Litquake Schedule: Saturday, Oct. 10

The SF Main Library’s Koret Auditorium hosts Litquake’s traditional “Off the Richter Scale” reading series from 11 am to 6 pm, with each hour devoted to a different literary style and genre. Evening events range from musicians and music writers, to sci-fi authors of color, and queer fiction read out loud in a barbershop!



11 am-5 pm: Off the Richter Scale
6 pm: Chaos Is a Friend of Mine
7 pm: Color Me SF:The Science Fiction Worlds of Octavia Butler & Carl Brandon (Note: 7 pm is the correct starting time.)
8 pm: Be Afraid! Evil Queens, Menacing Dykes, and Secret Gay Agendas


11 am- 5 pm
Off the Richter Scale
Writers who will shake up your literary world! A whirlwind reading tour through a vast array of literary styles and genres, from nonfiction to science fiction to poetry, memoir and visual works. Book sales and signing to follow.
San Francisco Main Library, Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco
(415) 557-4595
Admission: free
11 am-12 noon
The Way Things Were: Biography and History
Dan Dion, David Helvarg, Gary M. Pomerantz, Kirsten T. Saxton, Linda Himelstein, T.J. Stiles


12 noon-1 pm
As I Recall It: Memoir
Andy Raskin, Canyon Sam, Genine Lentine, Holly Payne, Sophia Raday, Steven Winn


1-2 pm
A Different Way of Seeing Things: Poetry
Diane di Prima, Alexandra Teague, Brian Teare, Camille T. Dungy,  Lisa Gluskin Stonestreet, Paul Corman-Roberts


2-3 pm
In Other Worlds: Science Fiction & Fantasy
David P. Murphy, John Shirley, Peter S. Beagle, S.G. Browne


3-4pm
Visualize This: Graphic & Illustrated Works
Annice Jacoby, Ben Fong-Torres, Camille Picott, Ivory Madison, the Stanford Graphic Novel Project


4-5 pm
May You Live in Interesting Times: Just the Way Things Are
Geoffrey Nunberg, Jane Vandenburgh, Jess Walter, Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore, Wagner James Au


6-8 pm
Chaos Is a Friend of Mine
Authors and musicians spew forth on the topic of music. With Sam Barry, Alan Black, David Comfort, Jon Ginoli, Linda Robertson, RU Sirius, Denise Sullivan, and Richie Unterberger. Emceed by Litquake co-founder Jack Boulware. Book sales and signing to follow.
Hemlock Tavern, 1131 Polk Street, San Francisco; (415) 923-0923
Admission: $5 at the door
21 and over
7 pm
Color Me SF:
The Science Fiction Worlds of Octavia Butler & Carl Brandon
Join us for a panel on Octavia Butler, one of science fiction's preeminent authors of color. Readings, audience Q&A, and discussion of the Carl Brandon Society, "dedicated to addressing the representation of people of color in the fantastical genres." Moderator: author Terry Bisson. Cash bar to benefit the Octavia E. Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Note: 7 pm is the correct starting time.
Variety Preview Room Theatre, 582 Market Street, First Floor, San Francisco
(415)572-1015
Admission: $5 at the door
8 pm
Be Afraid! Evil Queens, Menacing Dykes, and Secret Gay Agendas
From lurid pulp novels to YouTube sermons, America's fear of the gay menace still runs strong. They could be your neighbors or your children's teachers. They could be lurking in your locker rooms and your foxholes, moving, one step at a time, closer to world domination. Are these just crazy conspiracies, or is there something real to fear about the shadowy queens and dykes forced to skulk on the edges of society? Readings by Marcus Ewert, Justin Chin, Aaron Shurin, Justin Hall, Monica Nolan, and Meliza Bañales.
Joe's Barbershop, 2150 Market Street, San Francisco
(415) 255-9096
Admission: $5 at the door