These days, as I follow every twist and turn of our elections, with an eye on the circus that is American politics, I've made sure to vary the mood. This time, my light bedside reading has been all about the Soviets.
Before he won the Booker Prize for his novel The Sea, Irish writer John Banville published The Untouchable, his brilliant fictional portrayal of the Cambridge spies. They were the five Englishmen who spied for the Soviet Union while working for British Intelligence after World War II. It's a tale that feels relevant to the time, particularly because it involves spectacular demonstrations of mendacity and duplicity.
Banville based his character, Victor Maskell, on Anthony Blunt, adviser on art to the royals (with references to "Mrs W and her Ma", and blackly laughing asides about their hats and their drinkies).
Denne historien er fra October 14-20, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra October 14-20, 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.