Glenn Patterson is a Northern Irish-born author most recognized for his 1999 novel, The International, which is set in Belfast just before the onset of the Troubles.  His other works include Fat Lad, Number 5, That Which Was, and The Third Party. He was awarded the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature.

Salman Rushdie is the author of twelve novels, including Grimus, Midnight’s Children (for which he won the Booker Prize and the Best of the Booker) and one collection of short stories: East, West, four works of nonfiction, and co-editor of two anthologies, Mirrorwork and Best American Short Stories 2008. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a Distinguished Writer in Residence at New York University. A former president of American PEN, Rushdie was knighted in 2007 for services to literature.

Miracles of Modern Science create “pop that sounds like something new” (Wired) with just violin, cello, mandolin, drums, and a double bass-wielding singer. The Brooklyn band combines a classically inspired passion for counterpoint and structure with offbeat pop hooks and witty lyrics. Their albums Dog Year (2011), MEEMS (2013), and Mean Dreams (2015) have won praise from NPR, The Guardian, and Consequence of Sound, while their crafty music videos have tallied millions of views on YouTube.