Mary Robinette Kowal, Annalee Newitz, and Megan O'Keefe, moderated by Evette Davis Get ready to take off for the far reaches of the galaxy via three very different, but equally fascinating, stories of space exploration written by superb storytellers. Buy the books here 

Ashia Ajani, Aya de Leon, and Camille Dungy, moderated by Devin T. Murphy 2023 marks the thirtieth anniversary of Octavia Butler's novel, which has only grown more relevant over the past three decades. Two poets and a novelist will discuss the power of Octavia Butler’s prophetic parables, placing their own writing in her lineage connecting climate justice and racial justice. Buy the books here 

Mark Ciabattari, Katie Hafner, and Peter Hoey, moderated by Heather Scott Partington All the creators in this session depict a world that is just slightly off-kilter from reality. Join three inventive creators for an intellectually playful conversation about approaching the craft of fiction seriously—but with whimsy to spare. Buy the books here 

Vanessa A. Bee, Camille Dungy, and Kathryn Savage, moderated by Kristin Keane   In this memoir session, thoughtful considerations of home blend the authors' intimate perspectives with broader questions of racial and economic injustice, ecological harm, housing insecurity, and other systemic crises. Buy the books here 

V, interviewed by Deirdre English Perhaps you're most familiar with V as the Tony Award-winning playwright (often under her former name Eve Ensler) of groundbreaking works. Or maybe you've been inspired by V's global activist movement, launched with the very first "V Day" on February 14, 1998, that creates safe, powerful spaces for survivors and others to talk openly about violence against women and girls. These intersections of art and activism are the places V explores most movingly in her new memoir. Buy the books here 

Dacher Keltner, interviewed by Shawn Taylor How do we begin to quantify the goose bumps we feel when we see the Grand Canyon, or the utter amazement when we watch a child walk for the first time? How do we give words the wonder we feel while gazing at centuries-old works of art? Dacher Keltner, one of the world’s foremost scientists of emotion and faculty director of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, presents his groundbreaking new book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. Sponsored by Reed Schmidt. Buy the books here 

Keenan Norris, Pilar Quintana, and Margaret Verble, moderated by Ethel Rohan It's undeniable that we were all once children, but that doesn’t mean it's child's play for writers to center the voice and perspective of a child or teen without veering into oversimplification or preciousness. In this craft-focused session, we'll engage with the works of three writers who excel at the task, first doing a close reading of specific passages and then learning more about how that youthful perspective informs the totality of the work. With support from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Buy the books here 

Akil Kumarasamy, Josh Riedel, Allie Rowbottom, Nina Schuyler, and Colin Winnette, moderated by Noah Stern The authors in this session aren't afraid to use their fiction to contend with the looming future of tech, but their new novels, like so much timeless fiction, are really about the pricelessness of human connection. This provocative discussion will equip attendees for a bold new future—or at least be prepared with a good book at the ready. With the support of SACHI Buy the books here 

Tricia Hersey, interviewed by Ashara Ekundayo In the instant New York Times bestseller “Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto,” Tricia Hersey, aka The Nap Bishop, shows us how to connect to the liberating power of rest, daydreaming, and naps as a foundation for healing and justice. Buy the books here 

Maddalena Bearzi and Jenny Odell, moderated by Alexis Madrigal Time stretches out in front of us, but there is never enough of it and you simply cannot borrow, buy, or make more. Join Jenny Odell and Maddalena Bearzi in conversation with Alexis Madrigal on the nature of time and how we measure it. This session will elicit both deep noticing and profound reflection.. If you’re ready for a more humane, responsive way of living, find the time to join us for this session. Buy the books here 

Alyssa Songsiridej, Shruti Swamy, Anita Felicelli How do writers represent the physicality of the human body, in all its frailty and its grace? Explore this question with electrifying debut novelists Shruti Swamy (“The Archer”) and Alyssa Sonsiridej (“Little Rabbit”), whose coming-of-age novels share a thoughtful consideration of the intersections of the body with creativity and self-expression.

Gabriela Garcia, Masha Rumer, Shugri Said Salh, Susie Meserve How do immigrant mothers navigate the world, and what do they leave their daughters when they go? Join Susie Meserve in conversation with three writers focusing on matrilineal lineages: Gabriela Garcia (“Of Women and Salt”); journalist Masha Rumer (“Parenting with an Accent”); and Shugri Said Salh (“The Last Nomad: Coming of Age in the Somali Desert”). We’ll discuss the power of storytelling to connect grandmothers to mothers to daughters even when they no longer share a nationality.

Jen Ferguson, Laura Gao, Cinnamongirl Kailynn These gifted authors offer historical and contemporary narratives of growing up queer.  Jen Ferguson’s “The Summer of Bitter and Sweet” features a Métis teen facing racism, sexual identity, and first love. Laura Gao’s graphic memoir “Messy Roots” grapples with queerness and the author’s identity as a Chinese immigrant to America. With support from the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria.

Raquel Kelley, Meredith Rose Essalat, Kaitlin Soulé, Josephine Wai Lin, Cindy DiTiberio A heartfelt and funny session about the joys and absurdities of modern motherhood. Raquel Kelley’s “Where’d I Go?” is a lift-the-flap book—not for babies, but for their tired moms. Josephine Wai Lin offers a modern take on the baby book, focusing on an open-minded approach to gender. In “A Little Less of a Hot Mess,” family therapist Kaitlin Soulé urges moms to embrace their imperfections. And educator/school administrator Meredith Essalet (“The Overly Honest Teacher”) distills her best tips.

Dale Berry, Steve Hockensmith, Catriona McPherson, Gary Phillips, Laurie R. King Four experts in suspense unravel the secrets to making pages turn. Your mentors in mystery are Dale Berry (“Tales of the Moonlight Cutter,” set in medieval China); Catriona McPherson, with the historical crime novel “In Place of Fear;” Steve Hockensmith, author of mysteries for adults and children; and Gary Phillips (“One Shot Harry”), critically acclaimed author of mystery, noir, and graphic novels. Moderated by the newly minted Mystery Writers of America Grand Master, Laurie R. King. Sponsored by Mystery Writers of America–NorCal.

Kate Folk, James Kennedy, Claire Stanford, Vauhini Vara, Lucile Culver Four fiction writers, each with an exquisite ear for the tender absurdities of humanity, bring their craft to bear on tech. Kate Folk (“Out There”) looks at intimacy through a futurist lens. Vauhini Vara (“The Immortal King Rao”) examines technological capitalism and climate change. Claire Stanford’s “Happy for You” is set in a tech company developing a “happiness app,” and James Kennedy’s “Dare to Know” in one that has developed the technology to predict death.

Karen Joy Fowler, Lee Kravetz Two novelists channel the worlds and minds of two mythologized historic figures. With “Booth,” Karen Joy Fowler (“The Jane Austen Book Club,” “We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves”), conjures the origins of a villain who changed America’s trajectory: John Wilkes Booth. Lee Kravetz’s “The Last Confessions of Sylvia P” reimagines a chapter in the life of poet Sylvia Plath, through three perspectives.

Peter Richardson, Sam Quinones Why is the wild, woolly writing of Hunter S. Thompson (“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”) still so relevant today? By inventing a whole new genre—”Gonzo journalism”—he forever changed the fourth estate. With “Savage Journey,” Peter Richardson, in an interview with Sam Quinones (“The Least of Us”) takes us for a ride through Thompson’s weird journey to Gonzo: one that took its first steps in San Francisco.

Kekla Magoon, Jetta Martin, Waldo Martin Jr., Cinnamongirl Olivia, Kimberly Cox Marshall The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense rocked the world with a revolutionary vision whose legacy still burns bright. Get to know the stories behind the movement with three renowned authors: Kekla Magoon (“Revolution in Our Time”) and Jetta Martin and Waldo Martin, Jr. (“Freedom! The Story of the Black Panther Party”).

Forrest Gander, Christina MacSweeney, Megan McDowell, Achy Obejas, Nathan Scott McNamara To translate an author’s work—staying faithful to their vision, style, and message, in a language not their own—is to assume an awesome responsibility: one that hasn’t always gotten its just due as an art form. Four of today’s most noteworthy and acclaimed translators of Latin American contemporary literature will shed light on the origins, rewards, pitfalls, and complexities of their discipline. Christina MacSweeney, a recipient of the Valle Inclan prize, has translated the works of leading Spanish-language authors including Valeria Luiselli, Jazmina Barrera, and Elvira Navarro. Megan McDowell, who received the English PEN award and whose works in translation have been nominated four times for the International Booker Prize, has translated many of the most important Latin American authors working today, including Samanta Schweblin, Alejandro Zambra, and Mariana Enriquez. Havana-born translator Achy Obejas, who has worked with Wendy Guerra, Rita Indiana, Junot Díaz, and Megan Maxwell, is also the author of a recent collection of poetry written in a mostly gender-free Spanish and English. And Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Forrest Gander, also a renowned translator, will share insights from his distinguished career. Find out why translation is a journey of never-ending discovery, creativity, and lessons in cross-cultural sensitivity and communication.Sponsored by the Center for the Art of Translation.

Mai Der Vang, Amanda Moore, Christine No, Maw Shein Win Three California poets navigate relationships, reckonings, and memory with unerring eyes. Join Mai Der Vang (“Yellow Rain”), Amanda Moore (“Requeening”), and Christine No (“Whatever Love Means”) for readings from their masterful new poetry collections followed by a Q&A. Hosted by El Cerrito’s inaugural poet laureate, Maw Shein Win (“Storage Unit for the Spirit House”).

Majora Carter, John Kamp, James Rojas, Mitchell Schwarzer, Alexis Madrigal Displacement, gentrification, the soaring cost of living: these issues have ravaged cities across the Bay and America. We need new visions of urban success. Mitchell Schwarzer (“Hella Town”) weighs in on Oakland’s past and future; James Rojas and John Kamp (“Dream Play Build”) discuss inclusive placemaking; and Majora Carter (“Reclaiming Your Community”) shows us how to take community accountability.

Aamina Ahmad, Uzma Aslam Khan, NoViolet Bulawayo, Lance Knobel Three supremely talented writers with a global perspective will open our eyes to historical and contemporary cycles of oppression and resistance. Booker Prize finalist NoViolet Bulawayo (“We Need New Names,” “Glory”) has constructed a postcolonial fable in which animals stand in for humans. Uzma Aslam Khan’s “The Miraculous History of Nomi Ali” is set in the Andaman Islands during the Japanese occupation of WWII. And Aamina Amhad (“The Return of Faraz Ali”) explores the social labyrinths of Lahore through the eyes of a displaced man.

Alexandra Kenin, Heather Knight, Peter Hartlaub Ever wonder where to find a hiker's rugged dream in the big bad city? Alexandra Kenin (“Urban Trails: San Francisco”) has meticulously tracked all 70 miles of hiking trails and 220 parks in mainland San Francisco, Alcatraz, and the islands. In this special in-person edition of the San Francisco Chronicle’s Total SF Book Club, get the scoop on our city’s best-kept hiking secrets.

Lily Anderson, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Rex Horner Read about powerful young women with a side of killer fun. In Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s graphic novel debut “Squad,” Becca longs to be popular at her new school, and winds up finding her place in a group of girls who also happen to be werewolves. Lily Anderson’s “Scout’s Honor” is filled with tons of high-octane action and adventure as protagonist Prudence Perry pursues her legacy as a monster hunter.

Dan Charnas, Adam Mansbach Discover a hidden genius—a man whom the greatest figures of contemporary pop call a “demigod” of music. J Dilla, who died in 2006 at the age of 32, never had a mainstream pop hit, but he created a new “time-feel” that forever changed the way musicians compose and play, whether they're contemporary jazz composers, hip-hop artists, or rappers. Find out why this unsung visionary is revered everywhere from conservatories to universities, his ideas present in the music of Kendrick Lamar and Robert Glasper. With the recent New York Times bestseller Dilla Time, Dan Charnas, a pioneer of hip-hop journalism, gives us “one of the few hip-hop sagas to take the music as seriously as its maker” (Publishers Weekly). Joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author and screenwriter Adam Mansbach (Go the F**k to Sleep; I Had a Brother Once), Charnas will show us why recent Oscar-winner QUESTLOVE called Dilla “an unexplainable genius”---one whose gift and legacy is revealed at last in the pages of Dilla Time.

Jessica Garrison, Tod Goldberg, Paul Holes, Megan Cassidy What do crimes, real or fictional, reveal about human nature? Shedding light are legendary cold-case investigator Paul Holes (who helped solve the Golden State Killer case); Los Angeles Times investigative journalist Jessica Garrison (“The Devil’s Harvest”) and bestselling fiction writer Tod Goldberg, with his collection of gangster tales, “The Low Desert.” In a conversation moderated by San Francisco Chronicle crime reporter Megan Cassidy, these authors will show us how scratching the surface of a crime uncovers an unforgettable story about ourselves.

Charlie Jane Anders, Mike Chen, John Scalzi, Danielle Venton These brilliant science fiction writers’ latest works find hope among the stars. In John Scalzi’s “The Kaiju Preservation Society,” a delivery driver gets a chance to escape a COVID-decimated New York City—by caring for giant endangered animals on an alternate Earth. The second volume of Charlie Jane Anders’s Unstoppable series, “Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak,” finds alien clone Tina and crew on a quest for love and fulfillment. And in Mike Chen’s “Light Years from Home,” earthbound family drama meets alien abduction.

Carol Edgarian, Vanessa Hua, Jenny Tinghui Zhang, Jasmin Darznik Chinese immigrants were instrumental in shaping California, despite prejudice and exploitation. The connection between the two places has been fodder for amazing works of art, including the latest novels by authors Jenny Tinghui Zhan (“Four Treasures of the Sky”), Carol Edgarian (“Vera”), and San Francisco Chronicle columnist Vanessa Hua (“Forbidden City”).

Danyel Smith, Mariecar Mendoza From formerly enslaved poet Phyllis Wheatley to Mahalia Jackson to Tina Turner, brilliant Black women have been instrumental—indeed, foundational—in creating America’s pop music. Former Billboard editor Danyel Smith’s “Shine Bright” is an ode to the songbird geniuses that have been hidden in plain sight. In this conversation between Smith and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Mariecar Mendoza, we’ll celebrate a musical lineage as life-affirming as it is awe-inspiring.

Molly Giles, Leslie Kirk Campbell, Sarah Moss With book titles like “Wife with Knife: Stories that Cut” (by Molly Giles), “The Man With Eight Pairs of Legs” (by Leslie Kirk Campbell), and “The Fell” (by Sarah Moss), it’s clear you’re not in for a typical reading experience. These fiction writers explore what happens when we’re pushed to extremes. With the support of Culture Ireland.

Pik-Shuen Fung, Kristin Keane, Litt Woon Long, Deirdre English These authors give voice to the unspeakable parts of grief. The protagonist of Pik-Shuen Fung’s “Ghost Forest” navigates her father’s death in a family that doesn’t talk about feelings. In “The Encyclopedia of Bending Time,” memoirist Kristin Keane uses an encyclopedic format to grieve her mother. And Litt Woon Long’s “The Way Through the Woods” wends a path through mushroom-foraging as a way to process loss. With the support of the Consulate General of Canada San Francisco/Silicon Valley, the Norway House Foundation, and NORLA - Norwegian Literature Abroad.

Spend an hour with three brilliant female authors, writing from and about multiple corners of the globe—India, the Middle East, North Africa, South America, the United States—with woman-focused stories. Meet Dubai-based Indian author Avni Doshi, Ethiopian-American novelist Maaza Mengiste and Chilean author Alia Trabucco Zerán. The event is co-presented by Words Without Borders and moderated by Karen Phillips, its executive director.

Gina Frangello’s new memoir, Blow Your House Down, was met with wide acclaim, impassioned support, and also the judgments and criticisms that people love to lob at women who write about their authentic, messy lives. She writes about adultery, a longtime affair, and eventually breaking up her family, with repercussions to all concerned, including her children. At the center of this conversation, moderated by Brooke Warner, are questions about how women are encouraged to be silent, or get silenced.

A powerful conversation between renowned psychiatrist Irvin Yalom & one of the most honored authors in American letters, Joyce Carol Oates. This heartfelt talk explores universal questions of intimacy, love, and grief.

Douglas Stuart enraptured readers worldwide in 2020 when his debut novel, Shuggie Bain, took the world’s top literary award, the Booker Prize. Shuggie Bain was a labor of love that drew from his own history of childhood poverty, hardship, and devotion to a mother whose addiction struggles were intensified by a broken system. Stuart is interviewed by Casey Gerald, who gained fame with a viral TED talk, “The Gospel of Doubt.” Like Stuart, Gerald grew up queer, shaped by poverty and parental addiction.

Hear from two highly respected journalists who also happen to be speculative fiction writers. Annalee Newitz is an award-winning novelist (The Future of Another Timeline) and a science, technology and culture writer whose fascinating new book, Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age, explores the rise and fall of four urban-centered civilizations, from medieval Angkor in Cambodia to the indigenous metropolis Cahokia in present-day Missouri. Moderated by Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim.

A journalist and renowned expert on China, Schell has penned his first novel, drawing on his knowledge of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution and on his conviction that art and love can outlive brutality. Joining him is MacArthur “genius” and award-winning writer Yiyun Li, who came of age during the bloody Tiananmen Square crackdown, emigrated to the U.S. at 23 as a young scientist, and eventually took the literary world by storm with her fiction, memoir and essays. This talk is moderated by Adam Hochschild.

The power of words to spark change and detonate oppression has never been more needed than it is today. Join U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith, award-winning poet Reginald Dwayne Betts, and National Book Critics Circle Award finalist Camille Dungy as they discuss their writings in response to our tumultuous time in history. Guiding the conversation is Ismail Muhummad, story editor for the New York Times Magazine and a member of the Festival’s program committee.

Having enriched the creative journeys of millions with her Artist’s Way program and books, Julia Cameron will show us how to harness that spirit of renewal with her latest guide to attunement and fulfillment, The Listening Path. Joining Julia is Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Judy Collins, a national treasure whose artistry is timeless. You won’t want to miss these two legendary creatives in conversation, talking about all things art, life, inspiration, and how to truly listen.

Ann Patchett’s novels hit that sweet spot where literary prestige meets blockbuster success. With The Dutch House, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, Patchett is at her peak. This “engrossing, warmhearted book” (NPR) tells the story of a brother and sister whose deep bond and secret-filled past is haunted by the legacy of an ornate mansion, the “Dutch house,” that was the site of childhood, and later, of their exile. Patchett is known for speaking her mind with refreshing and down-to-earth brilliance.

Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley was determined to release her latest novel in 2020. Why? She knew we all could use an escape. And Perestroika in Paris is just that, as praised by Publishers Weekly: “the perfect book for those for whom the real world, wracked with pandemic and politics, has become something to avoid.” Imagine a Parisian fairytale for adults starring a runaway racehorse who finds friendship and freedom in getting splendidly off-track in the City of Light. In conversation with Brooke Warner.

After a tumultuous year of protest, Hong Kong’s streets are quiet again following the adoption of the national security law. Join four experts for this indispensable analysis of the protest movement and its significance for freedom globally: Hong Kong-based lawyer and writer Antony Dapiran; Jeffrey Wasserstrom, one of America’s leading China specialists; and the Financial Times’ Nicolle Liu, who reported from the streets throughout the protests. Conversation moderated by Orville Schell and Arthur Ross.

Two-time Grammy winner and Oakland native Fantastic Negrito (blues and Black roots music) meets multiracial, eight-time Swedish Grammy-winning rapper and debut author Timbuktu — and each discovers a brother. In a highly personal conversation, these two extraordinary artists, each with a huge fan base, share their experiences of racism, fatherhood, ancestors, and what it means to be an “elder.” They talk especially about gratitude, joy, and of course the power of music.

Helen Macdonald is setting our imaginations soaring again with Vesper Flights, a collection of her best-loved essays, illuminating everything from mushroom-hunting to the poignant particulars of birds’ nests. As Helen wrote, “animals don’t exist in order to teach us things,” but her live conversation with American Book Award-winning poet Camille T. Dungy will show us how much we can learn by letting nature keep its secrets.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the future of the American republic hangs in the balance. There are few levers as powerful in tipping that balance as interpretations of the U.S. Constitution by the Supreme Court. One of the nation’s preeminent constitutional law scholars, Erwin Cherminsky, asserts that there has never been a more important time to adopt a progressive vision of the U.S. Constitution, a living blueprint that can ensure justice, equality, and opportunity for all.