980s: … Continue reading →

November 17, 2017

6 Books on the Black Chicago Renaissance

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in African American Studies, american history, American literature, black studies, Uncategorized | Comments Off on 6 Books on the Black Chicago Renaissance

The Chicago Black Renaissance was a time of growth and innovation for Chicago’s Black artistic community. During the early to mid 20th century, Chicago was the place where poets and musicians like Gwendolyn Brooks and Nat King Cole flourished. Here are … Continue reading →

April 13, 2017

Backlist Bop: Take a Ride on the Reading

Posted by rkcunningham
in African American Studies, American literature, literary studies | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Backlist Bop: Take a Ride on the Reading

As main man LeVar Burton can attest, you can go twice as high if you take a look, it’s in a book. Reading, though an essential skill to anyone outside politics, is also a topic of intense literary interest. Scholars across … Continue reading →

February 24, 2017

200 Years of Illinois: Death of a science fiction master

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in American literature, science fiction | Tagged , , | Comments Off on 200 Years of Illinois: Death of a science fiction master

On February 25, 2009, science fiction master Philip José Farmer—author of the Riverworld series and the Hugo-winning To Your Scattered Bodies Go—departed our reality at age 91. When it happened I wondered, How did Philip José Farmer end up in Peoria? But it turned out he … Continue reading →

November 10, 2016

Octavia Butler and a new direction

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in African American Studies, American literature, science fiction | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Octavia Butler and a new direction

Octavia Butler accomplished many near-impossibles. She succeeded as a woman in science fiction. She succeeded as an African American woman in science fiction. She also broke out of the genre’s restraints to earn attention in the American literary sphere. It … Continue reading →

November 10, 2016

“I don’t write utopian science fiction”

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in American literature, biography, science fiction | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on “I don’t write utopian science fiction”

Excerpts from Octavia E. Butler, the new Modern Masters of Science Fiction book by Gerry Canavan: “If we humans are, as Lauren believes, and as I believe, a part of Earth in significant ways, then perhaps we can’t, or shouldn’t, leave … Continue reading →

September 30, 2016

Banning books

Posted by rkcunningham
in American literature, publishing | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Banning books

Last year Slate ran an article that, in that annoying Slate way, made it clear: the battle is won. We no longer have to fear book banning. It is a rare phenomenon, in America, at least, and true bannings—as opposed to, say, a … Continue reading →

September 8, 2016

Five quotes from Frederik Pohl

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in American literature, biography, science fiction | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Five quotes from Frederik Pohl

Today, UIP author Michael R. Page takes to the Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast to discuss the work and legacy of science fiction master Frederik Pohl. In his seven-decade career, Pohl not only wrote acclaimed novels and stories but shaped … Continue reading →

August 22, 2016

Bradbury Trivia: Ray and Rod

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in American literature, authors, biography, science fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Bradbury Trivia: Ray and Rod

Ray Bradbury, born on August 22, 1920, is known for his breakthrough novels such as Fahrenheit 451.  As Jonathan R. Eller writes in Ray Bradbury Unbound, the author also made an impact in television and film. Bradbury only wrote one episode of … Continue reading →

May 16, 2016

RIP Michael S. Harper

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in American literature, poetry | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on RIP Michael S. Harper

Michael S. Harper had a claim on the title of poet-historian, for he drew on the vast histories of African Americans as well as the United States to create works celebrated for their scope and jazz-influenced rhythms. “My poems are … Continue reading →