Poet Daniel Halpern. Halpern's latest collection of poems, "Foreign Neon," has just been published by Knopf. Halpern himself is also a publisher, the head of Ecco Press, and the editor of the literary journal, "Antaeus" (pronounced "an-es").
Actor Joe Mantegna. Mantegna plays a tough cop investigating a murder in the new David Mamet film, "Homicide." Mantegna's worked with Mamet several times before, starring in his movie, "House of Games," and in the Mamet play, "Glengarry, Glen Ross."
Surgeon and photographic historian Stanley Burns. Burns has just compiled a book called "Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography In America." It chronicles what was a common occurrence in the late 1800s and early 1900s... taking one last photograph of a dead relative. (The book's published by Twelvetrees Press).
Cartoonist Dan Perkins, otherwise known as "Tom Tomorrow," the creator of the comic strip, "This Modern World." This social/political strip appears regularly in a number of alternative papers and magazines such as the Utne Reader, Whole Earth, and Z. It's just recently began running in the San Francisco Examiner. The strip uses the collage imagery from 40s and 50s advertising and features Sparky the Wonder Penguin who has been known to call George Bush a "Wanker."
One of Africa's greatest novelists, Nuruddin Farah (New-ru-DEAN Fair-ah). He was born in what is now known as the Somalian Republic. He writes in English, and his work has been widely praised for its treatment of women. His books include, "From A Crooked Rib," "A Naked Needle," and a trilogy, "Variations on an African Dictatorship." For a long time Farah was living in exile because of a death sentence placed against him for his writing. It has since been lifted.
First, novelist E.L. Doctorow reads from his novel, "Billy Bathgate." (First broadcast March 14, 1989) Then, film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "Billy Bathgate," the film adaptation of E. L. Doctorow's best-selling novel. It stars Dustin Hoffman and Bruce Willis.
We remember theater impresario Joe Papp. He was responsible for bringing out such hits as "A Chorus Line" and "Hair," and for staging many memorable performances at the New York Shakespeare Festival. He died yesterday at age 70. We'll listen to a Fresh Air interview with Papp from 1987.
Television critic David Bianculli reviews a four-hour miniseries starting this weekend on NBC starring country singer Kenny Rodgers in his role as "The Gambler."
Basketball great Wilt Chamberlain. Chamberlain has a new memoir of his career on the court, and his sometimes controversial life off the court. It's called "A View From Above."
Writer William Least Heat Moon. His 1983 chronicle of traveling the back roads of America, "Blue Highways," became a literary classic and a huge best-seller. In his new book, "PrairyErth," Least Heat Moon looks at the geography, geology, and history of one county in Kansas. (The book's published by Houghton Mifflin, and "PrairyErth" is the correct spelling. There's no second "a").
Reporter Scott Armstrong. Jones has an article in the current issue of "Mother Jones" magazine, describing the long history of secret military agreements between the governments of the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Armstrong contends the military deals, which cost more than 150 billion dollars, violate the Constitution.
Terry talks with Roger Fisher, the head of the Harvard Negotiation Project, and author of the bestseller, "Getting To Yes." He'll discuss how to make the Mideast Peace Conference a success.
Terry talks with journalist James Reston. Since 1940, he's worked at the New York Times, as a reporter, Washington bureau chief, executive editor, and columnist. He's just written a new memoir, called "Deadline." (It's published by Random House).
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new recording of Nigel Kennedy performing the Brahms Violin Concerto. (It's on the Angel/E.M.I. label).
Saxophonist and clarinetist Willem Breuker {as in GROW: Brow-ker), leader of the Dutch jazz band, The Willem Breuker Kollektief. They are known for their stage performances which draw heavily from street theatre and vaudeville. Their releases include "Bob's Gallery," (on the BVHAAST label from West Germany, distributed by North Country Distributors, Calif. 315-287-2852) and "Baal Brecht Breuker Handke," on the BVHAAST label, phone # 020-23 97 99.
