Books & Botanicals opened last month at 816 Front St. in downtown Brainerd, Minn. Owner Erica Bordwell "saw the potential right from the start. The brick-fronted building with its large windows looking out on Front Street just looked like a perfect little bookstore. When the space became available for lease, Bordwell was ready. After all, it was a move she was looking forward to for decades," the Brainerd Dispatch reported.

"Ever since I was a little girl, this has been my dream, which sounds a little cliche actually, but it's truth," she said. "So books have always just been a connecting force for me." That sense of community is one she is looking to create with her store, which features books, plants, and gifts. Space is also being made to have a room for book clubs, poetry slams, and other events in the bookstore. 

A fourth-grade teacher at Baxter Elementary School, Bordwell noted that Books & Botanicals is "not just a bookstore. It's about community. It's about meeting people. It's about coming in and having the coffee and the tea that is complimentary and having a seat on the couch and visiting."

Bordwell added that she wants children "to come in and be excited about being in the bookstore, and the birds have really made a connection for children. The first place they go is right to the birds," referring to the bookshop's "feathered booksellers," parakeets Ink and Ivy. "So maybe someday they'll say, 'When I was a kid, I went into a bookstore, and there were these little birds.' " 

Boss Lady Books held a grand opening Saturday, August 29, at its new location in Beaumont, Tex., the Beaumont Enterprise reported. 

Located at 2462 Calder Ave., Suite B, Boss Lady Books carries general-interest titles across many genres and has a consignment program for local authors. The grand opening on Saturday featured live music and a food truck, and the first 20 customers through the door received a free store-branded tote, a 10% off coupon, and a special bookmark. Customers who spent $50 or more were entered in a prize drawing for a free book per month for an entire year.

Owner Amy Isbell wrote on social media after the grand opening that a line formed outside the store at 8 a.m. and lasted for hours. There was a steady flow of customers throughout the day, with 270 checkouts in total; Isbell estimated that roughly 500 people attended.

"From the bottom of my heart, thank you to every single person who showed up, waited in that hot line, sent gifts, flowers, well wishes, or simply cheered us on from afar," Isbell wrote. "You gave us the biggest welcome we could have asked for in Beaumont!"

Prior to opening in Beaumont, Boss Lady Books debuted as a mobile bookstore before sharing a location in Lumberton, Tex., with CJ's Cookie Counter. Initially, Isbell intended to move into a different storefront on Calder Ave. in Beaumont. When that location did not pan out, Isbell found the store's current home at 2462 Calder Ave. Boss Lady Books closed in Lumberton on August 1. 

Isbell also thanked "every single person who supported Boss Lady Books in Lumberton over the last 16 months. Huge thank you to CJ's Cookie Counter and your incredible team for welcoming us, supporting us, and helping make this journey possible. We truly couldn't have done it without y'all."

River & Ink Bookshop has debuted as an online and pop-up store in Port Huron, Mich., while owner Jacqueline Coleman searches for a bricks-and-mortar home, the Port Huron Times Herald reported.

After launching River & Ink in July, Coleman has made several pop-up appearances around St. Clair County and opened a "permanent book nook" within Rivers Edge Shop and Studios that will run until early November. River & Ink offers a curated selection of new books, blind-date book bundles, and handmade goods like watercolor bookmarks, paper arts, and wood-burned designs.

Coleman, who holds a master's degree in creative writing and had a past career in public relations, told the Times Herald she decided to open a bookstore of her own while recovering from a broken leg earlier this year. 

Some of River & Ink's upcoming appearances include wineries, tattoo studios, and local markets. Coleman has started hosting a book club at Belle River Winery, and she has plans for a launch weekend celebration for Rebecca Yarros's Threshing Day and a midnight release party for Sarah J. Maas's A Court of Splintered Harmony.

In the meantime, Coleman continues to search for the right home for River & Ink, and she hopes to have a bricks-and-mortar storefront open before the end of the year.

This coming Friday, September 4, Half Price Books will open its fourth location in the St. Louis, Mo., area. The St. Louis Business Journal reported that the 6,700-square-foot store at the Southpoint Plaza shopping center at 4491 Lemay Ferry Road will join existing bookstores in Chesterfield, University City, and St. Charles. The company also operates in Kansas City and Independence. 

"We've been in the St. Louis market since 2014 and think we have found the perfect location for a new community of readers," said Kathy Doyle Thomas, president of Half Price Books. "Our stores in Chesterfield, University City and St. Charles are performing well. We know it is the right time to bring the unique Half Price Books experience to the heart of the city."

Half Price Books, founded in 1972 and with headquarters in Dallas, Tex., operates 116 stores in 19 states.

Will Murray, a prolific pulp novelist and the co-creator of Squirrel Girl, died August 24. He was 73. When he was a boy, he became a fan of comic books--particularly Spider-man and the other Marvel heroes--and in his teens discovered pulp magazine characters like Doc Savage and the Shadow. He began collecting old comic books and pulps, researching their history and writing articles for fan magazines. He also wrote short stories, many of them influenced by the pulps.

Will Murray (via)

As a result of his knowledge and contacts with the original publishers, he obtained permission to write a series of new, original Doc Savage novels, which sold well.

Early in his career, Murray interviewed the authors of the popular paperback adventure series the Destroyer, and subsequently wrote a companion book based on the character, assisted the writers in background research for their stories. He went on to ghostwrite 40 novels. 

Murray also contributed to many books and comics published by Marvel, including short prose stories and introductions to collections of reprinted material. Marvel later released a comics series based on the Destroyer, with Murray writing the stories.

After Marvel asked him to contribute a comics story using Iron Man, Murray invented his own character, Squirrel Girl, to guest star. He was inspired by his close friend Doreen Greeley and her fondness for animals. The story was illustrated by Steve Ditko, who drew the early adventures of Spider-man. Squirrel Girl would become a cult phenomenon, appearing in her own series and guest starring in other Marvel titles.

In addition, Murray worked regularly as a journalist for Starlog magazine, often covering the making of major films. He continued to contribute articles on comics and popular culture to fan magazines such as Alter Ego and Retrofan, where he had a monthly column, often covering classic television and cartoon shows. 

Murray was a frequent guest at Comic Cons and events dedicated to the pulps, and has received numerous awards for his writing and contributions to the medium.

Charter Books in Newport, R.I., hosted Alyssa Maxwell for the launch of the latest installment in her historical Gilded Newport Mystery series, Murder at Rosecliff (Kensington).

Bookends & Beginnings, Evanston, Ill., hosted the wedding ceremony for customers Mariah Goulet and Julian Velasco. The couple said their vows in the bookstore's downstairs event space, and then went to neighboring restaurant NaKorn for their reception. 

Red Wheel Weiser is selling and distributing New World Library and Dharma Publishing, effective today.

Maya: Seed Takes Root by Anand Gandhi and Zain Memon (Simon & Schuster Audio/Authors Equity hardcover), featuring actor Hugo Weaving (beloved as Agent Smith in The Matrix and Elrond in The Lord of the Rings).

Today:
All Things Considered: Marlon James, author of The Disappearers (Riverhead, $32, 9780593717202).

Tomorrow:
CBS Mornings: Elizabeth Davies, author of Training for Your Old Lady Body: A Guide to Building Muscle and Mobility at Any Age (Chronicle, $24.95, 9781797238845).

Sarah Pidgeon (Love Story) has joined the cast of Enigma Variations, based on the novel by André Aciman. Deadline reported that Pidgeon will play "the last remaining female lead opposite Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Netflix's limited series." The project also stars Peter Hermann, Juliana Canfield, Alicia Vikander, Riley Keough, and Francesca Cavallin.

Written by Amanda Kate Shuman and to be directed by Oliver Hermanus, Enigma Variations "tells the story of Paul (Taylor-Johnson), a man remade by the lovers who ignite and undo him across ten transformative years. It's an intimate yet sweeping portrait of masculinity, sexuality, and modern love--and in a world of endless choices, it asks the question: will we know when we've found the one?" Deadline noted.

Shuman, who serves as showrunner, executive produces alongside Michael Ellenberg, Christina Malach, and Lindsey Springer for Media Res, Aciman, Monica Levinson, and Hermanus. Media Res is the studio.

The winners of the 2026 Hugo Awards, honoring the best in science fiction and fantasy, were presented at the LACon V. The winners:

Best Novel: The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (Tor)
Best Novella: The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (Tordotcom)
Best Novelette: "Never Eaten Vegetables" by H.H. Pak (Clarkesworld, Issue 220)
Best Short Story: "In My Country" by Thomas Ha (Clarkesworld, Issue 223)
Best Series: Old Man's War by John Scalzi (Tor)
Best Graphic Story or Comic: A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel, written by Ursula K. Le Guin, adapted and art by Fred Fordham (Clarion Books)
Best Related Work: Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer (University of Chicago Press)
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: Sinners, screenplay by Ryan Coogler, directed by Ryan Coogler (Proximity Media, Warner Bros. Pictures)
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: Murderbot: "All Systems Red," written by Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz, directed by Roseanne Liang, based on the book All Systems Red by Martha Wells (Apple TV)
Best Game or Interactive Work: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive, published by Kepler Interactive
Best Editor Short Form: Neil Clarke
Best Editor Long Form: Diana M. Pho
Best Professional Artist: John Picacio
Best Semiprozine: Uncanny Magazine, publisher and editor-in-chief: Michael Damian Thomas; managing editor Monte Lin; poetry editor Betsy Aoki, podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky
Best Fanzine: nerds of a feather, flock together, editors Roseanna Pendlebury, Arturo Serrano, Paul Weimer; senior editors Joe Sherry, G. Brown, Vance Kotrla
Best Fancast: Hugo, Girl!, presented by Haley Zapal, Amy Salley, Lori Anderson, and Kevin Anderson
Best Fan Writer: Jason Sanford
Best Fan Artist: Yuumei
Best Poem: "Hex Supply Customer Support Log" by Elis Montgomery (Strange Horizons, Issue 25 August 2025)
Lodestar Award for Best YA Book: Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee (Feiwel & Friends)
Astounding Award for Best New Writer (sponsored by Must Read Books Publishing): Antonia Hodgson

That women see a lot of disturbing things in the story collection What She Saw should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the work of the Argentine-born Chilean American author Ariel Dorfman (The Suicide Museum; Konfidenz). Throughout his career, Dorfman has melded themes of love and war, with a frequent focus on the military coup that ousted Chilean president Salvador Allende, for whom Dorfman worked as a cultural adviser in the early 1970s. Dorfman returns to those themes in the eight pieces in this trenchant compilation.

Most of these pieces highlight a female character who is either a witness to proceedings or a victim of atrocities. In the latter category is the long opening story, "Corderita," a devastating work about the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship. The married protagonists met in Santiago in 1973, when they marched in defense of the Allende government. Decades later, the man has lost his wife on a train from Paris's Gare d'Austerlitz station to Bourges, where she is scheduled to testify against the captor who tortured her. Her husband, meanwhile, wrestles with whether finally to reveal his involvement in her ordeal.

Other stories are equally immersive. In "Fair Trade," an American man who works to ensure fair-trade policies buys his wife a KingSky Memor-mattress, "soft as dreams and firm as forgetfulness," as a birthday present, then tries to buy it back from the Mexican man he gave it to when the gift threatened to ruin his marriage. "Amboise" is about a man whose body "had betrayed [him] with such malicious efficiency" and plots to kill himself, but not before taking his wife to the site where his parents conceived him in the aftermath of World War II. "Unspoken" is about a 14th-century witchcraft trial. One of the more surreal pieces is "Blank," a story about a firing squad told from a remarkable perspective: one of the 12 bullets "standing in a gleaming, black, metallic row." This story is a singular take on war, with the bullet articulating a statement that applies equally to most of this collection's protagonists: "I am about to find out who I really am." What She Saw is another excellent work by a dedicated polemicist unafraid to tackle the political travesties of his country and his era. --Michael Magras, freelance book reviewer

Shelf Talker: Ariel Dorfman's What She Saw is a superb collection of eight trenchant stories about witnesses to war, criminality, and other atrocities, and the quest for closure and restitution.