Works

The Satanic Bible A neutral overview of The Satanic Bible by Anton LaVey: its structure, themes, history, beliefs, and how it differs from theistic Satanism and common misconceptions.

The Satanic Verses (novel) — overview, themes, and controversy The Satanic Verses Salman Rushdie's 1988 novel mixing magical realism, allegory and contested retellings of early Islamic episodes. Celebrated in literary circles, it also provoked a major internatio…

The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne's 1850 novel about Hester Prynne's public shaming for adultery in 17th‑century Puritan Massachusetts, notable for its symbolism, moral complexity, and cultural…

The Screwtape Letters A satirical epistolary novella by C. S. Lewis that explores temptation, moral choice, and Christian themes through letters from a senior devil to his apprentice.

The Secret Garden Overview and context for Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden: plot, characters, themes, publication history, adaptations and its influence on children's literature and gard…

The Sexual Revolution: shifts in 20th‑century sexual attitudes and culture The Sexual Revolution A concise account of the Sexual Revolution — the mid‑20th century transformation in Western sexual norms driven by research, contraception, social movements and changing laws.

The Shadow: Origins, Character, and Cultural Influence The Shadow The Shadow is a pioneering pulp and radio crime-fighter first heard in 1930; this article summarizes its origins, characteristics, major media, and lasting influence on twentieth-c…

The Shining (novel) Stephen King's 1977 novel about a haunted Colorado hotel, a family in winter isolation, and a boy with a psychic gift; the book launched King's bestseller status and inspired notab…

The Silmarillion A collection of mythic tales by J. R. R. Tolkien recounting the creation and early history of Middle‑earth, compiled and published posthumously by his son Christopher Tolkien in 19…

The Simpsons Sing the Blues (1990 album) The Simpsons Sing the Blues A 1990 novelty/pop album featuring songs performed by characters from The Simpsons, notable for singles like "Do the Bartman" and Lisa Simpson's cover of "God Bless the Child."

The Simpsons: Skateboarding (PlayStation 2 game) The Simpsons Skateboarding A 2002 skateboarding video game set in Springfield, featuring characters from The Simpsons competing in themed skate contests on PlayStation 2.

The Sims (video game series) The Sims A long-running life-simulation series launched in 2000. Players create and manage virtual people, households and environments; the franchise includes multiple sequels, expansions a…

The Sims (video game series): a sandbox life-simulation franchise The Sims (video game series) An overview of The Sims franchise: its gameplay, development by Maxis, expansions and community, and its place in life-simulation games.

The Sims 3 — Overview, features, history and legacy The Sims 3 The Sims 3 is a life-simulation video game released in 2009 for PC and Mac. It introduced an open neighborhood, deep customization and a large expansion ecosystem; it later led to…

The Sims 4 — overview, gameplay, history and features The Sims 4 The Sims 4 is a life-simulation game developed by Maxis and The Sims Studio, published by Electronic Arts in 2014. This article summarizes its systems, history, platforms, and ongo…

The Sims Bustin' Out: console life-simulation adaptation (2003) The Sims Bustin' Out The Sims Bustin' Out is a 2003 console adaptation of The Sims series. It offers a more mission-driven take on life simulation and was released across several platforms with develop…

The Singles 1992–2003 A compilation album by No Doubt collecting the band's principal singles from 1992 to 2003, including a new cover recording and two early non-single inclusions; released alongside t…

The Singles Collection (Britney Spears compilation album) The Singles Collection The Singles Collection is Britney Spears's second hits compilation, released in late 2009. It gathers major singles from her first decade and introduced the new track "3", which de…

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants A young-adult novel series by Ann Brashares about four friends who share a mysterious pair of jeans through summers apart; celebrated for its portrayal of friendship, coming-of-age…

The Sleeping Beauty (ballet): history, music, and choreography The Sleeping Beauty (ballet) Overview of The Sleeping Beauty ballet: origins in Perrault, Tchaikovsky's score, Petipa's choreography, structure, premiere at the Mariinsky, notable revivals and its place in the…

The Slim Shady LP The Slim Shady LP (1999) is Eminem's major-label breakthrough, introducing his Slim Shady persona. Produced with Dr. Dre and others, it mixed dark humor, shock lyrics and polished…

The Smurfs Fictional small blue characters created by Belgian cartoonist Peyo in 1958; developed into comics, a popular 1980s animated series and modern feature films with a lasting global pr…

The Snow Queen (Hans Christian Andersen) The Snow Queen A comprehensive overview of Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale 'The Snow Queen': publication, plot, characters, themes, and its cultural legacy and adaptations.

The Song Is Over A reflective rock ballad by The Who from the 1971 album Who's Next; written by Pete Townshend as part of his abandoned Lifehouse project, noted for its lyrical melancholy and studi…

The Song of Hiawatha An overview of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1855 narrative poem: its form, sources, plot elements, reception, and cultural influence including adaptations in music and art.

The Song of Roland: Origins, Structure, and Legacy of a Medieval Epic The Song of Roland Overview of La Chanson de Roland, a landmark Old French epic: its composition, structure, historical basis in 778, manuscript tradition, performance, and lasting literary influence…

The Soul Sessions — debut album by Joss Stone The Soul Sessions Debut studio album by English singer Joss Stone, released 16 September 2003. A collection of soul covers and reinterpretations that introduced her voice and helped spark renewed in…

The Sound of Girls Aloud A 2006 compilation album by British pop group Girls Aloud, collecting their early singles and notable tracks and highlighting their pop production and career through 2006.

The Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse series) The Southern Vampire Mysteries A contemporary urban-fantasy novel series by Charlaine Harris following telepath Sookie Stackhouse in a Louisiana town where vampires seek coexistence; inspired the HBO series True…

The Specialist (1994 film) The Specialist 1994 American action thriller directed by Luis Llosa, starring Sylvester Stallone and Sharon Stone. A former CIA operative becomes entangled in violence and crime across Colombia a…

The Spoiler — novel by Annalena McAfee The Spoiler A 2012 novel by journalist Annalena McAfee that examines newsroom culture and generational conflict through the rivalry of two women working at a newspaper.

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold John le Carré's 1963 Cold War novel about disillusioned agent Alec Leamas, a bleak, morally complex view of espionage that overturned glamorous spy fiction. Adapted to film in 1965…

The Starry Night — Vincent van Gogh's 1889 painting The Starry Night A concise encyclopedia article on Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night (1889): its composition, style, historical context, legacy, and notable features, with links for further infor…

The State of the World (annual environmental report series) The State of the World An annual compendium first issued in 1984 by the Worldwatch Institute that surveys global environmental trends, policy responses, and practical solutions for sustainability.

The Steadfast Tin Soldier Hans Christian Andersen's 1838 fairy tale about a one‑legged tin soldier who loves a paper ballerina, exploring fate, devotion, and artistic isolation. Widely translated and freque…

The Story of a Bad Boy An 1870 semi‑autobiographical juvenile novel by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, first serialized in Our Young Folks, often cited as an early example of the mischievous‑boy genre set on the…

The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor (Relato de un náufrago) The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor A narrative non-fiction account by Gabriel García Márquez, first serialized in 1955 and published in book form in 1970, recounting a sailor's survival at sea and its literary and j…

The Story of Mankind — Hendrik Willem van Loon's 1921 history for young readers The Story of Mankind An illustrated, narrative history by Hendrik Willem van Loon (1921). Written for children, it traces human history through to the aftermath of World War I and won the first Newbery…

The Story of the Three Bears (Goldilocks): origins, versions, and cultural impact The Story of the Three Bears A concise, neutral account of the tale of the Three Bears: its plot, evolution from Southey's version to the Goldilocks figure, themes, common variants and lasting cultural influen…

The Story of Us (Taylor Swift song) The Story of Us A detailed overview of Taylor Swift's song "The Story of Us" from her 2010 album Speak Now: themes, composition, background, reception, music video and its place in Swift’s songwri…

The Straight Dope A long-running question-and-answer newspaper column written under the pen name Cecil Adams, mixing research, skepticism and humor to investigate everyday curiosities and urban lege…

The Subtle Knife — second volume of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials The Subtle Knife Overview of The Subtle Knife (1997), its plot premise, main characters, themes, and significance within Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.

The Sufferer & the Witness (Rise Against album) The Sufferer & The Witness Fourth studio album by American punk band Rise Against, released July 4, 2006 on Geffen. Melodic punk with political and personal themes; debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200 and…

The Sweet Escape (Gwen Stefani album) The Sweet Escape Second solo studio album by Gwen Stefani, released December 1, 2006 by Interscope Records. A pop- and dance-oriented follow-up featuring the singles “Wind It Up” and “The Sweet Esc…

The Swing (Les Hasards Heureux de l'Escarpolette) — Fragonard, 1767–1768 The Swing (Fragonard, 1767-1768) A Rococo masterpiece by Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1767–1768), The Swing is a playful, sensual oil painting now in the Wallace Collection, notable for its movement, color, and layered…

The Swiss Family Robinson: novel, themes, and cultural legacy The Swiss Family Robinson Overview of Johann David Wyss's 1812 novel, its themes of family and survival, publication history, and notable adaptations including film, stage, and translations.

The Taggerung (Redwall novel by Brian Jacques) The Taggerung A 2001 children's fantasy novel by Brian Jacques, the 14th Redwall book. It follows a foundling known as the Taggerung and explores identity, loyalty, and belonging in Jacques' ant…

The Tale of Genji: an overview of Japan's Heian-era classic The Tale of Genji An accessible article on The Tale of Genji: authorship, structure, themes such as mono no aware, historical background, translations, and its cultural influence in Japan and beyond…