Armistead Maupin is one of the best-loved authors writing during this Red Bat’s lifetime. Christopher Isherwood has said, “I love Maupin’s books for very much the same qualities that make me love the novels of Dickens.” I agree with Isherwood’s assessment, except I think Maupin’s books are more fun to read than those of Charles Dickens, because they are raunchier. I also love his often unbelievable plot twists. My favorite Armistead Maupin is The Night Listener, but the Tales of the City books are wonderful too.

Like the works of Dickens, Maupin’s Tales of the City novels were originally published in serial form. These first appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1976, and have been acquiring fans ever since. Some of those fans were at Bookshop Santa Cruz on June 5 to hear Maupin speak and get his autograph on their brand new paperback copies of Michael Tolliver Lives.

He is just as much of a good time as his novels would suggest. All of us were laughing, especially during the Q&A; I think even if he didn’t make a joke, the look on his face would have had the audience cracking up. He’s just that kind of person. I walked away feeling like this person deserves all the success he’s had over the years.

Photos from the reading are below, plus one from the walk home afterwards. It was a fine June night, so of course I couldn’t resist.