Marathon Reading of Stanislaw Lem, Harlan Ellison’s Haircut, and More

by
Evan Smith Rakoff
7.17.13

Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—from publishing reports to academic announcements to literary dispatches—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today’s stories:

Former bookseller Mark Saunders has been named director of the University of Virginia Press. (Shelf Awareness)

A Pennsylvania librarian banned a book to demonstrate the harm of censorship. (GalleyCat)

Critic David L. Ulin reports on an odd book event he attended—watching Harlan Ellison receive a haircut. (Los Angeles Times)

“Most writers…shown their cover designs they try not to cry right in front of their editors.” Tim Kreider looks at the current state of book cover design. (New Yorker)

Staffers at Flavorwire list the authors they irrationally despise, including Vladimir Nabokov and Charles Dickens.

In light of several high-profile lawsuits, the Telegraph investigates the nebulous world of literary libel.

If you’re in New York City next month, the Atlas Review and the Marina Abramovic Institute are hosting a marathon reading of Stanislaw Lem’s Solaris. The eight-hour event takes place at Brooklyn’s Wythe Hotel on August 3rd.

BuzzFeed rounded up a slew of images of writers and their pet cats, including Charles Bukowski and Doris Lessing.