Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
John Varley (1947-2025): Hugo & Nebula Award Winning Science Fiction Author
John Varley (1947-2025), Hugo and Nebula Award winning science fiction novelist, who died on December 10, 2025 at the age of 78, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios July 17, 1992 while on tour for the novel “Steel Beach.”
John Varley hit the ground running with his first short story, “Picnic on Nearside,” published in 1974 in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. He was already considered the logical heir to Robert Heinlein by the time his novel, The Ophiuchi Hotline was published in 1977 and his short story collection, The Persistence of Vision a year later. He followed those books with a trilogy that included Titan, Wizard and Demon, then went to Hollywood for seven years. This Probabilities interview was recorded on July 17, 1992 when he returned to the field with his novel, Steel Dreams, first of two novels set in the Eight Worlds universe of his earlier work; the sequel, The Golden Globe, was published in 1998..
By the time of this interview, John Varley’s history with Hollywood would be over. You can find a PBS version of Overdrawn at the Memory Bank on Pluto TV, and two episodes from the TV show Paradox on You Tube. The film Millennium is not streaming. After The Golden Globe, John Varley wrote seven novels, most in a new series titled Thunder and Lightning. He returned to the Eight Worlds for his final novel, Irontown Blues, published in 2018. There would also be The John Varley Reader in 2004 and another collection in 2013. This interview has not aired in over thirty years.
Alan Furst: Best-selling Spy Novelist, 2002
Alan Furst, historical spy novelist, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios during the book tour for “Blood of Victory, September 26, 2002. This interview has not aired in over two decades.
In this interview, he discusses his early career, resistance during World War II, and creating the unique atmosphere and characters in his books.His latest novel, Under Occupation, was published in 2019.
Alan Furst’s career took off with his novel Kingdom of Shadows in 2000, the sixth book in his series of stand-alone novels about heros and villains in Europe in the years leading up to, and including World War II. Suffused with atmosphere, his books feel as if you’re living with the characters in those haunted times. Of course, there is added resonance as we live through what might be similar times today.
This is the second of five Bookwaves interviews with Alan Furst.
James Lapine discusses his collaborations with Stephen Sondheim.
Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links
Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors’ positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended.
Book Stores
Bay Area Book Festival See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025.
Book Passage. Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events.
Books Inc. Mix of on-line and in-store events.
The Booksmith. Monthly Event Calendar.
BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar.
Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months.
Green Apple Books. Events calendar.
Kepler’s Books On-line Refresh the Page program listings.
Live Theater Companies
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. See website for readings and events.
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). Mr. Griddle’s Christmas by C. Philip Moore, on video through January 11. Free. See website for upcoming productions.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
American Conservatory Theatre A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, Jan. 21 – Feb. 1, 2026, Toni Rembe (Geary). Paranormal Activity, Feb. 19 – March 15, Toni Rembe.
Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information.
Berkeley Playhouse. Once, February 20 – March 22.
Berkeley Rep. An Evening with David Sedaris, .Jan. 3 – 11, Roda Theatre.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming productions.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings.
BroadwaySF: The Book of Mormon, Jan. 13 – Feb. 1. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters.
Broadway San Jose: The Wiz, January 27 – February 1. See website for other events.
Center REP: Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon, March 29 – April 19.
Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond
Central Works After Happy by Patricia Milton, Feb. 28 – March 29.
Cinnabar Theatre. My Fair Lady, January 23 – February 8, 2026.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre A Chorus Line, June 6 – 21 See website for other events and concerts.
Golden Thread See website for upcoming productions.
Hillbarn Theatre: What the Constitution Means to Me by Heidi Schreck, January 22 – February 8.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for upcoming productions.
Los Altos Stage Company. Yoga Play by Dipika Guha. January 22 – February 15..
Lower Bottom Playaz See website for upcoming productions.
Magic Theatre. Macbeth, a new version by Migdalia Cruz. March 18 – April 5.
Marin Shakespeare Company: Let The Wind Sweep Through: A Conference of Birds, Feb. 6-15. See website for schedule.
Marin Theatre: The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov Jan . 29 – Feb. 22, 2026.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Ruthless, Dec. 5 – January 11, 2026.
New Performance Traditions. See website for upcoming schedule
Oakland Theater Project. See website for upcoming 2026 season.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Palace of Fine Arts Theater. See website for event listings.
Pear Theater. My Fair Lady, Feb 20 – March 8. See website for staged readings and other events.
Playful People Productions. Next production: The Play That Goes Wrong.
Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances. The Children’s Theatre Association of San Francisco (CTA) presents Once Upon a Mattress, January 24 – February 28.
Ray of Light: Mean Girls. May 2026.
Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events.
San Francisco Playhouse. Into the Woods. November 30 – January 17, 2026.
SFBATCO. See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season
Shotgun Players. Sunday in the Park with George, extended to February 15, 2026.
South Bay Musical Theatre: Little Women, The Broadway Musical, January 24 – February 14, 2026.
SPARC: See website for upcoming events.
Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Lunatico See website for upcoming productions..
Theatre Rhino Left Field, written and directed by John Fisher, February 19 – March 15. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Hershey Felder: The Piano and Me, January 17 – February 8, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Primary Trust by Eboni Booth, March 4 – 29, Lucie Stern Theatre, Palo Alto.
Word for Word. See website for upcoming productions.
Misc. Listings:
BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings.
Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season.
Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar.
Fort Mason Center. Events calendar.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows.
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances.
San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings.
San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings.
Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog.
If you’d like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write [email protected]
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