Petra Mayer

Petra Mayer appears in the following:

Questions For Arkady Martine, Author Of 'A Memory Called Empire'

Sunday, April 07, 2019

City planner and Byzantine historian Arkady Martine puts her academic experience to work in a new novel about an ambassador from a small space station who comes to the court of a devouring empire.

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This Valentine's Day, Make A Date With A Book

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Sure, it's great to celebrate love, but why not escape all the relationship pressures, buy yourself some chocolate and make a date with a good romance novel? Here are five our our all-time favorites.

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Albert Finney, Who Played Tom Jones, Daddy Warbucks And Hamlet, Dies At 82

Friday, February 08, 2019

The renowned British actor was nominated for five Oscars and two Tony Awards, among other prizes. His career spanned six decades, from understudying Laurence Olivier to appearing in a James Bond film.

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The Monkees Tried To Cut Their Strings With 'Head'

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Hey, hey, they were the Monkees, and by 1968 they were sick and tired of their manufactured boy-band image, so they took a sledgehammer to it in the surreal, angry, stream-of-consciousness Head.

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NPR's Book Concierge: Our Guide To 2018's Great Reads

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

The Book Concierge is back! Explore more than 300 standout titles picked by NPR staff and critics.

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Exclusive: 'Friday Black,' 'There There' And More Longlisted For Aspen Words Prize

Monday, November 19, 2018

Other titles include Ling Ma's Severance and Elaine Castillo's America is Not the Heart. This is the second year for the prize, which focuses on fiction that addresses contemporary issues.

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'The Ravenmaster' Is Definitely (There) For The Birds

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Legend says that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, England will fall. Luckily, ravenmaster Chris Skaife is there to care for them, and he's got a new book about these extraordinary birds.

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'Our Fathers Were Like Ghosts:' Questions For Juan Vidal, Author Of 'Rap Dad'

Monday, October 08, 2018

Writer, critic and musician Juan Vidal grew up largely fatherless, falling in and out of trouble — but he found fellowship, poetry, and eventually guidance in the words of his favorite rappers.

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After 'Forty Years Of Pointed Ears,' 'ElfQuest' Ends Its Legendary Run

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

ElfQuest is a comics industry institution — this saga of, yes, elves on a quest has been running since 1978. But now, creators Wendy and Richard Pini have brought the quest to an end.

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'Chesapeake Requiem' Chronicles Life On An Endangered Island

Monday, August 27, 2018

Tangier Island, in the Chesapeake Bay, has been home to a small, self-reliant community of watermen for centuries — and now climate change is threatening to swamp the island and its way of life.

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Ashes To Ashes, Funk To Funky: Questions For Jason Heller, Author Of 'Strange Stars'

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Critic and author Jason Heller's new book traces the considerable influence of David Bowie on the science-fiction inflected music of the 1970s, from "Space Oddity" to the glittery glory of Funkadelic.

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Click If You Dare: 100 Favorite Horror Stories

Thursday, August 16, 2018

In honor of Frankenstein's 200th birthday, this year's summer reader poll is all about horror — from classics like Mary Shelley's monster to new favorites, we've got something to scare everyone.

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Comic-Con Day 4: The Monstrous Regiment

Sunday, July 22, 2018

San Diego Comic-Con ended on Sunday, and our intrepid correspondents Mallory Yu and Petra Mayer report on an Eisner Awards ceremony (the Oscars of comics) dominated by women and writers of color.

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Writer Seanan McGuire Speaks On Her Many Genres

Sunday, July 22, 2018

Seanan McGuire has published dozens of books in the past few years that take place across multiple fictional universes. We meet up with her at San Diego Comic-Con, where she meets with fans.

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Comic-Con Day 3: The Best Hawkeye

Saturday, July 21, 2018

On their third day at San Diego Comic-Con, NPR's Mallory Yu and Petra Mayer get into the spirit of things by dressing up as their favorite heroes and checking out the amazing costumes on display.

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Comic-Con, Day 2: Who's Day

Friday, July 20, 2018

Our intrepid reporters Mallory Yu and Petra Mayer take on another day of San Diego Comic-Con, from immersive fan adventures to, yes, all the Doctor Who you can shake a sonic screwdriver at.

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Comic-Con, Day 1: Still Alive

Thursday, July 19, 2018

The huge fan convention that is San Diego Comic-Con kicks off today. NPR's Petra Mayer and Mallory Yu are there, and their look at Preview Night includes fandom, puppets and the aspirations of girls.

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Remembering Writer Harlan Ellison

Friday, June 29, 2018

The famous, and famously cantankerous, science fiction writer Harlan Ellison has died. Over a 6-decade career, he won multiple awards for his fiction and television writing.

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Laura Ingalls Wilder's Name Removed From Children's Literature Award

Monday, June 25, 2018

The Association for Library Service to Children has voted to rename its Laura Ingalls Wilder award for children's literature, after complaints about Wilder's portrayal of Native Americans.

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Summer Horror Poll: Meet Our Expert Panelists!

Thursday, June 21, 2018

We asked you to tell us about your favorite horror novels and short stories, and you gave us more than 6,500 titles. Now, meet the expert judges who'll take those parts and create a beautiful monster.

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