Books

Several species of bats call Wisconsin home. Naturalists herald these winged mammals as important pollinators and marvels of echolocation. Author Alyson Brokaw talked bats, bat boxes, and bat sightings on a recent episode of “The Larry Meiller Show.”

The protagonist of Maggie Su’s debut novel, “Blob: A Love Story,” is Vi Liu. Vi is a young Taiwanese-American woman who one day discovers a responsive blob and attempts to mold it into her ideal partner, Su tells WPR’s “BETA.”

Author Susan Morrison talked with WPR’s “BETA” about interviewing SNL creator Lorne Michaels, his start in television and the pressure cooker of SNL’s ambitious live format.

Payne believes education and political engagement are crucial to shaping the future of conservation. Scientific knowledge alone, he argues, is not enough.

Karen Russell’s long-awaited new novel, “The Antidote,” is well worth the wait. She talks about it with WPR’s “BETA.”

Clay McLeod Chapman’s latest book, “Wake Up and Open Your Eyes,” is a social-horror novel that blends relentless mass media consumption with the terror of demonic possession. He talks about it with WPR’s “BETA.”

Milwaukee born-and-raised writer and pop culture critic Ira Madison III has a new book that tells the story of his life through the lens of one of his greatest obsessions: pop culture.

A new graphic novel by comedian Kevin Farley and artist Ryan Dunlavey shares stories of Kevin and brother Chris Farley’s childhood in Wisconsin and the role their father played in shepherding them into comedy.

“Valiant Vel: Vel Phillips and the Fight for Fairness and Equality” hopes to be an inspiration for people of all ages.

Author Alan Sepinwall takes a look back at the show’s impressive run in his latest book, “Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill: The Complete Critical Companion to Better Call Saul.”