Nick Courtright

Ben Marcus is something of a new god in the world of fiction, and especially so to those who consider themselves fans of the “experimental.” Though Marcus shies from being viewed as a leader of some sort of movement, his first two books, The Age of Wire and String... continue reading on Austinist

There's a saying that in art, greatness is defined not by what sells the most or what is the most popular or critically acclaimed, but by what makes everyone who follows have to readjust their way of thinking about the art form itself. In the comedy world, there are... continue reading on Austinist

You'd have to be in a state of serious and tragic life-denial to not know who that is in the picture: Ron Swanson, a man of estimable tastes and non-variable facial expressions, a man of bacon and deviled eggs, a man who's spawned no shortage of internet adoration, whether... continue reading on Austinist

The National Book Award is, simply said, one of the profoundest honors a writer can receive, and, usually, it goes to a book written by an author, who’s, you know, been around a little while. So it was quite the surprise when this year a more out-of-nowhere work of... continue reading on Austinist

There’s a known fact within the music industry that one of its most consistent curmudgeons and contrarian characters is also the same man responsible for one of its most magnificent albums. The Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt, architect of deep voice, darkly comic songwriting, concept albums, and the monumental 69... continue reading on Austinist