Each retelling of Snow White holds a mirror up to contemporary attitudes to women. Sally Feldman ventures into the woods to find out more
Laurie Taylor beats the Pontiff
Thinking machines, eternal life, space colonisation, neon bunnies – no, not science fiction but soon-to-be-realised science fact, according to a new generation of futurologists. But who are they, and can they be serious? Adam Smith takes you on a whistlestop tour of this brave new world, with five of the most prominent groups. Illustrations by Martin Rowson
The author of 26 literary and science fiction novels, Iain Banks is a bestseller across two genres. New Humanist interrupted his writing to probe his views on life and the universe, and hear why he’s embarrassed for Homo Sapiens as a species
He’s played basketball at the highest level and was the first major league sportsman in America to come out as gay. Now he’s a psychologist, an OBE and an outspoken atheist. Musa Okwonga gets the measure of John Amaechi
The Will Self Club have made the sesquipedalian writer their God, boast ridiculous robes and titles, and hold literary orgies. Cult, religion, or postmodern joke? Founder Sam Mills explains
When he was invited to debate David Starkey on the subject of Britishness, Musa Okwonga looked forward to the opportunity to challenge the historian's controversial views on race and multiculturalism. But a clash between Starkey and the columnist Laurie Penny saw the event quickly descend into farce
Richard Wilson on an important exposé of religious abuse
Stephen Sedley judges the memoirs of a jaded lawyer
Liberals have a history of sparking controversy within British Judaism. Keith Kahn-Harris surveys new books by two trouble-making leaders