Chinese American novelist R.F. Kuang, known for her bestsellers before age 30, discusses her newest novel "Katabasis," a dark fantasy exploring academia and the underworld. Inspired by her reflections on death, she creates a detailed and satirical version of hell, which also serves as a personal revenge on academic pretentiousness. The story follows doctoral student Alice as she navigates hell’s eight courts in pursuit of a recommendation letter, intertwining her research with contemporary themes like institutional critique and political attitudes towards higher education. Kuang, a Yale doctoral student, reflects on the influence of the 1980s, her creative process, and her views on the role of social media and academia amid current political challenges.

LOMA GRANDE, Paraguay (AP) — When it came time to choose a wedding venue, Margarita Gayoso and her partner Christian Ojeda knew exactly where they wanted to go.Despite living in Spain, the couple traveled to their long-missed hometown in Paraguay for a ceremony officiated in their ancestors’ ...