Arts & Life

Matt Damon portrays an astronaut who relies on science to survive on a hostile planet.

How 'The Martian' Became A Science Love Story

7:35pm September 30, 2015

by Geoff Brumfiel

The movie about a stranded astronaut is being hailed for its scientific realism. Andy Weir, who wrote the book the film is based on, is a longtime computer programmer who sees romance in numbers.

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Jazz Saxophonist Phil Woods Dies At 83

6:44pm September 30, 2015

by Andrew Limbong

Jazz saxophonist Phil Woods was a disciple of Charlie Parker, one of the pioneers of bebop. But Woods reached millions of ears through his playing on pop songs by Paul Simon, Billy Joel and others. Woods died Tuesday at the age of 83.

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One chapter in Cathy Huyghe's Hungry for Wine is devoted to the Vinkara vineyards in Turkey where "hero wine" is produced.

From Syria To South Africa, A Passion For Wine Flows Bottle By Bottle

6:11pm September 30, 2015

by Alicia Cypress

A wine writer travels the world to uncover the stories behind 12 bottles of wine. Each bottle offers insight into politics, environment, economics and community.

The Kirkus Prize will announce its winners at a ceremony in Austin, Texas, on Oct. 15.

Books
Arts

In Sophomore Year, Kirkus Prize Features An Eclectic Mix Of Finalists

1:59pm September 30, 2015

by Colin Dwyer

The literary award, launched last year by Kirkus Reviews, lists Ta-Nehisi Coates, Helen Macdonald and Hanya Yanagihara among 18 finalists across three categories. The prize carries a purse of $50,000.

Journalist Discusses The Rise Of ISIS And Its Future In Syria And Iraq

1:41pm September 30, 2015

Joby Warrick, author of Black Flags, traces the Islamic State's development from an al-Qaida-related insurgency in Iraq to a successful jihadist movement that now holds territory in Syria and Iraq.

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Arts

Cultural Capital: 50 Years Of Investment In U.S. Arts And Humanities

12:22pm September 30, 2015

by Tom Cole

The National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities, two federal grant-making agencies aimed at investing in American culture, turn 50 on Tuesday.

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Cover detail from Stories from the Shadows, by James O'Connell.

House Calls To The Homeless: A Doctor Treats Boston's Most Isolated Patients

11:39am September 30, 2015

James O'Connell refers to himself as a "street doctor." Since 1985, he has cared for homeless patients, sometimes making visits on park benches or in alleys. His memoir is Stories from the Shadows.

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Books
Arts

'Zeroes' Is A Superhero Story — About Teenage Losers

10:03am September 30, 2015

by Tasha Robinson

In this new collaborative YA novel, three authors — Scott Westerfeld, Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti — each take charge of two characters, teenagers with offbeat and troublesome superpowers.

Gold Fame Citrus by Claire Vaye Watkins.

Books
Arts

'Gold Fame Citrus' Holds Fear In A Handful Of Dust

8:55am September 30, 2015

by Jason Sheehan

Claire Vaye Watkins' first novel is a frighteningly believable near-future dystopia; drought has ruined the West, and two holdouts among the wreckage find their lives changed by a strange child.

Arts

Michelle Dorrance: 'I Just Knew I Would Never Stop Tap Dancing'

7:36am September 30, 2015

by NPR Staff

Dorrance was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship on Tuesday. For her, tap dance is the ultimate art form. "To be able to be a dancer and a musician at the same time — there's nothing like it," she says.

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