A bereaved young woman faces terrible choices in this dreamily uncertain blend of science fiction and moral philosophy.

Cozy, whimsical novels — often featuring magical cats — that have long been popular in Japan and Korea are taking off globally. Fans say they offer comfort during a chaotic time.

Interstellar was, like so many Christopher Nolan films, promoted on the basis of spectacle. It was meant to be Nolan's 2001: ...