Mental Floss

BOOKS







Tom Palumbo via Wikimedia Commons

If you are so much as a leisurely fan of American fiction, you likely already know the story of how Jack Kerouac's 'On the Road' came into the world, but there are many stories about the book's history that might just surprise you.

Sarah Stodola




Pun-derful, indeed.

Puns can be divisive: Some find them irresistible, some find them groan-worthy. But for others, punning is a way of life. Here's what you should know about this ancient art.

Shaunacy Ferro






George R. R. Martin at Worldcon 75, Helsinki, before the Hugo Awards.

When the 704-page 'A Game of Thrones' hit shelves on August 1, 1996, it received positive notices and respectable sales, but there was little hint of the hysteria that would follow.

Jake Rossen