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July 17, 2025: Martin Cruz Smith (1942-2025) Acclaimed Noir and Literary Novelist
Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Martin Cruz Smith: The Arkady Renko Novels
Martin Cruz Smith (1942-2025, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studio in 2004 and 2013.
The great noir and detective author Martin Cruz Smith died of Parkinsons Disease on July 11, 2025 at the age of 82. A journalist originally, and then a writer of paperback fiction under a variety of pseudonyms, he began writing under his own name and became known following the publication of a horror novel, Nightwing, in 1977. Though it wasn’t until 1981 with the release of Gorky Park, a detective novel set in Soviet Russia and featuring investigator Arkady Renko, that he hit best-seller stardom. Over the next few years, he alternated non-series novels with entries in the Renko series, all to much acclaim.
There are four Martin Cruz Smith interviews. The first two, both co-hosted with Richard A. Lupoff for Probabilities, were recorded in 1990 while on tour for Polar Star, the sequel to Gorky Park, and then again in 1996 for the award-winning stand-alone novel, Rose. These interviews have yet to be digitized. Today’s program focuses on the two later interviews>
Part One: This interview was recorded December 9, 2004 while on the book tour for the Arkady Renko novel, “Wolves Eat Dogs.”
Part Two: This interview was recorded December 9, 2013 while on the book tour for the Arkady Renko novel, “Tatiana.”
Martin Cruz Smith Wikipedia page
Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links
Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors’ positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended.
Book Stores
Bay Area Book Festival See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025.
Book Passage. Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events.
Books Inc. Mix of on-line and in-store events.
The Booksmith. Monthly Event Calendar.
BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar.
Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months.
Green Apple Books. Events calendar.
Kepler’s Books On-line Refresh the Page program listings.
Live Theater Companies
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. See website for readings and events.
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). Mary Jane by Amy Herzog, directed by Amy Kossow, November 6 – 30, Magic Theatre, Fort Mason.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
Afro-Solo Theatre Company.See website for calendar.
American Conservatory Theatre Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi, Sept 18 – Oct 19, Toni Rembe Theatre.
Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information.
Berkeley Rep. The Reservoir .by Jake Brasch, Sept. 5 – Oct 12, Peets Theatre. See website for summer events.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming events and productions.
Boxcar Theatre. The Illusionist with Kevin Blake, live at the Palace Theatre.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings.
BroadwaySF: Shucked, Sept 9 – October 5, Curran. Les Miserables, Sept 24 – October 5, Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters.
Broadway San Jose: & Juliet, Oct. 7-12; Some Like It Hot, Oct. 21-26. See website for other events.
Center REP: The Woman in Black, U.S. Tour, November 5-23..
Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond
Central Works Dada Teen Musical: The Play by Maury Zeff, Oct. 18 – Nov. 16,
Cinnabar Theatre. Young Rep: Disney’s The Little Mermaid, November 14-23, Studio Space, Petaluma Outlet Mall.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Ebenezer Scrooge, an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” by Joel Roster, December 6 – 21. . See website for other events.
Golden Thread Pilgrimage by Humaira Ghilzal and Bridgette Dutta Portman, a co-production with Z Space, October 24 – November 8, Z Space’s Steindler Stage.
Hillbarn Theatre: Murder for Two, a musical comedy, October 9 – November 2, 2025.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Sunset Baby by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Margo Hall, September 11 – October 4.
Los Altos Stage Company. Freaky Friday, The Musical. October 24 – November 2. A Christmas Carol, November 28 – December 21..
Lower Bottom Playaz August Wilson’s King Hedley II, November 8 -30. BAM House, Oakland.
Magic Theatre. See website for events and productions.
Marin Shakespeare Company: See website for events and productions.
Marin Theatre: Sally and Tom by Suzan-Lori Parks. October 30 – November 23.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) The Hot Wing King by Katori Hall, September 19 – October 19.
New Performance Traditions. See website for upcoming schedule
Oakland Theater Project. The Courtroom, October 9-12; Cabaret, November 21 – December 14.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Palace of Fine Arts Theater. See website for event listings.
Pear Theater. The Art of Murder by Joe DiPietro, October 3-19. See website for staged readings and other events.
Playful People Productions. Disney’s Moana JR., Oct 17-19; Newsies, November 8-16.
Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances.
Ray of Light: The Rocky Horror Show. October 9 – November 1, The Oasis.
Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events.
San Francisco Playhouse. Noises Off by Michael Frayn. September 25 – November 8.
SFBATCO. The Day The Sky Turned Orange by Julius Ernesto, Sept 5 – Oct. 5, Z Space. See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season
Shotgun Players. The Motion by Christopher Chen, September 13 – October 18 (extended)
South Bay Musical Theatre: The Sound of Music, September 27 – October 18.
SPARC: See website for upcoming events.
Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Lunatico Frankenstein, October 11 – November 2.
Theatre Rhino Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Little Women by Lauren Gunderson, September 24 – October 12. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts..
Word for Word. See website for upcoming productions.
Misc. Listings:
BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings.
Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season.
Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar.
Fort Mason Center. Events calendar.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows.
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances.
San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings.
San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings.
Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog.
If you’d like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write [email protected]
.
.
The post July 17, 2025: Martin Cruz Smith (1942-2025) Acclaimed Noir and Literary Novelist appeared first on KPFA.
View all episodes
By KPFA
4.7
66 ratings
Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky.
Links to assorted local theater & book venues
Martin Cruz Smith: The Arkady Renko Novels
Martin Cruz Smith (1942-2025, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studio in 2004 and 2013.
The great noir and detective author Martin Cruz Smith died of Parkinsons Disease on July 11, 2025 at the age of 82. A journalist originally, and then a writer of paperback fiction under a variety of pseudonyms, he began writing under his own name and became known following the publication of a horror novel, Nightwing, in 1977. Though it wasn’t until 1981 with the release of Gorky Park, a detective novel set in Soviet Russia and featuring investigator Arkady Renko, that he hit best-seller stardom. Over the next few years, he alternated non-series novels with entries in the Renko series, all to much acclaim.
There are four Martin Cruz Smith interviews. The first two, both co-hosted with Richard A. Lupoff for Probabilities, were recorded in 1990 while on tour for Polar Star, the sequel to Gorky Park, and then again in 1996 for the award-winning stand-alone novel, Rose. These interviews have yet to be digitized. Today’s program focuses on the two later interviews>
Part One: This interview was recorded December 9, 2004 while on the book tour for the Arkady Renko novel, “Wolves Eat Dogs.”
Part Two: This interview was recorded December 9, 2013 while on the book tour for the Arkady Renko novel, “Tatiana.”
Martin Cruz Smith Wikipedia page
Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links
Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors’ positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others for shorter periods each week. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended.
Book Stores
Bay Area Book Festival See website for highlights from the 110th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, May 31 – June 1, 2025.
Book Passage. Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events.
Books Inc. Mix of on-line and in-store events.
The Booksmith. Monthly Event Calendar.
BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar.
Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months.
Green Apple Books. Events calendar.
Kepler’s Books On-line Refresh the Page program listings.
Live Theater Companies
Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. See website for readings and events.
Actor’s Reading Collective (ARC). Mary Jane by Amy Herzog, directed by Amy Kossow, November 6 – 30, Magic Theatre, Fort Mason.
African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar.
Afro-Solo Theatre Company.See website for calendar.
American Conservatory Theatre Kim’s Convenience by Ins Choi, Sept 18 – Oct 19, Toni Rembe Theatre.
Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information.
Berkeley Rep. The Reservoir .by Jake Brasch, Sept. 5 – Oct 12, Peets Theatre. See website for summer events.
Berkeley Shakespeare Company See website for upcoming events and productions.
Boxcar Theatre. The Illusionist with Kevin Blake, live at the Palace Theatre.
Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for events listings.
BroadwaySF: Shucked, Sept 9 – October 5, Curran. Les Miserables, Sept 24 – October 5, Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters.
Broadway San Jose: & Juliet, Oct. 7-12; Some Like It Hot, Oct. 21-26. See website for other events.
Center REP: The Woman in Black, U.S. Tour, November 5-23..
Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond
Central Works Dada Teen Musical: The Play by Maury Zeff, Oct. 18 – Nov. 16,
Cinnabar Theatre. Young Rep: Disney’s The Little Mermaid, November 14-23, Studio Space, Petaluma Outlet Mall.
Club Fugazi. Dear San Francisco ongoing. Check website for Music Mondays listings.
Contra Costa Civic Theatre Ebenezer Scrooge, an adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” by Joel Roster, December 6 – 21. . See website for other events.
Golden Thread Pilgrimage by Humaira Ghilzal and Bridgette Dutta Portman, a co-production with Z Space, October 24 – November 8, Z Space’s Steindler Stage.
Hillbarn Theatre: Murder for Two, a musical comedy, October 9 – November 2, 2025.
Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Sunset Baby by Dominique Morisseau, directed by Margo Hall, September 11 – October 4.
Los Altos Stage Company. Freaky Friday, The Musical. October 24 – November 2. A Christmas Carol, November 28 – December 21..
Lower Bottom Playaz August Wilson’s King Hedley II, November 8 -30. BAM House, Oakland.
Magic Theatre. See website for events and productions.
Marin Shakespeare Company: See website for events and productions.
Marin Theatre: Sally and Tom by Suzan-Lori Parks. October 30 – November 23.
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page.
New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) The Hot Wing King by Katori Hall, September 19 – October 19.
New Performance Traditions. See website for upcoming schedule
Oakland Theater Project. The Courtroom, October 9-12; Cabaret, November 21 – December 14.
Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming.
Palace of Fine Arts Theater. See website for event listings.
Pear Theater. The Art of Murder by Joe DiPietro, October 3-19. See website for staged readings and other events.
Playful People Productions. Disney’s Moana JR., Oct 17-19; Newsies, November 8-16.
Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances.
Ray of Light: The Rocky Horror Show. October 9 – November 1, The Oasis.
Ross Valley Players: See website for New Works Sunday night readings and other events.
San Francisco Playhouse. Noises Off by Michael Frayn. September 25 – November 8.
SFBATCO. The Day The Sky Turned Orange by Julius Ernesto, Sept 5 – Oct. 5, Z Space. See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows.
San Jose Stage Company: See website for events and upcoming season
Shotgun Players. The Motion by Christopher Chen, September 13 – October 18 (extended)
South Bay Musical Theatre: The Sound of Music, September 27 – October 18.
SPARC: See website for upcoming events.
Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday.
The Breath Project. Streaming archive.
The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream.
Theatre Lunatico Frankenstein, October 11 – November 2.
Theatre Rhino Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand.
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Little Women by Lauren Gunderson, September 24 – October 12. Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts..
Word for Word. See website for upcoming productions.
Misc. Listings:
BAMPFA: On View calendar for Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings.
Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2025 Season.
Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar.
Fort Mason Center. Events calendar.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows.
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. See schedule for upcoming SFGMC performances.
San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings.
San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings.
Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog.
If you’d like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write [email protected]
.
.
The post July 17, 2025: Martin Cruz Smith (1942-2025) Acclaimed Noir and Literary Novelist appeared first on KPFA.
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