A literary novelist writing a genre novel is like an intellectual dating a porn star, right?  Well that’s what New York Times book reviewer Glen Duncan thinks.

In his Sunday Book Review of Colson Whitehead’s complex new zombie novel, Zone One, Duncan sets the parallel between dating porn stars and what he initially perceives as slumming in genre fiction, and lets the rest of the review ride on the back of this comparison.  While he’s busy offending sex workers, he also speculates that readers attracted to the story for its post-apocalyptic zombie tale will encounter so many big words as to be morally affronted.  Duncan praises the book and comes around to the idea of intellectually stimulating genre fiction, but never quite comes around to the idea of sex workers as intellectually stimulating people, concluding of his imaginary couple only that, “they look pretty good together.”

The piece came to our attention via a witty retort by Savvy stripper and staff writer over at Tits and Sass, Bubbles (whose thoughts on this issue you can read here):

Tom Gauld is an illustrator, cartoonist, and publisher.  His finished pieces range from animated advertisements to book illustrations, as well as the weekly comic strips he produces for the Guardian.  Whether he’s drawing a campaign for one of the UK’s largest drug stores or illustrating a book of monsters, Tom’s drawing style is intimate and concise, reflective of an artistic process that uses technology without relying on it. …more

It all started with a zine, then some Lonely Planet travel guides, a book deal via Craigslist, the goddamn website, …more

This week in San Francisco, VIDA at the Makeout Room, Poetry at the Randall Museum, the April Fool’s Lower Haight Art Walk, and the Switchboard Music Festival.

Monday 3/28: Grab a bite and catch Bait & Switch tonight at Yoshi’s San Francisco. Bassist Lisa Mezzacappa plays original music inspired by adventurous jazz masters like Ornette Coleman, Henry Threadgill, the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and Eric Dolphy.  $15, 8pm @ 1330 Fillmore Street. …more

This week in San Francisco, Lit&Lunch, a book club meeting with Intersection for the Arts, radio magazine, The [Un]observed, launches at OHIO Studio, and the Portuguese Artists Colony celebrates its first birthday at Fivepoints Arthouse.

Monday 3/21: Ever wondered about the work of a Broadway set and costume designer?  Head to the Museum of Performance & Design for Designers on Design: A Conversation with Tony Walton. Tickets $15-30, 7pm @ 401 Van Ness Avenue. …more

This week in San Francisco, The Monthly Rumpus puts on its best pasties, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival is on, and food culture rocks SFMoMA with Sidebar: Wine! at How Wine Became Modern.

Monday 3/14: Catch some titillating literature — and, oh, Lady Monster: Queen of the Fire Tassels — at March’s Monthly Rumpus. Reading this month are Andrew Altschul, Joshua Mohr, Beverly Parayno, and Timothy Donnelly. Comedy by W. Kamau Bell, and a special cartoon slide show by Elana Pritchard. $10 cheap with chances to win the infamous porn raffle, 21+, 7pm @ 3225 22nd Street. …more

John Vanderslice knows how to make music. He has been recording bands for over a decade at his San Francisco studio, Tiny Telephone.

John Congleton knows how to produce music.  He has mixed and mastered the likes of The Walkmen, Modest Mouse, Okkervil River, and The Mountain Goats.

Both are established indie rock musicians in their own right, but neither have an orchestra at their fingertips.  Minna Choi does, though.  Minna is the conductor of Magik*Magik Orchestra, a for-hire collective of classically trained musicians based in the Bay Area. …more

This week in San Francisco, Quiet Lightning moves to North Beach, Janine Brito and Emily Heller get hilarious at the Punchline, Andrew Sean Greer’s The Islanders takes to the stage, and Rumpus Managing Editor, Isaac Fitzgerald, gets his literary Casanova on at Fivepoints Arthouse’s Tales of Tail.

Monday 3/7: Catch Quiet Lightning in North Beach!  Eight readers, art books for sale, and limited audience space at 15 Romolo, so get there early (you can even camp out and stay for dinner).  Free!  21+, 7pm @ 15 Romolo …more

This week in San Francisco, Feast of Words, film night at the San Francisco Buddhist Center, Babylon Salon at Cantina, and raise money for public health with your mouth full at Cupcakes for Choice!

Monday 2/28: Catch Stone Fox & Bangs at Cat’s Pajamas’ last show at the Makeout Room. The 1960′s Motown-inspired band will share the stage with poet Jennifer Barone. $5-10, 21+, 8pm @ 3225 22nd Street. …more

This week in San Francisco, RADAR at The Luggage Store, Noise Pop loves Litquake, and John Wesley Harding performs at the launch of Wesley Stace’s new novel.

Monday 2/21: Support San Francisco State University’s College of Creative Arts at One Act Fringe. See plays by Daniel Roche and Jeremy Forbing Childbirth, Marilyn Kriegel and Bryce Duzan, Randall Jong and Holly McKay, and Joseff Stevenson and Jessica Hurtado. Tickets $5-10, 7pm @ Studio Theatre, 1600 Holloway Avenue. …more

This week, Do You Love Me Now? (The Rumpus does), 826 Valencia’s Spelling Bee for Cheaters, all you can eat pancakes, and Will Franken hosts The Grand Opening of a New Baby.

Monday 2/14: Spend Valentine’s Day with your beloved Rumpus-folk at Do You Love Me Now? the February Monthly Rumpus. See readings by Deb Olin Unferth, Matthew Siegel, Chiwan Choi, and Charlie Getter, comedy by Emily Heller, and music by Bond Girl and Annie Bacon. $10 cheap, same as always!  21+, 7pm @ 3225 22nd Street. …more

This week in San Francisco, get in bed with Quiet Lightning, Microscopic Giant at Space Gallery, Laughter Against The Machine, Andrew Foster Altschul’s book launch, Literary Death Match, Stephen Elliott reads at BANG OUT X: Tough Love, and the Anger Management Reading Series presents Hostile Takeover.

Monday 2/7: Put it to Bed, literally, at Quiet Lightning’s February Supper Club reading.  Hear readings by Townsend Walker, Andrew Paul Nelson, Alex Rieser, Liana Holmberg, Charles Kruger, Nic Alea, Andrew O. Dugas, Candice Novak, Catherine Brady, and Sam Sax, and stick around for the after party and the latest issue of sPARKLE & bLINK. $3 (seriously!) 21+, 7pm @ 657 Harrison Street. …more

This week in San Francisco, Airplane! takes over the Castro Theater, Feast of Words: Sensory Feast, a free Valentine’s Day Etsy Labs Craft Bar, Mirah & Thao, and The Dude abides at the 8th Annual Lebowski Party.

Monday 1/31: As another SF Sketchfest draws to a close, catch a special screening + Q&A with the creators of Airplane! See the classic 1980 comedy that still draws crowds after 30 years, and stay for a conversation with Jim Abrahams, David and Jerry Zucker, and Robert Hays. Tickets $25, 7pm @ The Castro Theater, 429 Castro Street. …more

This week in San Francisco: Clown Burlesque, stories about food, art shows, magazine readings, and Cyclops Wearing Flip Flops.

Monday 1/24: This month at Cat’s Pajamas, get your regular dose of burlesque with a side of clown as Dottie Lux co-hosts the monthly show of music and steamy performances.  $5, 21+, 8pm @ 3225 22nd Street. …more

This week in San Francisco, Sketchfest continues, find out what happens when we become Overconnected, pitch your epic sci-fi murder-mystery memoir poem at Booksmith’s Pitchapalooza, and get de-virginized at Cell Space’s Rocky Horror Live!

Monday 1/17: See the comics that kicked off Sketchfest a decade ago at their 10 Year Reunion Show. See Colin Mahan and Mike Spiegelman of The Fresh Robots, Kasper Hauser, The Meehan Brothers, Please Leave The Bronx, Totally False People, and White Noise Radio Theater, with host Joe Klocek.  Tickets $20, 8pm @ 215 Jackson Street. …more

This week in San Francisco: Finally muster the courage to hit on that one cute chick/dude at this month’s Monthly Rumpus, decorate your pad like it’s 1982 and you just got Walk Among Us at Pops’ Cheap Art Show: Skull Edition, get your nerd on at Techshop’s Open House, and check out SF Sketchfest.

Monday 1/10: Warm Bodies, Cold Nights: No, it’s not the title of some melodramatic soft-core indie-porn or twee band’s latest album, it’s the January Monthly Rumpus! Catch readings by Derrick Brown, Bucky Sinister, Andrew Nelson, Peter Orner, and Amber Tamblyn, a performance by Abe Streep and Rushad Eggleston, comedy by Nato Green, and music by Danny Pearson.  As always, $10, cheap, 21+, 7pm @ the Makeout Room (3225 22nd Street). …more

This week in San Francisco, catch a variety of monthly events in the new year: Feast of Words, Craft Bar with Etsy Labs, and San Francisco Bike Party.

Monday 1/3: See some funny queers at QComedy‘s first show of the month.  Marie Lake, Kurt Weitzmann, Nick Leonard, and “FemCee” drag queen Cookie Dough take the stage this month at the comedy show that Martuni’s hosts every first Monday of the month.  $5-15 sliding scale, 21+, 7:30pm @ 4 Valencia Street. …more

This week in San Francisco: Whether this is your adopted home or you’ve lived here all your life, re-discover the city as you begin another year of living here.  Let’s face it, you’re still tired from the holidays and you’re probably saving up your energy for New Year’s Eve, so why waste your time at New Year’s resolution themed singles mixers and monthly dance parties when you could be discovering the concrete slides on Steward Street or the fascinatingly creepy arcade games at Musée Mécanique? If you’re jonesing for some nightlife, check out The Yellow Dress at Bottom of the hill, and Not Your Normal New Year’s Eve at the Herbst Theater. …more

This week in San Francisco, eat for a cause with Food Not Bombs, open mics at Amnesia and Kaleidoscope, Post-Impressionists at the De Young, and volunteer work gets fun at City Impact’s Christmas Block Party.

Monday 12/20: Joint Food Not Bombs in Union Square for a Sit/Eat against Sit/Lie. Eaters will meet outside Macy’s Union Square to protest the recently passed Prop. L in the middle of downtown San Francisco during the most crowded shopping season of the year.  Free, 4-6pm @ Geary & Powell Streets. …more

This week in San Francisco, it’s Ladies Night at The Rumpus!  Also, Dave Eggers plays ping pong, art for the blind, sitting and lying in protest of the Sit/Lie law, and crafty alternatives to traditional holiday shopping.

Monday 12/13: What do the Jackson Arms Shooting Range and The Rumpus have in common today?  It’s Ladies Night!  We’ve teamed up with Flavorpill for an evening of readings, comedy, and music by women to celebrate the release of Rumpus Women, Vol. I! Which women?  These ones: Kathleen Alcott, Julie Greicius, Antonia Crane, Sarah Fran Wisby, Michelle Tea, Lisa Brown, and Janine Brito! Music by The Yellow Dress! Baked goods by Batter Bakery (that adorable kiosk on the corner outside the 555 California building).  Cheap drinks!  Good company!  Porn raffle!  What’s not to love?  Tickets $10, 21+, 7pm @ 3225 22nd Street. …more

This week in San Francisco, Granta at City Lights, literature meets food at Feast of Words and to-the-death battle at Literary Death Match, and Believer Magazine hangs out at Electric Works.

Monday 12/6: Celebrate issue 113 of Granta magazine at City Lights with readings by Daniel Alarcón, Carlos Labbé, Andrés Felipe Solano, and Carlos Yushimito. 7:30pm @ 261 Columbus Avenue.  RSVP at events@granta.com …more

This week in San Francisco, booze for a cause at Drink Good Do Good, come hang out with me at this month’s Quiet Lightning, two words: Cinema Orgy, Booksmith’s first Literary Clown Foolery, Babylon Salon, and fund raise San Francisco style (aka. naked) at the Santa Skivvies Run.

Monday 11/29: Indie spirits meet social consciousness at EZ5 for Drink Good Do Good. Let your booze snob loose and text your way to philanthropy through DGDG’s high-tech donation system.  If you’re into football, I guess that’s a thing on Mondays, too.  21+, 6pm-2am @ 684 Commercial Street. …more

This week, art porn at 111 Minna, a list of the best Mission bars to spend Thanksgiving at, do good this Black Friday at Creative Housing Liberation’s Housing Harvest, and a Murder Mystery Dinner!

Monday 11/22: Attend an extra-festive Cat’s Pajamas at the Makeout Room and see performers Eggplant Casino, Naima Shalhoub, Sanxe Loveji, and the Bollyhood Dancers. $5, 21+, 8pm @ 3225 23rd Street. …more

This week in San Francisco: readings, readings, readings!  Porchlight, Tenderloin #7, and Naked Minds will keep your craving for words at bay, Nato Green hosts Iron Comic at the Punchline, and Fifty24SF brings science-y new art to the Lower Haight with The Undivided Mind.

Monday 11/15: This month’s Porchlight reading features conversations with members of Creativity Explored, and is aptly titled Don’t Call Me Retard. Hosted by Arline Klatte and Beth Lisick, tickets $20, doors at 7pm/show at 8pm @ the Verdi Club, 2424 Mariposa Street. …more

This week in San Francisco, The November Monthly Rumpus, art openings at City Hall and White Walls, indie circus goodness and a musical orgy(!) at the Bohemian Carnival, and kinetic visual sculptures meet improvised electroacoustic shamanic noise jazz (don’t worry, I’m confused, too) at Artists’ Television Access.

Monday 11/8: Wake Up, It’s Late! The November Monthly Rumpus takes over the Makeout Room with authors Andrew Winer, M.G. Martin, Pam Houston, Chris Colin, and Kristen Tracy, comedy by Emily Heller, and music by Boy in the Bubble and Chris Von Sneidern.  Hosted by the one and only Stephen Elliott.  $10, cheap, 21+, 7pm @ 3225 22nd Street. …more

Levni Yilmaz is the creator of “Tales of Mere Existence,” a web based series of animated shorts that have evolved into a successful comic. …more

This week in San Francisco, the Booksmith hosts some radical readings, Last Gasp teams up with 111 Minna for a showing of legendary Japanese erotica, SoEx’s Cinema by The Bay, and the Day of the Dead!

Monday 11/1: A struggling artist mother, Bolshevik assassinations in the family, and enduring the pre-swan years of her ugly duckling syndrome drove Kate Moses to seek solace in the kitchen.  Her new memoir, Cakewalk, is the story of Moses’ life before becoming an acclaimed author and Salon editor.  The Booksmith celebrates with a launch party tonight at 7:30pm.  Free and all ages @ 1644 Haight Street. …more

This week: How Language Shapes Thought, the final Kaliedoscope Reading Series of the year, Muni Diaries Live! at the Makeout Room, and San Francisco’s favorite holiday (after Folsom Street Fair and LoveFest) — Halloween!

Monday 10/25: While The Rumpus’ book club is an international endeavor, our monthly In-Person Discussions at the infamous Booksmith give Bay Area book club members (and prospective bibliophiles) a chance for some real live social interaction.  This month: Adam Levin’s The Instructions. 7:30pm @ 1644 Haight Street. …more

This week, the Porchlight Reading Series, Poetry and Jazz at Viracocha, yacht rock + psychedelia at the Blue Macaw, and Uberpup!

Monday 10/18: Head over to the Verdi Club for the latest Porchlight Reading: The Animal Show, featuring Matt Baume, Dr. Jeff Boehm, Dr. Alex Herman, Chicken John, Wendy Newman, Leslie Schwerin. Tickets $15, 21+, 8pm @ 2424 Mariposa Street. …more

This week in San Francisco, Twitter IRL, SOMArts asks How Do You Value Art?, more art at Hotel Biron, and even more art (and readings!) at Sub-Mission’s Skate This Art.

Monday 10/11: Celebrate your inner nerd at the Commonwealth Club’s fireside chat with the founders of Twitter. Four years and 160 million users after launching, everyone’s tweeting, even The Rumpus. $15-75, 6:15pm @ 465 California Street, 15th Floor. …more