First you sedate the American public – then a surreal thriller unfolds
In Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché’s Prophet, an attempt to socially engineer the American population turns into a hallucinogenic nightmare
In Helen Macdonald and Sin Blaché’s Prophet, an attempt to socially engineer the American population turns into a hallucinogenic nightmare
The author on the latest in his epic novel series, shocking the Booker jury – and the new puritanism in literature
Teun Toebes has willingly spent three years in a care home and says it has convinced him we need a new approach to looking after the elderly
The first American, and only second woman, to hold the prestigious post, on writing verse people actually want to read
Our critics pick the perfect Christmas gifts for every reader, from page-turners to politics
Face your fears! Make this the year you finally gets to grips with the Metaverse, incoming asteroids – and torture-happy wasps
This year's best poetry collections were filled with wild fantasies – from Greek myths and robot birds to a book narrated by an eyeball
From the footpaths of Scotland to the refugee trails of Mexico, travel books this year provide food for thought – and a prod out the door
From Frans de Waal’s Different to Lucy Cooke’s Bitch, 2022's brainiest non-fiction used zoology to re-examine what it means to be human
From Bono's heartfelt riffs to Jarvis Cocker’s bin bags, music books went maverick this year
This year's crop of books tackled war, climate change, the natural world – and the quiet beauty of sitting in a sunny park
From the integration of Islam to the brief reign of Prime Minister Liz Truss, this year's best politics books defended liberal ideals
In this extract from a new book of Adams's personal papers, he charts the bumpy road to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – and beyond
Dreaming of a family we thought impossible was too almost much to bear, but then my daughter’s arrival changed me in ways I never saw coming
The author on the latest in his epic novel series, shocking the Booker jury – and the new puritanism in literature
The epic £12.5 million production had singing hobbits, giant spiders and a 40-ton revolving stage. What could go wrong?
Out with the old superstars and buzzy youngsters. This year’s longlist wants you to try lesser-known, challenging fiction – it’s a good move
From theatre to comedy, and opera to dance and art, our critics pick the essential performances to look out for this year in Edinburgh
In Jean Stafford’s The Mountain Lion, republished next week, two spiteful siblings reveal the ways in which evil can swallow you whole
At a time when 85% of photojournalists are men, a new book offers an alternative perspective. Here, seven contributors introduce their shots
We remember some of the greatest talents from the arts world who have passed away this year
Peril on the Atlantic, the first in a series by best-selling novelist AM Howell, is highly suspenseful and full of exciting twists
In Judith Eagle’s spry new novel, The Stolen Songbird, a little girl in 1950s London investigates her mother’s disappearance
The former children’s laureate, 79, reflects on how his own childhood and difficult school years shaped his life and writing career
Our critics' guide to the best reads to take away with you
Feminist retellings of Greek myths may be in vogue – but Bea Fitzgerald’s debut novel on Persephone still feels like a breath of fresh air
The Skull, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen, is an eerie and beautiful tale of a girl who meets a strange forest-dweller
To the author he was ‘a quick clever old squirrel’ who happened to be a slave-driver. Will Timothée Chalamet's film get Willy Wonka right?
One Chance Dance, a sumptuous but snappy novel by Efua Traoré, follows a 10-year-old who runs away to smoky Lagos on a quest
Our critics' guide to the best reads to take away with you
100 years ago, Cicely Mary Barker combined botany with make-believe – and created a publishing phenomenon
Queen Elizabeth II was visited by two very special bears, and the matchgirls went on strike, in this year's crop of writing for children
Her new novel, It Starts With Us, blends Brontë-esque brooding, Fifty Shades of Grey steaminess and a deeply troubling domestic abuse plot
Dusty libraries, long-haired youths writing poetry, candlelight rituals… TikTok’s love for old books is driving a publishing bonanza
The actress-turned-novelist's follow-up to Love and Other Thought Experiments is unexpected: a crime novel about an experimental school
The bestselling author explains why she worries that coronavirus restrictions has deprived a generation of vital experiences
Today, we’re used to thinking of Scripture as prettily written. But its true linguistic power, argues a new book, can change your life
In Waiting to Be Arrested at Night, his searing and beautiful memoir, Uyghur poet Tahir Hamut Izgil recalls the onslaught of CCP repression
Tom Mueller’s exposé of America’s dialysis industry is a grim tale of corruption, cost-cutting and contempt for ordinary people
In Jean Stafford’s The Mountain Lion, republished next week, two spiteful siblings reveal the ways in which evil can swallow you whole