Jonathan Franzen in Womanland

Cherilyn Parsons / Truthdig Oct 1, 2010 "Freedom" is about something important, but the hubbub about how the critical establishment favors male literary writers like Franzen is also significant Why has everyone cared so much? Because fiction matters. Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

James Cameron Working on ‘Avatar’ Novel

Staff / Truthdig Feb 17, 2010 There's no shortage of fan fiction and musty paperbacks based on science fiction movies, but it's highly unusual for the creators of such films to actually write the things. James Cameron is reportedly working on a novel based on the back story of his latest film, which has already made more money than any movie ever. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Chris Hedges on Books About War

BLANK Dec 1, 2009 The Truthdig columnist, veteran war correspondent and author of "War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning" tells "On the Media" that when it comes to capturing war, "fiction is a better medium." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Freedom’s Fight: Part II

Gary Phillips / Truthdig Nov 21, 2009 Truthdig is pleased to present the second excerpt from Gary Phillips’ novel “Freedom’s Fight,” which interweaves real historical figures and situations in a fictive narrative about World War II, focusing not just on the black soldier’s struggle, but also on the debates various civil rights groups had about the war stateside. This second installment from Gary Phillips' historical novel "Freedom's Fight" focuses on black soldiers in World War II. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Freedom’s Fight

By Gary Phillips Nov 12, 2009 Truthdig is pleased to present an excerpt from Gary Phillips' novel "Freedom’s Fight," which interweaves real historical figures and situations in a fictive narrative about World War II, focusing not just on the black soldier’s struggle, but also on the debates various civil rights groups had about the war stateside.The historical novel "Freedom's Fight" focuses on black soldiers in World War II and the debates about the war among civil rights groups stateside. Dig deeper ( 21 Min. Read )

Alice Walker’s Message to Obama

Staff / Truthdig Nov 9, 2008 Author and activist Alice Walker took a moment last week to write a note to Barack Obama, relaying a few requests and offering some advice, such as to find time to relax amid the challenges and changes that await him and his family. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Vive Le Clézio!

Staff / Truthdig Oct 10, 2008 French novelist Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio was named this year's winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature on Thursday. Le Clézio, whom the Swedish Academy fancifully described as an "author of new departures, poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy, explorer of a humanity beyond and below the reigning civilisation," has written more than 20 novels since the early age of 23. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Moral Force Moves Into History

Staff / Truthdig Aug 4, 2008 He was born into a Cossack family, which was just one of many indications that life wasn't exactly going to be conflict-free for Alexander Solzhenitsyn, who died Aug. 3. The Russian writer survived eight years in Stalin's notorious gulags and became one of his country's most controversial critical thinkers, a process that continued during the two decades he was forced to live in exile. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

By George W. Bush

Staff / Truthdig Jun 16, 2008 If authoring a war against innocent civilians abroad and civil liberties at home wasn't enough, George W. Bush is toying with the idea of writing a book upon leaving the Oval Office in January. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Norman Mailer Dead at 84

Staff / Truthdig Nov 11, 2007 News of the loss of one of America's most unique voices, Norman Mailer, rippled through the literary community Saturday after Mailer's biographer announced that the author of "The Armies of the Night" and "The Naked and the Dead" had expired at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

‘Caspian Rain’

Gina Nahai Sep 17, 2007 Truthdig is pleased to present these two excerpts from the novel "Caspian Rain" by Gina Nahai, best-selling author of "Moonlight on the Avenue of Faith." In "Rain," her fourth novel, Nahai explores Iran's complex culture through the eyes of a group of memorable characters living in various sectors of society during the years leading up to the Islamic Revolution. Dig deeper ( 9 Min. Read )

That’s ‘Sir Salman Rushdie’ to You

Staff / Truthdig Jun 17, 2007 Eighteen years after the publication of Salman Rushdie's explosively controversial novel "The Satanic Verses" -- which led to widespread criticism by Muslims and a death threat ordered by Ayatollah Khomeini -- the Indian-born writer has been singled out for a much more desirable form of official recognition: Rushdie has been knighted by the queen of England. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )