Jessica Fellowes, author of a new book about the successful series Downton Abbey, talks about the story of the Crawleys and the world they inhabit.

Science fiction and fantasy books aren't just getting more popular, they're interbreeding with other genres to produce wild new hybrid forms — swapping DNA with literary novels, commenting on current events, morphing into historical science fiction romances, and evolving into hard-boiled detective fantasy.

The Artist of Disappearance, from Indian writer Anita Desai, is a trilogy. All three works dwell on themes of change and permanence, and they illustrate the conflicts and challenges of modern Indian culture.

Susan Jane Gilman recommends behind-the-scenes reads about the rich and famous — by a rock star, a hotel concierge, a stuntman and a Brat Packer, all offering backstage passes to their glamorous lives. Entertaining and star-studded, they make for perfect holiday escapism — with a cocktail (or two) in hand.

The mission to capture Osama Bin Laden didn't just include a few dozen Navy Seals. A dog named Cairo played an integral part. Military dogs are often equipped with an ear bud and camera in order to be the first to enter a room and help soldiers survey the scene. Guest host Allison Keyes speaks with Lisa Rogak, author of Dogs of War.

In The Dead Witness, Michael Sims presents stories from the early days of detective fiction, revisiting classics and introducing readers to a raft of lesser-known writers, many of them women.

A recently released children's book tells the story of how Duke Ellington brought swing to the holiday classic, 'The Nutcracker.' Also, Texan vampires go up against werewolves and were-armadillos in a popular young adult novel. These are just some of the books that top librarian Loriene Roy's list of holiday books. She speaks to host Michel Martin.