What's the best literary equivalent of Alien/Aliens? [more inside]
posted by fearfulsymmetry on Aug 9, 2009 - 21 answers

I need famous drinks from famous books. Kind of like how Holden Caulfield always drank Tom Collinses in Catcher in the Rye. Or how the Famous Five always had Tea with their scones. Thanks!
posted by Sully on Jul 14, 2009 - 46 answers

Question about obscure science fiction short story, "Allegory," by William T. Powers, which was reprinted in Groff Conklin's 13 GREAT STORIES OF SCIENCE FICTION. The question is: what is this story an allegory of? To put it another way, is there some real-world or historical event that this story is a comment on? [more inside]
posted by Mr. Justice on Apr 29, 2008 - 8 answers

I need to read something in Spanish. I want excellent writing, with involving plots, and it must be in print. Good detective fiction perhaps? [more inside]
posted by andrew cooke on Aug 6, 2007 - 22 answers

So a common subplot in a lot of movies is that the protagonist has a dull life and suddenly a romantic partner sweeps in and changes EVERYTHING. It spans genres from The Mask to Stranger Than Fiction (and of course the romantic comedy / chick flick industry would go broke without it.) I guess Cinderalla is the archetypal story here. I'm sort of curious about what larger connections there are to this thematic convention—like has anyone written about it, maybe focused more on Cinderalla and gender studies or psychology etc. [more inside]
posted by Firas on Jul 13, 2007 - 8 answers

Is there a definitive resource on the web for finding literary agents who represent science fiction and fantasy? [more inside]
posted by JWright on Apr 6, 2007 - 13 answers

I need the perfect quote that relates writing to physical pleasure, titillation, and yes, sex. [more inside]
posted by papier machine on Feb 14, 2007 - 18 answers

Audiobooks: My Audible wish list is empty -- help me fill it with compelling, commute-friendly nonfiction and literary fiction. [more inside]
posted by kmel on Mar 16, 2006 - 24 answers