Miracle
by Michael Calvin and Naftali Schiff
On the morning of October 10, 1944, 800 boys aged 13-17 were taken out of the crammed barracks of Block 11 at Auschwitz. They were marched in the driving rain by 25 bayonet-wielding SS guards to Crematorium V, stripped, beaten, and herded into a gas chamber. Moments before the Zyklon B gas pellets were to be released, three German officers arrived and pulled out 50 of the strongest boys to unload a shipment of potatoes — and a 51st boy managed to slip into the group unnoticed. They remain the only known group ever to have walked out of an Auschwitz gas chamber alive. Through exhaustive research and firsthand interviews with the survivors, Miracle reveals a story of survival, honoring the power of faith and resilience amidst unimaginable cruelty. In an age of denial and disinformation, their story is a miracle the world cannot forget.
The Rise and Fall of DODO
by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland
Well-concealed historical documents prove that magic is not only real but ubiquitous — or at least it was. It died off completely in 1851. Now the U.S. government’s super-secret Department of Diachronic Operations wants to use modern science and time travel to bring magic back … as well as to shift history in America’s favor. As the effort expands, not only DODO but the world itself may be at risk of annihilation as outside forces — including a centuries-old banking family, a 17th-century Irish witch, and, perhaps worst of all, government bureaucracy — vie to use DODO’s magic/technology for their own ends. Neal Stephenson (Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon) and Nicole Galland (The Fool’s Tale, Stepdog) have written a romping farce that is a satisfying fusion of historical novel and science fiction.
Marvel Comics For Dummies
by Troy Brownfield
For those unfamiliar with the astonishing tales of Marvel heroes like Spider-Man, The Avengers, and The Guardians of the Galaxy, or for die-hard fans looking to sharpen their knowledge, Marvel Comics For Dummies provides a sweeping overview of the history of Marvel as a company, brand, and entertainment powerhouse. Throughout the book, long-time comics writer and superfan Troy Brownfield lends his insight on topics ranging from Marvel’s origins to its immense cast of characters to the storylines that have defined the company’s countless titles. Marvel Comics For Dummies is part of an ongoing collaboration between Marvel and the For Dummies brand that also includes guides to characters like Captain America, The Fantastic Four, and The X-Men, the last of which was also written by Brownfield.
This article is featured in the September/October 2026 issue of The Saturday Evening Post.
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