Fresh Air Fresh Air

Novelist Octavia Butler grew up loving fantasy and science fiction stories. She never saw characters who looked like she did in those pages — so she made up her own. Her novels include "Parable of the Sower," "Kindred" and "Fledging," among many others, and she appeared on Fresh Air in 1993. Hear the full Octavia Butler interview: https://n.pr/3QbjZLY. Listen to 40+ years of Fresh Air's archives at https://FreshAirArchive.org. Not a Fresh Air+ supporter yet? Find out more, and join for yourself, at https://plus.npr.org/freshair.

In a new Hulu docuseries, Jon Bon Jovi looks back on his career and his recovery after vocal surgery. He spoke with Terry Gross about his breakthrough hit "Runaway" and how he's evolved as a musician.

Also, we'll hear from fantasy author Leigh Bardugo. She's best known for her YA series Shadow and Bone. Her new adult novel, The Familiar, set in 16th century Spain, is about a young woman who can perform miracles.

Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews a new collection of letters by Emily Dickinson.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

The New York Times described Paul Auster as the "Patron Saint of Literary Brooklyn." He died Tuesday of complications of lung cancer. He was 77. We'll listen back to some of our interviews with him, including one about his early career when he was desperately trying to make a living as writer, and even tried writing porn.

Justin Chang reviews the new film The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Congress and President Biden say TikTok must shed its financial ties to China or face a ban in the U.S. But Washington Post tech reporter Drew Harwell says selling the company is complicated.

For sponsor-free episodes of Fresh Air — and exclusive weekly bonus episodes, too — subscribe to Fresh Air+ via Apple Podcasts or here.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

In The Demon of Unrest, author Erik Larson chronicles the five months between the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and the start of the Civil War, drawing parallels to today's political climate.

Also, David Bianculli reviews the FX/Hulu spy thriller series The Veil, starring Elisabeth Moss.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Leigh Bardugo is best known for her YA Shadow and Bone series. Her adult novel, The Familiar, centers on a young woman in 16th century Spain who must hide her identity as a Jew who converted to Catholicism. She spoke with producer Sam Briger.

Also, jazz historian Kevin Whitehead looks at a reissue of Sonny Rollins.

For sponsor-free episodes of Fresh Air — and exclusive weekly bonus episodes, too — subscribe to Fresh Air+ via Apple Podcasts or here.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy