UNP staff members are always reading new books, both within our list and outside of what we publish. Here are some of the titles where our noses have been buried.

“This month I’ve been reading Carol Bradley’s Twisting in Air, which chronicles the early history of stunt horses in movies. I grew up watching a lot of western movies with my dad and grandpa, so it’s been interesting to learn more about the behind-the-scenes conditions under which the horses were working.” -Sarah Kee 

“I’m reading Goodbye to All That: Writers on Loving and Leaving New York, edited by Sari Botton. Inspired by Joan Didion’s famous essay titled ‘Goodbye to All That,’ this is a compilation of authors’ own version of their relationship with New York and what led them to part ways with (and in some cases, return to) the city that holds so much power for creators. It’s a touching, raw glimpse into the grind of a writer in New York, both in new and shiny ways and in eventual heartbreak when it becomes too much. I found it in an old bookstore, and it will have a permanent place on my shelf for its beautiful drawings of NYC’s landmarks.” -Taylor Gilreath

“I really enjoyed Annie Bot: A Novel by Sierra Greer. This story is told from the perspective of a companion robot named Annie. It was a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of gender roles, technology, relationships, abuse, ownership, and life. Fans of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro would likely enjoy this book, too.” -Lacey Losh

“I just started The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells, the story of a shipwrecked man who finds himself on the island of a mad scientist who dabbles in bizarre and horrifying experiments on animals and people. I have a lot of reading planned out for the next month or so, primarily science-fiction stories that are exploring the ethical and philosophical concerns that were raised in the nineteenth century surrounding growing scientific knowledge and discovery at the time. Science fiction is such an interesting genre because it deals with how we reckon and speculate on new knowledge and technology.” -Taylor Martin

“Is it weird to list a technical book for the staff reading list? Maybe, but it’s reading nonetheless! I have been deep into Stars Without Number in preparation for a Space Odyssey campaign I am going to GM (game master) for my friends. When I first got into tabletop RPGs (role-playing games), it was with Dungeons and Dragons: Fifth Edition. As I read through the rulebook for Stars Without Number, I’ve found myself enjoying it more than you’d think. For me, D&D 5e has a daunting amount of numbers that can get stifling. On the other hand, Stars Without Number has qualitative descriptions of game mechanics that I gravitate towards and find myself inspired by. I’m very intrigued by the universe it’s built and am excited to concoct my own character-driven, out-of-this-world tale!” -Rebecca Jefferson