Brian Raftery Books in Order

Brian Raftery traces the Upright Citizens Brigade from its Chicago beginnings to its influential New York theater. Interviews with founders, performers, and friends reveal how an improvisational collective built a comedy community that reshaped television, film, and live performance.

Through interviews with filmmakers and performers, Brian Raftery revisits the unusually adventurous movies released in 1999. He examines their production, cultural setting, and lasting influence, connecting films such as The Matrix and Fight Club to changes in American entertainment.

Brian Raftery follows Hannibal Lecter from Thomas Harris’s novels through film and television, drawing on interviews and archival material. The account examines the character’s creators, changing reputation, and relationship to America’s growing fascination with serial murder.

Brian Raftery follows karaoke from Japan to international competitions and New York’s heavy-metal stages. Combining reporting with memories of his own enthusiastic singing, he explores how an unlikely pastime became a global business and a source of personal liberation.