For a fun option, check out Christopher Moore's _Bloodsucking Fiends: A Love Story_. It's a decidedly UN-Twilight-esque vampire novel set in the City by the Bay.

I enjoyed Kelli Stanley's "City of Dragons" (set in 1940's era Chinatown).

Also Christopher Moore - Dirty Job.

I'll second Moore's *Bloodsucking Fiends*.

For a more historical look, try the Fremont Jones books, by Dianne Day. A series of mysteries set at the turn of the 20th century, the first one is *The Strange Files of Fremont Jones*.

In a nonfiction vein, there's also *Baghdad by the Bay*, by Herb Caen (or anything else you can get your hands on written by Caen).

A couple of more contemporary mystery series are Carol Anne O'Marie's Sister Mary Helen mysteries, starting with *Novena for Murder* and Laurie King's Kate Martinelli series, which begins with *A Grave Talent*.

Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

The Spellman's series by Lisa Lutz and the Sharon McCone series by Marcia Muller

Thomas Pynchon's THE CRYING OF LOT 49 is partially set in San Francisco

The Nobodies Album - Carolyn Parkhurst
No One You Know - Michelle Richmond
The Year of Fog - Michelle Richmond
On A Night Like This - Ellen Sussman
The Magician's Tale and Trick of Light - David Hunt

Tea with the Black Dragon by RA MacAvoy

In addition to Laurie King's Kate Martinelli series, try her Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes book, "Locked Rooms," a mystery that takes place in SF just after WWI. It has historical references to the 1906 fire as well as wonderful details of early 20th century Chinatown and other SF neighborhoods. And it's a heck of a good read! If you're also familiar with SF, it's fun to figure out where they are in the City and what is there now.

The Bellwether by Connie Willis. Set in Silicon Valley. Fascinating book!

Anne Lamott's novel, "Hard Laughter" is set in Marin County. Her non-fiction is about her life in Marin.

Alive in Necropolis by Doug Dorst is set largely in nearby Colma, CA, but has a bunch of scenes in SF too. Great mash-up of horror police procedural history.

Kurt, I lived in South San Francisco for years and never even considered that there might be live people in Colma. It seemed to be a city of cemeteries. I'll try your recommendation!

Marc Levy - if only it were true.

It's a translation from the French "et si c'etait vrai" - it's quirky and original and a really good read! I won't say more than that...

Much of The Dharma Bums occurs in S.F.