Cultural convergence

VEGAS VALLEY BOOK FESTIVAL

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There's something downright funny about this year's Vegas Valley Book Festival.

Organizers of the fourth annual celebration of all things literary, planned for Thursday through Oct. 22 at various locations across the valley, including downtown, hope to make book lovers laugh with the fest's focus on satire.

"If you live in a town where you can go from ancient Egypt to King Arthur's court without having to go outside, you can't take yourself too seriously," festival director Kris Darnall said.

So Darnall thought the local atmosphere was right to "book" noted satirists Stan Freberg and Joe Queenan as keynoters at the festival.

Freberg, a self-described "guerrilla satirist," is a writer and creator of radio comedy shows who has won three Emmys and a Grammy. Queenan has published nine books of satire, including "Queenan Country: A Reluctant Anglophile's Pilgrimage to the Mother Country."

"Freberg is a legend in both his careers -- first as a broadcaster, writer and comedian, and also in his second career in advertising," Darnall said. "Queenan is one of the smartest satirists and critics of American popular culture writing today. And although he is usually quick to critique anything tacky and superficial, he loves Las Vegas."

Freberg will speak at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 at Neonopolis' Crown Theatres. Queenan will speak there at 7 p.m. Oct. 20. Tickets to each event are $10 and may be purchased in advance with a credit card by calling 895-1878.

The festival's third keynoter is French photographer Francois Paolini, who takes a quirky look at a quirkier city with his upcoming book, "We All Live in Las Vegas." He will speak at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center. Admission is free.

The Vegas Valley Book Festival began four years ago as a program of readings, lectures, panel discussions and book signings that brought 50 or more authors to town, with most of its events taking place at the Paseo Verde Library in Henderson and UNLV. While some events still will be held at the library this year, the program has been extended to locations all over the valley.

"The festival has always been intended to be a valleywide program," Darnall said. "This is part of our ongoing commitment to branch out to reach a valleywide audience."

The city of Las Vegas has joined as a presenting partner of the festival this year, providing new program venues and opportunities, Darnall said.

The 2005 book festival also is designated as a signature event of the Las Vegas Centennial.

"We wanted to increase our focus on Las Vegas themes and tie the program more closely with downtown Las Vegas," Darnall said.

Several writers are scheduled to appear at the festival to talk about Las Vegas history. Among them are Geoff Schumacher, author of "Sun, Sin & Suburbia: An Essential History of Modern Las Vegas"; Michael Green, author of "Las Vegas: A Centennial History"; and Joan Whitely, author of "Young Las Vegas: 1905-1930."

Other themes to be explored during the festival include literature of poker and gambling and boxing literature.

Writing workshops, film screenings and programs for children also will be offered. Fiction writers

Francois Camoin, author of "Like Love But Not Exactly" and Tod Goldberg, festival alum and author of "Living Dead Girl" and "Simplify," a new short story collection, are two of many who will appear.

Goldberg, a former Las Vegan and columnist at the now-defunct Las Vegas Mercury, has attended every Vegas Valley Book Festival to date.

"I have a special connection to Vegas," he said. "I think the city has a vibrant and energetic literary arts scene and it's so wonderful to be able to come back each year and celebrate it."

The 2005 festival is the longest so far, Darnall said.

"We expanded to ten days so we wouldn't be competing with ourselves," Darnall said. "This way it will be possible for people to attend more festival events because they are not at the same time. Also, it provides more opportunities for depth. Each component gets to be more fully developed."

Darnall said she expects about 10,000 people to attend book festival events this year.

For additional information about the Vegas Valley Book Festival and a schedule of events, visit www.vegasvalleybookfest.org.