Portside

Dave Kellaway reviews Barbara Kingsolver’s latest novel, Demon Copperhead and reflects on her contribution to literary fiction. She is one of the best living writers of the socially engaged novel.

This book of critical essays aims to introduce the radical legacy of science fiction writing to new audiences.

Death, supermarkets, and an airborne toxic event.

Restaurant critics don’t talk about gentrification--a process whereby longtime residents of underserved neighborhoods are displaced in favor of more affluent ones, new businesses and amenities-but this critic discusses their possible role in it.

“Yellowstone” is superbly written, filmed and acted television, great entertainment for those who have never heard of it since, alas, they are too busy binge-watching “White Lotus” (also great television) and it celebrates some true non-Trumpy conservative values like hard-work and patriotism. But it’s not Montana.

San Francisco poet Beau Beausoleil opens the new year with poetry of hope.

This sweeping survey of the post-war period contains fascinating insights but lacks an organizing principle.

The 1995 Christmas rom-com While You Were Sleeping stars Sandra Bullock as a union transit worker in Chicago. Over 25 years later, it’s still a delightful working-class holiday watch.

Diet-related diseases from UPFs (ultra-processed food, or junk food) kill over 600,000 Americans a year. By contrast, at current rates, Covid-19 will kill 100,000 people in the US next year.

Andor actually shows why the Empire is terrifying. We see the Empire’s strategy over and over again: Extract resources. Displace indigenous populations. Partner with corporations for profit. And when all else fails, suppress dissent — increasingly, as the show progresses, by any means necessary.