What happened on June 15, 2008
BOOKS
Family ties By Tara Ison, Tara Ison is the author, most recently, of "The List."
A lost world By Richard Eder, Richard Eder, a former Times book critic, was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1987.
The offender By Peter Richardson, Peter Richardson is the author of "American Prophet: The Life and Work of Carey McWilliams." His book on the history and influence of Ramparts magazine will be published next year.
Discoveries By Susan Salter Reynolds
Warped world By Chris Abani, Chris Abani teaches at UC Riverside. His latest book is "Song For Night."
Say what? By Irina Reyn, Irina Reyn's first novel, "What Happened to Anna K.," will be published in August.
Unspoken By Andrew Ervin, Andrew Ervin's short story "The Phillie Phanatic" is featured in Fiction International.
Straight to video By Seth Greenland, Seth Greenland's second novel, "Shining City," will be published next month.
The magic boy By Donna Seaman, Donna Seaman is an editor for Booklist and host of the radio program "Open Books," at www.openbooksradio.org. Her author interviews are collected in "Writers on the Air."
OPINION
In China, the game has changed By Victor D. Cha, Victor D. Cha is director of Asian studies at Georgetown University and adjunct senior fellow at the Pacific Council for International Policy. He is the author of the forthcoming book "Beyond the Final Score: The Politics of Sport in Asia."
America isn't over By Ted Widmer, Ted Widmer, a former speechwriter for President Clinton, directs the John Carter Brown Library at Brown University. His next book, "Ark of the Liberties: America and the World," will be published in July.
The pragmatist By Lou Cannon, Lou Cannon has written five books about Ronald Reagan, including "President Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime."
Just plain spokes By Robert Gottlieb, Robert Gottlieb's latest book is "Reinventing Los Angeles: Nature and Community in the Global City."
The negotiator By Greg Lucas, Greg Lucas has been a California political writer and satirist for 20 years. He blogs at www.californiascapitol.com.
The independent By Jim Newton, Jim Newton is the editor of The Times' editorial pages and the author of "Justice for All: Earl Warren and the Nation He Made."
Second thoughts By Joel Pett, Joel Pett is the Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist of the Lexington Herald-Leader. His work also appears in USA Today.
The beasts within By Neil Shubin, Neil Shubin is a professor of anatomy at the University of Chicago and provost of the Field Museum. He is the author of "Your Inner Fish: A Journey Into the 3.5-Billion-Year History of the Human Body."
The 'big-government man' By Ethan Rarick, Ethan Rarick is the author of "California Rising: The Life and Times of Pat Brown" and "Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West."
TRAVEL
To the rescue By Rosemary Mcclure, Times Staff Writer
Need To Know By Susan Spano; Mary Forgione; Rosemary Mcclure
Handle with care-free spirit By Rosemary Mcclure; Susan Spano; Vani Rangachar; Diane Wedner; Rosemary Mcclure; Jane Engle; Mary Forgione; Catharine Hamm