Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of identity, addiction and poetry

Kaveh Akbar's novel 'Martyr!' is a journey of...

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'The Yahoo Boys' investigates Nigeria’s network of cyber crime 'sweetheart scams'

In 2022, journalist Carlos Barragán moved to Lagos, Nigeria to investigate a cybercrime network of text-based internet phishing, also known as “sweetheart scams." He found that a small band of young men known as the “Yahoo Boys” were creating fake avatars to lure American victims ...  Show more

R.F. Kuang says there’s 'quite a lot' of herself in 'Katabasis' protagonist Alice

R.F. Kuang’s fantasy novel Katabasis, first published in 2025, is out in paperback. The book is about two rival doctoral students studying magic at Cambridge University. Together, they travel to hell to rescue their recently deceased thesis advisor. Last year, Kuang joined NPR’s ...  Show more

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Kaveh Akbar Finds Meaning in Martyrdom
The Book Case

Kaveh Akbar weighs every word that he writes. An accomplished and published poet, any reader can tell that he understands the undeniable power of language with his first novel, called Martyr! Engaging, funny, fascinating and downright beautiful, Martyr! grabs your attention by th ...  Show more

Kaveh Akbar — How Prayer Works
Poetry Unbound

A narrative prose poem about two brothers — one on a visit home from college — who are turning to face east in their small shared room. With seven years between them, one is a young man and the other, the poet, is nearing his teens. Their prayer is interrupted by a sudden surpris ...  Show more

Joy Harjo — Poems as Teachers | Ep 2
Poetry Unbound

As appealing as it may sound, is it really possible to live in a world completely free of conflict? No. And since differences and disagreements are inevitable and natural, Joy Harjo gives ground rules in “Conflict Resolution for Holy Beings.” Her call to us echoes across time and ...  Show more

Surit Dasgupta Talks "The Reenchanted," Freedom, and the Hero's Journey
David Gornoski

David Gornoski is joined by Surit Dasgupta who talks about the inspiration behind his novella The Reenchanted, creating art to preserve freedom, violence in storytelling, the hero's journey, why the Gospels are artistic masterpieces, and more. Buy The Reenchanted here. Visit anei ...  Show more