Terry Gross

Some consider Grass Germany's greatest contemporary writer, both for his fiction -- including The Tin Drum -- and for his political essays. Grass argued for years against against German reunification because of the hatred and resentment he was afraid it would unleash; he believes his fears have since come to pass.

Yugoslavian journalist, critic, and feminist Slavenka Drakulic. We last spoke to her in July about living in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, with the outbreak of war. Recently, Drakulic has been researching and writing about Muslim women who have been raped by Serbs for genocidal purposes.

Kenneth Roth, deputy director of Human Rights Watch and editor of its annual World Report. The report, which was just released, reviews human rights developments in 1992 and examines U.S. human rights policies.

Brown wrote the novels "Civil Wars" and "Tender Mercies." Her newest is called "Before and After." It's the story of a family's struggle to survive tragedy: their seventeen-year-old son Jacob conceals his darker side from his parents until the chief of police comes looking for Jacob one night in connection with the murder of his pregnant girlfriend.

Lahr has written a number of books and screenplays, including "Notes on a Cowardly Lion:" (about his father, the comedian Bert Lahr), and "Prick up Your Ears; The Biography of Joe Orton. Lahr has been the drama critic for over 25 years for "The Village Voice," and for "Vogue" (of Britian). He's written a new book about Barry Humphries and his creation, the dandy/alter ego Dame Edna Everage.

Author Nuruddin Farah came from a long line of poets and storytellers; he was one of first to use Somalia's written language, which was developed in the 60s. Prior to that, he wrote in English. He's recently had several books published in the United States. Farah, who's currently in exile in Nigeria, will discuss Somalia's culture and history.

The debut writer's first book of short stories is "The Boy Without a Flag: Tales of The South Bronx." It's an autobiographical collection about the people in his neighborhood. He has said, "I write about the rancid underbelly of the American Dream." He's also in a punk rock band called Urgent Fury.

Wainwright is best known for his 1973 hit "Dead Skunk ." Considered by many to be a satirical and caustic folksinger, his latest album, History, is a highly personal album. He sings frankly about marriage, parenthood, and child abuse.

Military policy expert Carolyn Becraft joins Terry to discuss how women soldiers will participate in the U.S.'s humanitarian mission in Somalia.

New York Times reporter Edward Gargan is in India covering the erupting conflict between the Muslims and Hindu fundamentalists. Last Sunday a symbol of India's Muslim minority --a 16th century mosque--was destroyed by Hindu zealots. Gargan, along with other British and American journalists, was brutally beaten during the chaos..