Star Trek at the Oscars
Few franchises can rival the enduring success of Star Trek. With 13 films across some 40 years, it is no surprise that it has also been a consistent presence at the biggest event in filmmaking – the Oscars.
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A Closer Look at Benny Russell's Library
In 1998, one episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine broke the mould in a radical way, shining a light on the great works of African American literature.
How the United Nations Helped Shape the Federation
On UN Day, Christian Kriticos looks at how the United Nations influenced Star Trek and how Trek fans can return the favour.
Another Side of George R.R. Martin
George R. R. Martin's earlier work seems to have been forgotten, or at least overshadowed by, his colossal success with A Song of Ice and Fire and its TV adaptation, Game of Thrones.
How W.B Yeats Captured the Essence of Star Trek a Century Before its Time
To celebrate National Poetry Month, Christian Kriticos takes a look at how a W. B. Yeats poem captures the spirit of Star Trek.
Stories Behind Classic Book Covers: The Great Gatsby
Francis Cugat’s painting is perhaps the most famous book cover in American literature. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s editor understood its significance immediately, declaring it “a masterpiece for this book”.
J. M. Coetzee’s “Bread and Beans” Writing
Man shall not live by bread alone. But add some unsalted bean paste and you have all the nutrients needed for healthy, hard-working life. At least, that is, according to J. M. Coetzee's latest novel, The Schooldays of Jesus.
James Joyce and the Yuletide Epiphany
As we leave the festive season, James Joyce's The Dead represents a return to reality. For Joyce, true epiphanies do not come during Christmas, amidst wine and tinsel, but after the celebrations have died down, when we find ourselves alone.
A Reading Resolution
I am making a New Year’s resolution to embrace the unexpected book; to make an effort to read things I have never heard of, on subjects I know nothing about.
Made of Sterner Stuff: On Roald Dahl and 'Love From Boy'
This newly published collection of Roald Dahl's letters shows how devoted he was to his mother—and how lucky he was to survive the travails of English boarding school life.
Five Great Film Adaptations of American Literature
For as long as Hollywood has been making movies, it has looked to America's literary greats for inspiration. Christian Kriticos selects his five favourites adaptations—from the page to the big screen.
An Invitation to Hesitate: John Hersey’s 'Hiroshima' at 70
In August 1946, The New Yorker eschewed cartoons and “Talk of the Town” in favour of something less frivolous: a 30,000-word article on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
Origin Stories: The Darker Side of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Story of Kullervo, the first known prose work by J. R. R. Tolkien, offers fans of Middle Earth a chance to read what may be one of the earliest sources for Tolkien’s quintessential literary fantasy realm.
The Orchard: A Forgotten American Classic
Many of America’s great writers only achieved recognition posthumously. But, Adele Crockett Robertson’s memoir, The Orchard, published 15 years after her death, failed to launch her to fame.
Animals Emoting: An Interview with Yann Martel
Christian Kriticos catches up with Yann Martel to discuss his latest novel, The High Mountains of Portugal. Their wide-ranging conversation covers Jesus, animal husbandry, and J.M. Coetzee’s one bad book.
Stories Behind Classic Book Covers: The Catcher in the Rye
The old mantra says “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. But some, like the famous first edition cover to J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye, have achieved such an iconic status that they beg for closer scrutiny.
Five Great American Short Stories
As the short story form undergoes a renaissance in the digital age of speed and brevity, Christian Kriticos selects five American favourites for your consideration.
Hapworth Revisited: On J.D. Salinger's Most Inscrutable Short Story
Fifty years ago, The New Yorker published a bizarre short story by J.D. Salinger. No one could know it at the time, but this would lead to one of the longest and most fascinating silences in literary history.