In 2005, the editors of Metro Silicon Valley, San Jose’s alternative weekly newspaper, offered Gary Singh his own column, “Silicon Alleys,” to explore the underbelly of San Jose and Silicon Valley from a bent perspective that only a native wacko could offer. Fifteen years later, Gary still writes the column every week. Now for the first time, a selection of Gary’s greatest hits — over 250 Silicon Alleys columns in chronological order — is available in one mammoth volume, personally hand-picked by the columnist. Following a gnarly foreword by cyberpunk science fiction pioneer Rudy Rucker, a glorious mishmash of humanity emerges. UFO researchers sit right alongside politicians, rock stars, repo men and professional wrestlers. Buddhist heroes hold column space with women’s drinking clubs. Abandoned shopping malls and crumbling trailer parks come alive on the pages. From punk rock to high art, from dive bars to luxury digs, from literary fixations to forgotten local history, plus abstract mystical screeds and sometimes even journalism, no other body of work more aptly sorts out the guts of San Jose — “America’s 10th largest city” — than Gary’s weekly column. In his introduction, Gary writes: “Over the years, I came to understand the city of San Jose as a character in one long story told via Metro columns each week.” As a result, readers will join Gary in discovering a diverse interconnected matrix of perspectives on that city, his home town, as he has come to know it, warts and all. Praise for Silicon Alleys: To look at San Jose through Gary’s eyes is an education. He is to San Jose what Herb Caen was to San Francisco—part of the city, part of its vibe. For years he has walked the streets, enjoyed its hot spots and its dives. He is part of the professional sports scene, part of the music scene, part of the bar scene. He loves and understands the history of San Jose better than anyone I have ever met. In these days of cities changing and losing their identities, I am happy that Gary kept the records. JOHNNY MOORE, former General Manager, San Jose Earthquakes Gary Singh belongs to a different age, when journalists had lifelong love-hate affairs with their beloved cities. For San Jose he is like heavenly sandpaper, railing against homogenization, celebrating what is uniquely good, and gently challenging his city to become a place that is creative and humane. I’m glad his columns are collected here so that San Jose can remember the past and, perhaps, build a better future. TIM RITCHIE, former President and CEO, The Tech Museum of Innovation (2011-2020) Gary’s column is the written soundtrack of my life in San Jose. I arrived as a Banda Club kid, a theater kid, a downtown kid, a Could Have Left Town kid, but our Valley of Heart’s Delight transformed and kept me. Gary’s the one who wrote about all of us growing up. He’s the only one who wrote about the Pink Elephant Center—before any need for a “Diversity Column.” TAMARA ALVARADO, Executive Director, Shortino Foundation Gary Singh knows San Jose. I have been reading him in Metro for many years, sometimes agreeing, occasionally not, yet always entertained—even sometimes amazed. The successes, the mistakes, the dreams that sometimes happened and often failed, are the essence of this book. Each agony here often leads to some ecstasy. It is all on full display here as you go down the illuminated streets and duck into the dark alleys that compose this most amazing city. TOM McENERY, Mayor of San Jose, 1983-1991 To look at San Jose through Gary's eyes is an education. He is to San Jose what Herb Caen was to San Francisco--part of the city, part of its vibe. For years he has walked the streets, enjoyed its hot spots and its dives. He is part of the professional sports scene, part of the music scene, part of the bar scene. He loves and understands the history of San Jose better than anyone I have ever met. In these days of cities changing and losing their identities, I am happy that Gary kept the records. JOHNNY MOORE , former General Manager, San Jose Earthquakes Gary Singh belongs to a different age, when journalists had lifelong love-hate affairs with their beloved cities. For San Jose he is like heavenly sandpaper, railing against homogenization, celebrating what is uniquely good, and gently challenging his city to become a place that is creative and humane. I'm glad his columns are collected here so that San Jose can remember the past and, perhaps, build a better future. TIM RITCHIE , President and CEO, The Tech Museum of Innovation (2011-2020) Gary's column is the written soundtrack of my life in San Jose. I arrived as a Banda Club kid, a theater kid, a downtown kid, a Could Have Left Town kid, but our Valley of Heart's Delight transformed and kept me. Gary's the one who wrote about all of us growing up. He's the only one who wrote about the Pink Elephant Center-before any need for a "Diversity Column." TAMARA ALVARADO , Executive Director, Shortino Foundation Ga