San Francisco Examiner 

by LAUREN GALLAGHER

October 9, 2002

San Francisco shakes up its literary scene this weekend with the inauguration of Litquake. Novelists, poets, memoirists, monologists, humorists and journalists will vocalize their work in a variety of locations, from the main branch of the San Francisco Public Library to the depths of a Scottish pub. Sixty writers will participate, almost tripling the number from Litquake’s previous incarnation, Litstock, founded in 2000.

Local notables abound in the Litquake lineup, from Robert Mailer Anderson, whose popular small press novel “Boonville” makes its way into a Harper Perennial paperback this year, to Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snickett), author of “The Carnivorous Carnival,” ninth in his group of best-selling children’s novels, “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”

Other local favorites include San Francisco’s poet laureate, devorah major; Anne N. Marino (”The Collapsible World”); Barry Gifford (”American Falls”); JT Leroy (”The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things”); Po Bronson (”The Nudist on Late Shift”); and Dave Eggers (”A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius”), whose self-published second book, “You Shall Know Our Velocity,” hit select bookstores last month.

The events kick off at 6:30 p.m. Friday with the panel discussion “Dystopia/Utopia: Can the Bay Area Uphold a New Generation of Writers” Oscar Villalon, book editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, will moderate the dialogue between authors Justin Chin, Herb Gold, Beth Lisick, devorah major, Peter Plate, and James Kass, founder and executive director of “Youth Speaks.” Hosted by the Commonwealth Club as part of its INFORUM series, the discussion takes place at 595 Market St. (at Second Street), San Francisco. Admission is $10 for CC/INFORUM members, $18 for nonmembers.

Saturday overflows with readings in two locations. The 60 authors will divide and conquer, appearing noon to 6 p.m. at the main library’s Koret Auditorium, 100 Larkin St., and the Hiram W. Johnson State Office Building, Conference Center Auditorium B-100, 350 McAllister St., both in San Francisco. You may have to scramble between the two locations to hear your favorites speak, but the events are free, with food, beverages and books available for purchase.

Litquake culminates with a touch of international flavor Saturday night as the Scottish author of “Trainspotting” and “Glue,” Irvine Welsh, reads from his latest work, “Porn,” starting at 9. The reading takes place at the Edinburgh Castle Pub, 950 Geary St., San Francisco, followed by music and mingling. This event is for ages 21 and over. Admission is $10.

For general information, visit www.litquake.org.