The journey hasn’t been easy. A new kind of disaster fiction is serving as scenario planning for real global crises. Call it the apocalyptic systems thriller.

Amal El-Mohtar is the Book Review’s science fiction and fantasy columnist. She is a Hugo Award-winning writer and the co-author, with Max Gladstone, of “This Is How You Lose the Time War.” ...

Cozy, whimsical novels — often featuring magical cats — that have long been popular in Japan and Korea are taking off globally. Fans say they offer comfort during a chaotic time.

These books are perfect for the spooky season. By Alida Becker In the hands of skilled novelists, the stories of an heiress, a prime minister and a literary mystery woman are brought to life ...

Most of my recent conversations about books have revolved around one common pursuit: escape. The news is unrelenting, and crises personal and political abound. No wonder so many people are seeking out ...

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In “Stranger Than Fiction,” Edwin Frank maps a path from Dostoyevsky to Sebald, finding mystical power and surprising ties among 20th-century writers.

Kim Stanley Robinson, one of the most acclaimed living science fiction writers, is done with deep space narratives. His focus now is on solving real problems — like climate change. Rachel ...