Mieville's Mystery and Short Science Fiction
Sunday, June 28 - Listen  on computer.
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A conversation with China Mieville about his most recent headstrong mystery. In part two, the short story titled, "The Fishes Speak" is read by Michaela Roessner.
Botanical Atrocities
Sunday, June 21 - Listen on computer.
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Amy Stewart, author of Wicked Plants, reveals the murderous tendencies lurking beneath the surface of a garden. Plus, Alice Vecchiola talks to the cast and crew of Cabrillo Stage's upcoming performance of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change."
Jedediah Berry
Sunday, June 14 - Listen on computer.
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Jedediah Berry discusses his hardboiled detective novel The Manual of Detection. Then, the art of the short story with Alan Cheuse.
Guillermo del Toro
Sunday, June 7 - Listen on computer.
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Acclaimed film director Guillermo del Toro speaks about his debut novel, The Strain, the first of a planned vampire trilogy. Plus, three books worth reading this week with Alan Cheuse.
West of the West
Sunday, May 31 - Listen on computer.
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Rick speaks with journalist Mark Arax, whose latest book is a collection of essays capturing the essence of California through history and myth. Also, Alan Cheuse shares his thoughts on three books worth reading.
Film Making and Novel Writing
Sunday, May 24 - Listen on computer.
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An interview with Logan and Noah Miller about film making and their most recent premier, You’re In or You're In The Way. Also a discussion with NPR Author Alan Cheuse, author of To Catch the Lightning.
Colson Whitehead
Sunday, May 17 - Listen on computer.
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New York writer Colson Whitehead
speaks about his autobiographical novel Sag Harbor, which tells the story of a group of affluent African-American teenagers spending the summer at their Hamptons beach houses.
Mother's Day Special
Sunday, May 10 - Listen on computer.
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Because I Love Her is a collection of essays exploring the complex relationships between mothers and daughters. Editor Andrea Richesin and contributors Karen Joy Fowler and Anne Marie Feld join Rick for this Mother's Day show. Then, a tribute to the late Santa Cruz writer Jim Houston, with NPR's Alan Cheuse.
Conversation & Interview with Mark Rudd
Sunday, May 3 - Listen on computer.
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Mark Rudd is a political organizer, mathematics instructor, and anti-war activist, best known for his involvement with the Weather Underground.
The Philosophy of Dumpster Diving
Sunday, April 26 - Listen on computer.
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A lesson on the economic benefits - as well as the joys! - of dumpster diving, reusing and recycling, with Anneli Rufus and Kristan Lawson, authors of The Scavengers' Manifesto. Then, NPR's Alan Cheuse returns to reveal three thrillers worth reading.
The Firesign Theater, Books Worth Reading, James D. Houston
Sunday, April 19 - Listen on computer.
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First, a conversation with Phil Austin of the comedy group the Firesign Theater, plus excerpts from the group's finest works. Next, a KUSP exclusive: three books worth your time and money, with NPR commentator Alan Cheuse. Finally, in honor of the recent passing of local author James D. Houston, Rick shares an interview in which Houston describes his relationship with Santa Cruz, his home.
A Homemade Life, The Superferry Chronicles
Sunday, April 5 - Listen on computer.
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First, Molly Wizenberg, author of A Homemade Life and the popular food blog Orangette, talks about her lifetime love affair with food and cooking. Next, Rick speaks with Jerry Mander, whose book The Superferry Chronicles tells how a surfer uprising against an inter-island ferry in Hawaii turned into a fight against globalization, militarism and the erosion of local sovereignty.
The Lost City of Z
Sunday, March 29 - Listen on computer.
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David Grann's research into the legendary life of doomed explorer Percy Fawcett lured him into his own obsession with Fawcett's destination, the lost city of El Dorado in the depths of the Amazon jungle. Rick Kleffel speaks with Grann about his latest book The Lost City of Z.
Humorous Horror and Good Grammar
Sunday, March 1 - Listen on computer.
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Interviews and readings from SF in SF. Rick Kleffel speaks with authors Michael Boatman and Deborah Grabien, as well as writing and grammar expert Janis Bell.
Michael Katakis, Xinran
Sunday, February 22 - Listen on computer.
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First, Rick speaks with Michael Katakis, whose book Traveller is composed of journal entries, letters and photographs from the road. Next, a phone interview with oral historian Xinran, author of China Witness: Voices From a Silent Generation.
How to Save the Independent Bookstore
Sunday, February 15 - Listen on computer.
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A conversation among local booksellers and publishers about the challenges facing independent bookstores and the strategies that have helped them survive and thrive in a perilous business climate.
Happiness, Fruit and Words
Sunday, February 1 - Listen on computer.
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First, a conversation about how to achieve happiness without psychotherapy, with psychiatrist Dr. Mardi Horowitz, author of A Course in Happiness. Then, from SF in SF, Aimee Bender reads a story from her collection Willful Creatures.
Kirsten Menger-Anderson, Sean Stewart, Aimee Bender
Sunday, January 25 - Listen on computer.
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Today's show reports on the medical-themed short stories of
Kirsten Menger-Anderson; the cinematic and video-game worlds created by science fiction writer Sean Stewart; and the surreal short stories of Aimee Bender.
Hard Times for the Arts
Sunday, January 18 - Listen on computer.
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A live roundtable conversation about the fate of literary arts in difficult economic times. Featuring an array of local literary figures, including two directors of Shakespeare Santa Cruz, a former book reviewer for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, a local author, an independent book publisher, and the director of the Salinas Library.
Too Good to Tell
Sunday, January 11 - Listen on computer.
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Author Chris Cleave will read from his latest novel, "Little Bee", which is straightforwardly too delicate to expose anymore than to say, ‘you have to listen to find out!’
The Sweet Smell of Yesteryear
Sunday, January 4 - Listen on computer.
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A further exploration of the little-known history of Batmania in Japan. With guests Saul Ferris, whose vast collection of Batman toys and comics sparked the publication of Bat-Manga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan, and Anne Ishi, who served as translator for the project.
Brian Yaeger, Jimmy Santiago Baca
Sunday,
December 28 - Listen on computer.
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First, Brian Yaeger, author of Red, White and Brew: An American Beer Odyssey, talks about how and why beer is being made in America. Then, a conversation with novelist, screenwriter, poet and activist Jimmy Santiago Baca.
The Art of Translation
Sunday,
December 14 - Listen on computer.
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An examination of the process of literary translation, including a recent report by Rick Kleffel aired on All Things Considered;
an interview with a local dramaturg and translator; and an interview with an author who has recently completed a translation of The Canterbury Tales.
Jonathan Carroll, Nina Matsumoto
Sunday,
December 7 - Listen on computer.
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A conversation with author Jonathan Carroll about his novel The Ghost in Love, followed by an interview with manga artist Nina Matsumoto.
Stewart O'Nan, Ian D'Agata
Sunday,
November 30 - Listen on computer.
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Rick Kleffel
speaks with Stewart O'Nan about his novel Songs of the Missing, the tale of a family dealing with the sudden disappearance of an 18-year-old daughter. For "Life Under the Lights," Alice Vecchiola has a oenological conversation with Ian D'Agata, author of The Ecco Guide to the Best Wines of Italy.
Chip Kidd
Sunday,
November 23 - Listen on computer.
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An interview with Chip Kidd, author of Bat-Manga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan.
Ken Silverstein
Sunday,
November 16 - Listen on computer.
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Rick Kleffel speaks with Ken Silverstein about his book Turkmeniscam : How Washington Lobbyists Fought to Flack for a Stalinist Dictatorship, an undercover expose of lobbyists. Then, each month, the Variety Children's Charity hosts SF in SF ; From the Science Fiction in San Francisco event of November 15, 2008, award-winning author Nalo Hopkinson reads an original story, "Snow Day". Dentist dictators, desperate lobbyists and a day off from reality as we know it – all up on The Agony Column.
Danny Goldberg
Sunday,
November 9 - Listen on computer.
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Rick Kleffel speaks with Danny Goldberg, whose book Bumping into Geniuses looks back at his life in the rock music industry. On "Life Under the Lights," Alice Vecchiola speaks with the director of Kids on Broadway's production of Fiddler on the Roof.
Nathaniel Rich, Andrew Davidson
Sunday,
November 2 - Listen on computer.
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Excerpts from the long-form interviews with Nathaniel Rich, whose First Book is The Mayor's Tongue, and Andrew Davidson, whose first book is The Gargoyle; both were the subject of First Book pieces aired on NPR. And a conversation with Amity Shlaes, recently seen on The Newshour With Jim Lehrer. Her book is The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression. On "Life Under the Lights," Alice Vecchiola speaks with the director and cast of Suessical.
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