Fired Up: The Year's Best Science Fiction And Fantasy
Science fiction and fantasy books aren't just getting more popular, they're interbreeding with other genres to produce wild new hybrid forms — swapping DNA with literary novels, commenting on current events, morphing into historical science fiction romances, and evolving into hard-boiled detective fantasy.
In Memoriam: Musicians We Lost In 2011
NPR Music remembers the singers, instrumentalists, songwriters and producers who died in 2011. Explore the musical legacies they leave behind.
7 Books With Personality: Nancy Pearl's 2011 Picks
NPR's go-to librarian would like you to meet some friends of hers — from six novels and one work of history. As you read, these artfully developed characters will become more and more real. Pearl says that when the stories ended, she was left longing for the people she'd met between the pages.
Best Books of 2011
Year-End Wrap-Up: The 10 Best Novels Of 2011
Maureen Corrigan found terrific fiction from first-time novelists and much-decorated veterans.
What Sticks: Five 2011 Books That Stay With You
This year, the best books carry the promise of literary longevity.
Conversation Starters: 2011's Top 5 Book Club Picks
These novels will spark lively debate on loyalty, ethics and the unreliability of memory.
7 Books With Personality: Nancy Pearl's 2011 Picks
NPR's go-to librarian would like you to meet some friends of hers — from the year's best books.
Booksellers' Picks: Catch The Year's Freshest Reads
Susan Stamberg surveys booksellers for top picks that range in subject from toasters to typeface.
Holiday Recipes
Haitians Mark The New Year With A Belly Full Of Soup
A traditional Haitian soup is so beloved on New Year's Day that it can land some in the hospital.
Traditional Japanese Rice Treat Brightens New Year
Lauren Jabusch talks about her family's holiday food tradition of making Japanese mochi.
A Checkerboard Cake With Slovak Roots
Punch torte is a new year's family tradition started in the former Czechoslovakia.
When Ambrosia Salad Spells Dread
For some, it's a festive holiday dish; for others, ambrosia salad is the "grossest" thing ever.
Do-It-Yourself Marshmallows
The silky confection lends itself to all sorts of flavors, from classic vanilla to pepper and chili.
Menudo: Spicy Red Chili Broth, A Christmas Tradition
Menudo is a tradition during the Christmas season among Mexicans.
Wassail: ISO A Snowflake Of Drink
Nailing down exactly what's in the libation is tough. No two wassails are alike.
Best Music of 2011
NPR Music's 100 Favorite Songs Of 2011
Hear a mix of what the year sounded like to us — funny, joyful, heavy and always surprising.
Download: NPR Music's Favorite New Artists Of 2011
Each one gave us something to fall in love with this year, so we're passing the gift along to you.
Listeners Pick Their Favorite Albums Of 2011
Though spring releases mostly held their ground, a few dark horses swooped into top slots.
Psych Rock Redefined: The Reissues Of 2011
This year saw a series of reissues function as part of a mission to extend psychedelia's reaches.
Bob Boilen's Favorite Live Shows of 2011
Bob Boilen salutes his 15 favorite live concerts. What were your most memorable shows this year?
Hanukkah Lights
Hanukkah Lights 2011
This annual holiday favorite enters its third decade with a new collection of Hanukkah stories.
Hanukkah Lights 2010
This annual holiday favorite marks its 20th anniversary with new fiction for the Festival of Lights.
Best Of Hanukkah Lights: Eight Stories, Eight Nights
We offer hand-selected works of Hanukkah Lights fiction: one for each holiday night.
Spirit Of The Season
Did 'Shrooms Send Santa And His Reindeer Flying?
A Harvard biologist suggests red and white mushrooms are the source of jolly old St. Nick.
Shepherds, Wise Men, Animals: Were They All There?
Theologians say it's difficult to re-create what happened at Jesus' birth based on biblical record.
Kiss Away: Harvesting Mistletoe From The Treetops
For one Tennessean, harvesting mistletoe the old-fashioned way is steeped in tradition and rituals.
NPR's Holiday Favorites
Tinsel Tales 2011: NPR Christmas Stories
NPR presents stories from the archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas.
A Holiday Reading Tradition For The Whole Family
Sally and Stephen Kern read to their kids pretty much every night, but one box of books is special.
Your Letters: Linda Wertheimer's Fruitcake Recipe
One of Linda's childhood memories of autumn is the baking of her mother's lemon fruitcake.
Holiday Music
All Songs Considered Holiday Music Special 2011
There's more to the season than "Jingle Bell Rock." This week on All Songs: holiday deep cuts.
A Jazz Piano Christmas 2011
Once a year, NPR Music celebrates the holidays with some of the most celebrated pianists in jazz.
Jingle Jams: A Holiday Mix For The Rest Of Us
Everybody takes away something different from the holidays. Shouldn't your music do the same?
