booksWednesday, August 26, 2026
Today in books, the conversation splits between what's new and what's eating the old. A buzzy fantasy sequel gets a critical takedown, while a thinkpiece asks what happens when AI trains on novels. Meanwhile, the rest of the day is quiet, a few previews, a film adaptation review, and some book-club warmth.
Two pieces today ask what's going wrong, one with a specific sequel, one with the whole industry.
James Islington's follow-up to The Will of the Many gets a harsh review: the reviewer says the 2025 book tries to do too much and can't match the original's standard.
A short but pointed essay from The Hindu asks what happens when AI companies ingest books without permission or compensation. The snippet is thin, but the title says enough.
A few fresh titles and comic previews landed, though none broke through the noise.
Nina Simon, author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night, has a new mystery coming from HarperCollins India. My Sister Is Going to Kill Me blends suspense with family drama set at the Grand Canyon.
A preview for issue #3 of The Ring: The Man Who Beat the Man, a Dark Horse comic about bare-knuckle boxing in a world where the sport is no longer staged. Presented with Bleeding Cool's usual AI-humor framing.
IDW's Operation: Iron Coffin #2 preview has Dracula making a deal with Quincy Harker while fighting augmented soldiers on a vampire-virus-infected train. That's the whole sentence.
'The Dog Stars' Review: Jacob Elordi Can't Save a Ridley Scott Moviewww.indiewire.com
What Happens to Dolly Parton’s Pup, Who Inspired the Singer’s Series of Children’s Books?www.rollingstone.com
The untold story of Suede’s second act, in their own wordsinews.co.ukFans Are ‘So Beyond Obsessed’ With This ‘Gorgeous’ New Anniversary Edition of ‘Twilight’s ‘New Moon’parade.com
They 'gasped so loud' over the big reveal of the brand new cover art.
AMC Should Bring Back Talamasca: The Secret Order ASAPmynightsarebooked.com
Now that The Vampire Lestat has bowed and Queen of the Damned is in the early stages of The post AMC Should Bring Back Talamasca: The Secret Order ASAP appeared first on My Nights Are Booked .
Your Favorite Artist Is a Terrible Person. Now What?nextbigideaclub.com
Art has always helped us confront the darkest parts of human nature. Your Favorite Artist Is a Terrible Person. Now What? - Next Big Idea Club
The Hidden Psychology of Infidelitynextbigideaclub.com
Scientific psychology has done a complete about-face. The Hidden Psychology of Infidelity - Next Big Idea Club
10 Books That Are a Masterclass in Prosecollider.com
Great, expertly written books like Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy and The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen offer a masterclass in prose.
Naturalization ‘ Queer Genealogy Of Us Ccitylights.com
Monthly sky photowww.sffchronicles.com
I hope to post here a photo of the sky in my region on the 25th of each month, and I’ll start with last month — 25 March being the old-time beginning of a new year. Here’s a picture from 25... Read more
This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstoreswww.pressenterprise.com
See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that ended Aug. 16.
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