.Paul Krassner

There were more than 400 authors at the annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. The participants ranged from the late Rodney King (whose videotaped severe beating 20 years ago by sadistic police officers resulted in a riot that caused more than 50 deaths and devastating destruction) to Judy Blume (her books for children and adults have sold more than 80 million copies) to T.C. Boyle (the author of more than 20 novels).