Is he Christ? Is he Moses? Superman’s religious and ethical undertones add to his mystique
Superman was born Kryptonian, raised Methodist and sketched into existence by two Jewish teens in 1930s Cleveland. Faith and morality are his DNA. There are no overt religious references in Superman comics. But over eight decades, he’s been viewed as a divine entity, a savior figure — his sacrifice Christ-like,...
New book ‘Pittsburgh in 50 Maps’ gets up close and personal with the city
From the Pittsburgh left to the Immaculate Reception, Stentor Danielson wants every one of his maps to tell a story about the city. His new book, “Pittsburgh in 50 Maps,” is the fourth in a series of map-based compilations by Belt Publishing. Before the Steel City, the Rust Belt-focused publishing...
Salman Rushdie’s 1st book of fiction since his stabbing will be published in November
NEW YORK — Salman Rushdie has a collection of novellas and short stories coming out this fall, his first published fiction since being stabbed repeatedly and hospitalized in 2022. Random House announced Thursday that Rushdie’s “The Eleventh Hour,” billed by the publisher as “five interlinked stories and novellas that explore...
Trafford authors to deliver talk on their literary work, small-town upbringing
Trafford authors Lori Jakiela and Dave Newman will give a talk on April 3 about the influence of their small towns on their literary works. The married couple live in Trafford, Jakiela’s hometown. Newman grew up in Irwin. They will read excerpts of their work before delivering their talks. A...
North Side author highlights Pittsburgh’s history of stadiums and arenas
Pittsburgh had the first indoor rink in North America with artificial ice. The Schenley Park Casino was located at the entrance to Schenley Park when it opened in 1895. Built at a cost of $400,000, it had 18-foot windows, 1,500 incandescent lights, two tiers of seating, luxury boxes, a café,...
Saint Vincent professor co-authors book examining Taylor Swift’s leadership skills
Michael J. Urick doesn’t consider himself a Swiftie. While he does appreciate some of Taylor Swift’s hit tunes, the Saint Vincent College faculty member has an even greater appreciation for the leadership skills the singer-songwriter has demonstrated on her way to becoming one of the most well-known figures in global...
John Feinstein, Washington Post columnist who wrote ‘A Season on the Brink’ and other books, dies
WASHINGTON — John Feinstein, one of the country’s foremost sports writers and the author of numerous bestselling books, including the groundbreaking “A Season on the Brink” about college basketball coach Bob Knight, died unexpectedly Thursday. Feinstein was 69. He died of natural causes at his brother’s home in McLean, Virginia,...
TribLive reporter’s quarantine journey with mother becomes award-winning story, book
Five years ago, as the covid-19 pandemic gripped the region, TribLive reporter JoAnne Klimovich Harrop quarantined in a nursing home with her mother as society began to shut down. Harrop left her husband, her home and her career to stay in the former Charles Morris Nursing and Rehabilitation Center with...
Fox Chapel event honors Women’s History Month with local author Eliza Smith Brown
Pittsburgh author Eliza Smith Brown will mark Women’s History Month in March with a personal tale of two females who transformed the local political landscape. Brown will lead a discussion of formidable sisters Lucy and Eliza Kennedy — her grandmother and great aunt, respectively — who came of age in...
Butler author considers William Trent among ‘founding fathers of Pittsburgh’
William Trent is not necessarily a name that would come up in the typical American history class. But Butler native, historian and author Jason Cherry knows better. He knows Trent was considered one of the most influential backcountry merchants of the 18th century and was among the men who cast...
‘Bettis: Where Pittsburgh Aviation Took Off’ details forgotten local history
McKeesport native Helen Richey became the first woman to fly a commercial airliner to deliver mail and transport passengers. She was part of what was known as the “air-minded movement.” Richey and Amelia Earhart, the first female pilot to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean, appeared in an advertisement...
Bridgeville author’s thriller has an unlikely antagonist: a mutant raccoon
A Bridgeville author’s new book strives to have people step into the world of genetic experimentation, government conspiracies and an unusual antagonist. Mark Berton, 48, released “Aroughcoune” on Feb. 19. The story revolves around a giant, military-bred, genetically modified raccoon that escapes from a secret lab and wanders around Western...
Really, who were those masked men? New series of books probes backstories of Marvel superheroes
NEW YORK — If you love movies or comics, you’ve likely followed the adventures of Spider-Man, Iron Man and other superheroes. A new line of books will let you explore the back stories of their creation. On Wednesday, Bloomsbury and Marvel announced a multi-year, multi-volume licensing agreement for “Marvel Age...
It’s a publishing fairy tale. ‘Hansel and Gretel’ is reimagined by Stephen King and Maurice Sendak
An upcoming edition of “Hansel and Gretel” combines the dark and singular talents of two literary giants who apparently never met: Stephen King and the late Maurice Sendak. HarperCollins Publishers announced Thursday that the King-Sendak re-imagining of the famed Brothers Grimm tale about two lost children in a frightening forest...
Horror author, former Oakmont resident, continues story he started in Netflix ‘Residue’ seriesVideo
Pittsburgh-area native John Harrison was in the midst of writing his first novel when he was approached by an English film company interested in turning his book into a Web series. But they had a request — could he start his story a little earlier? “They liked the idea for...
Salman Rushdie testifies about his shock and pain as a stranger repeatedly stabbed him on stage
MAYVILLE, N.Y. — Salman Rushdie described in graphic detail Tuesday the frenzied moments in 2022 when a masked man rushed at him on a stage in western New York and repeatedly slashed him with a knife, leaving him with terrible injuries and fearful he would die. Rushdie took the stand...
Tom Robbins, literary prankster-philosopher, dies at 92, multiple outlets report
NEW YORK — Tom Robbins, the novelist and prankster-
philosopher who charmed and addled millions of readers with such screwball adventures as “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” and “Jitterbug Perfume,” has died. He was 92. The New York Times and NPR are among the outlets that reported Robbins’ death Sunday. The...
Woman’s lawsuits say sci-fi author Neil Gaiman repeatedly sexually assaulted her
MADISON, Wis. — A woman from New Zealand has filed three civil lawsuits against best-selling British author Neil Gaiman and his wife, accusing Gaiman of repeatedly sexually assaulting her while she was working as the couple’s babysitter and nanny. Scarlett Pavlovich filed the lawsuits in federal court in Wisconsin, Massachusetts...
Bestselling author Marie Benedict to launch new book at The Lindsay Theater
Marie Benedict found her calling writing novels that unearth the seldom-known stories of history’s amazing women. The Sewickley resident’s latest work — “The Queens of Crime” — will be released on Feb. 11, and she’s kicking off a more-than-20-city book tour on Feb. 8 with a launch event at The...
Nora Roberts is happily defying genres, 250 books in
NEW YORK — Nora Roberts is so prolific she had to take up a pen name so her publisher could release more books by her each year. “I’m a fast writer,” Roberts told The Associated Press in a rare interview. She typically releases four books a year, and has for...
In new book, Penn Hills pastor teaches families with sick children to ‘Stand’
When Jay Mitlo’s editors tried to bill his new book as a Christian memoir, the Penn Hills pastor bristled. Yes, the book recounts his son Trey’s journey with terminal cancer, and yes, faith is woven throughout. But above all, “Stand: Emotionally and Practically Surviving When a Child Gets a Life-Threatening...
Neil Gaiman dropped by publisher Dark Horse Comics over sexual assault allegations
LOS ANGELES — Dark Horse Comics has taken a stance against author Neil Gaiman, who faces multiple allegations of sexual assault. The publishing company over the weekend announced it will no longer publish the “American Gods” and “Good Omens” author’s work. As part of taking “seriously the allegations against” Gaiman,...
Percival Everett’s ‘James’ awarded Carnegie Medal for fiction
NEW YORK — For author Percival Everett, libraries have long been a source of knowledge and discovery and pleasure, even of the forbidden kind. “I remember making friends at age 13 with the librarian at the University of South Carolina, and she used to let me go through the stacks...
Monroeville author’s next book highlights Pittsburgh’s memorable sportscasters
Tom Rooney remembers working at Bard’s Dairyland on Pittsburgh’s North Side in the late 1960s, with the Penguins game on in the background. “Ed Conway was the first Penguins announcer, and I’d be at Bard’s, serving customers and trying to figure out what was happening in the game at the...
‘Onyx Storm’ book release sends ‘Fourth Wing’ fans into frenzy online
For “Fourth Wing” lovers, Tuesday was a big day. Basgiath War College is back in session, but not for Violet Sorrengail and Xaden Riorson. Rebecca Yarros’ third installment, “Onyx Storm,” of the viral Empyrean romantasy series was released, and fans can’t contain their excitement. Readers took to the social media...
