Guest Newsletter: Five Books - Popular Science and Adventure Novels

• 1 min read

Five Books features in-depth author interviews recommending five books on a theme. You can read more interviews on the site, or sign up for the newsletter.

The Royal Society celebrates the best new popular science writing every year through the prestigious Trivedi Science Book Prize. We asked Professor Michael Benton, the eminent palaeontologist and chair of the 2026 judging panel, to talk us through their six-book shortlist: from a globe-trotting history of alchemy to a fast-paced account of memory manipulation by optogenetics researchers at the cutting edge of science. Read more 

The Best Adventure Novels: The 2026 Wilbur Smith Prize

What makes a great adventure novel? For Alex Bescoby, filmmaker, traveller and judge of the 2026 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, it’s the ability to transport readers to unfamiliar worlds and bring history vividly to life. Here, he discusses the six shortlisted novels, from ancient Britain to revolutionary India, exploring stories of endurance, rebellion and remarkable perseverance in the face of hardship. Read more

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