The rise of robot authors: is the writing on the wall for human novelists?

The unveiling of artificial intelligence that can write fiction and journalism caused alarm. But how does its prose compare with George Orwell’s – and can it report on Brexit?

What will you be reading next year? London book fair’s star attractions

Salman Rushdie’s take on Don Quixote, Elton John’s memoirs and a study of criminals in Broadmoor – a selection of the biggest and most interesting books announced at the fair

Atwood to launch The Handmaid’s Tale sequel with live broadcast

Exclusive: Author’s interview about The Testaments will be filmed at National Theatre in London

Australian author sees similar plot to his in trailer for new Danny Boyle film

The upcoming movie Yesterday bears resemblance to Nick Milligan’s novel Enormity

Amazon hits back at claims it is to blame for falling author earnings

Retailer insists Authors Guild report that criticised the online giant for contributing to tumbling writers’ incomes used flawed figures, but Guild stands by findings

‘Axe the reading tax’: book industry demands end to VAT on ebooks

Following EU directive that allows governments to waive duty on digital publications, calls grow for the UK to end ‘illogical and unfair’ levy

Have you ever read a pirated book or been affected by piracy? Share your stories

We’d like to hear from people who have downloaded books illegally and those affected by book piracy

Book sales boom but authors report shrinking incomes

Calls for writers to reap rewards as British publishers enjoy record-breaking year

‘It’s the book that gave me freedom’: Michael Ondaatje on The English Patient

The novel has been translated into 38 languages and the film scooped nine Oscars. Now, as The English Patient wins the Golden Booker prize – voted readers’ favourite in 50 years – the author reveals why he could never have been a writer if he’d stayed in Britain

CockyBot flies to the rescue in literature’s trademark wars

Recent bids to claim ownership of terms used in books and their titles include ‘dragon slayer’, ‘cocky’ and even ‘big’. A canny bot is keeping watch

Marina Warner is right – gold stars for writers leads to creative death

The distinguished novelist and historian is right to deprecate the notion of creative people being ‘virtuous’

The Guardian view on Amazon: not a normal monopoly

Editorial: Consumers love the convenience of Jeff Bezos’ firm. But the undue focus on this advantage has led to the neglect of the interests of workers, rival entrepreneurs and voters

PEN America launches Online Harassment Field Manual

The US civil liberties group created the new resource for writers and journalists after a survey revealed the extent to which trolls cause them to self-censor their work

Action Comics #1000: the 10 most important issues from 80 years of Superman

From Superman’s first flight to the issue where he lost his job (and that time he made Santa buff), a look back at eight decades of Action Comics

Arts industry report asks: where are all the working-class people?

Film, broadcasting, publishing and performing sectors nowhere near representative of UK