PORT TOWNSEND — Lovers of literary and science fiction are in for a couple of rare events: dramatic readings of works by the best-selling author Greg Bear — with Bear himself in the house.
PT Shorts, Key City Public Theatre’s series of readings, is spotlighting Bear in two events, both free and both at the Northwind Arts Center, 701 Water St.
The first will start at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, coinciding with the Port Townsend Gallery Walk; the second comes at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
At both, local actors Don White and William Mawhinney will offer Bear’s “The White Horse Child” and “Tangent,” stories chosen from the writer’s 44 books.
Bear, who is from San Diego, plans to be on hand Saturday and Sunday.
The best-selling author is known for science fiction works that address pivotal questions in contemporary science and culture, while offering fictional solutions.
In his decades-long career, Bear has covered themes of galactic conflict in his Forge of God books, artificial universes in his The Way series, consciousness and cultural practices in Queen of Angels and accelerated evolution in Blood Music, Darwin’s Radio and Darwin’s Children.
His most recent work is the Forerunner Trilogy, written in the Halo universe.
Bear is the winner of five Nebula Awards and two Hugo Awards and is one of the five co-founders of the San Diego Comic-Con.
PT Shorts, sponsored by the Port Townsend Arts Commission, will present the works of other contemporary writers in the coming months.
Listeners can plan on hearing stories by Sheila Bender on Dec. 5 and 6, Charles Johnson on Jan. 2 and 3, Rebecca Makkai on Feb. 6 and 7 and Naomi Klein on March 5 and 6.
For information about this and other Key City presentations, see keycitypublictheatre.org or phone 360-385-KCPT (5278).