Paul Levinson interviews Paul Kaplan about The Thingy That's Stringy

At Big Red Books in Nyack, NY, on 23 February 2025, I was joined by Anthony Marinelli, Amanda Greer, Denise Reed, and Frank LoBuono in a unique, pop-up dramatic reading from my novel, It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles. What was unique about this dramatic reading is that Anthony Marinelli (a playwright) and Amanda Greer (an actress) are not only real people but important characters in the novel. Denise Reed is also an actress (who played the part of the nanny in a 2024 episode of CBS's hit series FBI), and Frank LoBuono is the host of the Being Frank Podcast, where I've been interviewed many times. (Richie Fulco, then owner of Big Red Books, introduced me to the packed house, and had a cameo in the reading.) The reading is followed by a Q & A with the perceptive audience. Cast: Paul Levinson: Pete Fornatale, narration Anthony Marinelli: himself Amanda Greer: herself Denise Reed: narration Frank LoBuono: Al Auster, and several bit parts   What's Been Said About the Novel: "Paul is original his books and music are different than the norm -- they are clever!" -- Billy J. Kramer "a wild ride" -- Michael McLuhan "Now I'm desperate to hear songs from the Asimov/McCartney musical" -- Thomas MacFarlane, The Beatles and McLuhan "I got so hooked that I stayed up way beyond my bedtime and read it in one go. It was not just extremely entertaining (I started looking forward to the Tom Petty phone calls) but also a nifty take on averting the grandfather paradox." -- Geoffrey Winthrop-Young, Kittler and the Media "a brilliantly written and fun sci-fi tale that is perfect for fans of the genre and music nerds" -- Evan Levine, Swan Fungus "Paul Levinson's It's Real Life is a page-turning exploration into that multiverse known as rock and roll. But it is much more than a marvelous adventure narrated by a master storyteller...it is also an exquisite meditation on the very nature of alternate history." -- Jack Dann, The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History "If you are a music fan, and especially if you are a Beatles fan, you will probably enjoy this spin at 33 1/3 RPM through this alternate history." -- Matt Truxaw, Amazing Stories More about the novel here. Two other readings from the novel on this podcast: book launch and reading from 1st chapter of the novel at The Players, March 2024  dramatic reading from second chapter of the novel on "Destinies: The Voice of Science Fiction", WUSB Radio, with Paul Levinson and Howard Margolin, January 2024 And here's a full cast radio play of 1st chapter of the novel, adapted by Vin Tese for Killerwatt Radio, March 2024

Welcome to Light On Light Through episode 423, in which I interview Jude O'Reilly about her novel Heartbreaker.  Among the issues we discussed: author/editor frictions and benefits, first readers, serial killers in fiction, wonders of the British north, and time travel and time stoppage. Among the authors we discussed: Karl Popper, Rob Sawyer, George R.R. Martin, Isaac Asimov, Nicholson Baker, Solvej Balle. Relevant links: get the novel here my review of Heartbreaker

Welcome to Light On Light Through episode 422, in which I interview Paul Kaplan about his book of poetry for people of all ages, The Thingy That's Stringy.  Relevant links: get The Thingy That's Stringy here my review of The Thingy That's Stringy here or here

Welcome to Light On Light Through episode 421, in which I interview Mitt Witten about his new novel 51%.  In all seriousness, I consider this cyberpunk novel in the same league as Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and George Orwell's 1984. Relevant links: my written review of 51% get the novel here Cass Sunstein about Orwell's 1984  Rob Sawyer's novel Flashforward my novelette "The Chronology Protection Case"  

Welcome to Light On Light Through episode 420, in which I interview Deana Weibel about her new book, The Ultraview Effect.  I consider Deana the Margaret Mead of outerspace -- find out why in this interview. Relevant links: More about The Ultraview Effect here Touching the Face of the Cosmos -- the anthology with Deana's Weibel's "Pennies from Heaven" Paul Levinson's reviews of For All Mankind and Star City Interview with Lance Strate in which we discuss his and Neil Postman's views of the space program  

Welcome to Light On Light Through episode 419, in which I review Solvej Balle's On the Calculation of Volume (Vols 1-4). Relevant links: written review of Solvej Balle's On the Calculation of Volume (Vols 1-4) It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles McLuhan in an Age of Social Media

Welcome to Light On Light Through episode 418, in which I interview Dan Abella about The Philip K. Dick Film Festival to take place in New York City, March 13-14, 2026. Relevant links: Philip K. Dick Film Festival details my interview with Rufus Sewell about The Man in the High Castle TV series my novelette The Chronology Protection Case ... short film adapatation of The Chronology Protection Case by Jay Kensinger ... Edgar-nominated radio play adaptation by Mark Shanahan  

Welcome to Light On Light Through episode 417, in which Sarah Clarke Stuart and her husband Jonathan Oakes join me and my wife Tina Vozick in a conversation about Sarah's debut novel, Song of the Unsung Mushroom, published January 15, 2026 by Connected Editions (a boutique publisher that I and Tina created and operate).  At times joining our conversation are Alexis Stuart (who created the cover for Sarah's novel), Susan Clarke, Molly Vozick-Levinson, Elizabeth Clarke, Chryssi Steven, Meghan Vickers, Bud Gundy, and Edwin Stepp (thanks to the last three for providing blurbs for the novel). Relevant links: Kindle, paperback, hardcover, audiobook (read by Sarah for Listen and Live Audio) of the novel here trailer for Song of the Unsung Mushroom here More about Connected Editions here YouTube video of this conversation  here  

Welcome to Light On Light Through episode 416, in which I review the The Beatles Anthology 2025 documentary. Relevant links: my written review of Anthology 2025 my 2024 podcast review of Beatles '64 my 1972 article in The Village Voice: Murray the K in Nostalgia's Noose my 1971 article in The Village Voice: A Vote for McCartney my 1972 song Murray the K's Back In Town my 2024 novel It's Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles 2023 radioplay It's Real Life on Killerwatt Radio adapted from first chapter of my novel (audiobook of radioplay here) my 2025 written review of One to One: John & Yoko my 2017-2018 written reviews of Rob Sheffield's book Dreaming the Beatles (I review every chapter!) my 2016 review of Billy J. Kramer's book Do You Wanna Know a Secret? my thoughts about The Beatles' Now and Then "The Beatles and Podcasts" my Fall 2023 essay in the Journal of Beatles Studies my 2023 written review of John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial my 2021 podcast reviews of Peter Jackson's The Beatles: Get Back Chris Willman's interview with Oliver Murray in Variety Note added at February 10, 2026: Ten-Minute Take on Current Beatles Books and Documentaries on Rock Talk Studio podcast with Big Rick

Welcome to Light On Light Through episode 415, in which I interview Brooklyn Demme about Paul Thomas Anderson's movie One Battle After Another, in which Brooklyn played a minor role.  But in a movie this great, every role is important. Relevant links: my review of One Battle After Another Simon Vozick-Levinson's A Guide to the Revolutionary Music in 'One Battle After Another' in Rolling Stone, September 29, 2025 screening of That Kid (produced by Brooklyn Demme) in Nyack, NY November 1, 2025 at 12 Noon