Lit Hub Daily: November 11, 2026

In 1922, famed author Kurt Vonnegut graced the world with his presence. Journalist Zachary Fletcher sat down with former New York Times romance columnist Olivia Waite to discuss her firing and the present landscape of romance criticism.

Could our existence be a simulated reality? Are artificial intelligences merely philosophical zombies? Astrophysicist Catherine Heymans contemplated these conundrums and many others related to the multiverse.

Young readers might appreciate books penned by Stuart Gibbs, focusing on World War II themes. Alan Gratz, Jennifer Nielsen, and Gordon Korman are among the recommended authors.

The competition for the Best Literary TV Adaptations of All Time has intensified. Voting is currently underway for the third round of this bracket.

In her latest piece, Nancy Isenberg delves into the history of American nepo babies. She questions whether they truly exert twice the effort. The metaphor of Camelot's magic sprinkling fairy dust over journalists is referenced.

Hanna Diab, a Syrian adventurer whose contributions to literature are often overlooked, is featured in an article about the beauty and precariousness of writing from 'flyover country'.

David Conrad-Pérez recommends a selection of books about the inception of modern New York, penned by Mike Wallace, James Baldwin, Eric Foner, and others.

In her debut novel, No Such Thing as Monday, Siân Hughes introduces readers to a captivating story about her sister, whom she found without much effort.

Brendan Flaherty examines the peculiar nature of mole people and the surreal aspects of everyday life. CrimeReads presents a discussion on income inequality and the power—and constraints—of numbers with Mona Chalabi and Naomi Elias.

The Nation explores how peer production, or volunteer work, contributed to the development of the internet. JSTOR Daily visits France's largest festival celebrating American literature. Rebecca Liu reflects on her experience judging this year's Booker Prize for The Guardian.