Literature

Who Needs Friends?

From ’80s film icon to introspective author, Andrew McCarthy brings his cross-country search for friendship to Santa Cruz.

Into the Redwoods

Linda Rosewood imagines a feminist utopia rooted in Santa Cruz history in her new novel A Circle Outside, blending ritual, humor and community.

Books of the Dead

Thursday is Deadhead night at Bookshop Santa Cruz with a double-bill of grateful scholars—Jim Newton and Gabi Moskowitz. 7pm, free admission.

Anatomical Study

in the technological tidal wave. Even the Jetsons didn’t have synthetic androids with lifelike skin and brimming with the Neuralink consciousness of Elon Musk.

What’s There, Here

Picture the entire East Coast as one state, John Freeman says. That might give an idea of the multi-habitat, multicultural, multi-political jigsaw puzzle that is California.

Magical Mayhem

Liz Shipton’s Dot Slash Magic bursts onto the scene as an urban fantasy that speaks directly to our moment—brilliant, timely and impossible to ignore.

Circle of Power

While the solo work of being a writer can be invigorating, Najarro wants potential attendees and future Círculo members to know the next process, publishing, doesn’t have to be so lonely.

Conspiracy of One

Robert Anton Wilson’s accolades are eccentric—he’s an iconic countercultural hero, remembered for his promotion of Discordian philosophies...

More Moore, Please

Christopher Moore is one of America’s not-sung-enough, top-tier “absurdist fiction” writers. It’s time for Moore to take the heavyweight title.

Shining a Light

The idea that “trans people just showed up” is a lie that keeps getting pushed—not only by the right wing, but also by voices...

Aloha with a Twist

With characteristic spunk, veteran mystery ace Leslie Karst has dashed off the second book in her new Hawai’ian Island-based series, Waters of Destruction. Natural...