Litquake, the biggest literary festival in San Francisco, kicks off tonight at the Herbst Theater with Suckered: Writers Confess a Profound Lack of Judgment, and ends on Saturday the 11th in the Mission District with the famous (perhaps by now infamous) Litcrawl. In between there is a whole week of great events, most of them low-cost or free. As author and participant Kemble Scott writes in the newsletter he devoted to the festival:

Litquake couldn’t come at a better time. While recent news headlines have many of us worried about our pocketbooks, most Litquake events are absolutely free. The handful of ticketed programs helps fund the entire festival. The Bay Area’s unique egalitarian spirit fuels this massive literary machine: it’s run by volunteers, and all of the authors have donated their time. Amazing, isn’t it?

The challenge for you is figuring out which events to attend.

Scott suggests that we print out the entire festival schedule and “think of it as a restaurant menu. An appetizer of Dennis Lehane, Beth Lisick for the main course, a side of Jane Ganahl, and for dessert…”

My personal faves and highlights are after the jump. Have fun, and see you there!

• Opening night is always good, and the ticket price helps to fund the festival. But get your tix in advance, because they will sell out.
• The weekend mostly consists of free readings at Main Library, downstairs in Koret Auditorium. Last year I stayed all day long, both days, popping in and out as my whims dictated.
• On Saturday night there is a ticketed reading hosted by the Grotto called Intimacy: “a multimedia extravaganza of tight genes, body fluids, and misplaced affections.”
• On Sunday afternoon there is a ticketed event that should be very, very popular: an afternoon at the Kabuki with Neil Gaiman. The $28 admission includes a signed, 1st edition copy of The Graveyard Book. You read about it here. For tickets call the sponsor of the event, The Booksmith, at (415) 863-8688.
• On Monday night, make it if you can to Opium’s Literary Death Match at the Rickshaw Stop. Advance tickets are also recommended for this event.
• Tuesday has an event that’s easy to overlook: Lit & Lunch, “San Francisco’s first and only reading series to focus on international literature and translation, featuring prominent poets, authors, and translators reading and discussing their work.” This one will run from 12:30 to 1:30 at 111 Minna. (As a bonus, the show on the walls, works by Henry Lewis and Keli Reule, just opened last night.)
• Wednesday night features another reading in a gallery: Either/Or, hosted by Varnish. Litquake “asked six authors to conjure, write, and then read short stories on the theme of ‘Either/Or.’ All stories were written especially for the event and will be read in public for the first time.” The equivalent event last year was great.
• Thursday night features an evening of Steampunk: “Litquake presents an evening celebrating all aspects of Steampunk – impossibly fantastic adventures you’ll never forget. Steampunk is Victorian elegance paired with modern technology: steam-driven robots, souped-up stagecoaches, and space-faring dirigibles, all fueled by gaslight, romance, mad scientists, and oh-so-trim waistcoats. Lounge and doors open at 7 pm; readings followed by Q&A moderated by author Terry Bisson.” This will be in the Variety Preview Room in the Hobart Building (Market at Montgomery).
• And of course, on Saturday the 11th, the Litcrawl. Don’t miss it.