Greetings from Read Max HQ, and welcome to our weekly roundup column, in which I pick out some worthwhile and often overlooked books, articles, movies, and music to recommend to paying subscribers. For this week’s round-up, I’ve got:

• A terrific new crime thriller about meth heads, white supremacists, bodybuilders, and the power of friendship;

• articles, columns, and essays on A.I. as a cultural force, A.I. as fascist kitsch, political nihilism, and the game Set;

• a well-curated collection of kung-fu movies with gnarly weapons, perfect for midnight viewing; and

• four tracks I’ve been digging lately.

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I love to hear from readers who want to recommend a cool book or movie (or whatever!) to me, or from readers who are looking for specific kinds of recommendations. Just leave a comment or drop me a line at [email protected].

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Now, the roundup: