Most cities aren’t as closely linked to a weather system as San Francisco is to fog.

Most cities don’t have a resident who’s creative and persistent enough to pretend to be that weather system for nine years on Twitter. And most cities don’t see that personified weather system publish a book.

But San Francisco isn’t most cities. And Karl the Fog isn’t most weather systems.

If you’re looking for a summer read, consider Karl the Fog’s new tome, aptly titled, “Karl the Fog: San Francisco’s Most Mysterious Resident” which comes out Tuesday, June 11. It has a clear sleeve with the title and a big bank of fog that, once removed, shows a sunny day at the Golden Gate Bridge.

It has a foreword by Sutro Tower that begins, “Karl and I have a love/hate relationship. He loves to make me disappear, and I hate how he makes me disappear.”

It’s full of lovely photos of San Francisco with quips penned by Karl himself. A photo of a foggy day in the Castro has the caption, “Every day I’m in San Francisco is gray pride.” There’s a foggy day in Cole Valley with the adage, “Cole Valley is one of my favorite places to chill while I wait 1.5 hours for French toast.” (Too true, Karl. Too true.)

The person behind the Twitter account @KarlTheFog — now boasting nearly 360,000 followers — remains a mist-ery. Loyal readers of this column know I first interviewed Karl two years ago, and that he was named after a misunderstood giant in the Tim Burton movie “Big Fish.”

Whoever Karl is agreed to an email interview with The Chronicle in conjunction with the publication of the new book — and answered questions as Karl himself.

Q: You’re a very busy weather pattern. Why did you want to add to your packed schedule by writing a book?

A: It’s all part of my 10-year plan.

Step 1: Start tweeting in 2010.

Step 2: Begin sharing selfies on Instagram.

Step 3: Write a book.

Step 4: Run for president in 2020.

Q: Are you the first weather pattern to become a published author?

A: Not sure I’m the first, but I’m definitely the biggest (by square mile).

Q: How did you get Sutro Tower, with whom you have a love/hate relationship, to write the foreword? San Francisco has many famous towers — Salesforce, the leaning Millennium, Coit. Is Sutro your favorite?

A: You know the saying “keep your friends close and that giant metal tower who hates you during the summer because you make it disappear closer?” That.

Q: How does a weather pattern conduct a publicity tour? I imagine we won’t see you signing books at our local bookstore or appearing on late night TV shows. I would really like to see you read mean tweets on Jimmy Kimmel, though. (Speaking of, some people really don’t like you – what’s the meanest tweet you’ve received?)

A: My publicity tour is hanging out in San Francisco every day for the next three months. If you take your book outside and wave it in the air, I’ll sign it. Aside from that, I’m still waiting on my call from Jimmy. As for mean tweets, I get a lot of people telling me I ruin their day and I should go away. I remind them I was here for thousands of years before they were … so, there.

Every day in San Francisco: "It's foggy but looks like the sun might come out soon, I'll put on this hoodie for now" *walks 3 blocks uphill*

"Now I'm sweaty, light colors were a bad idea" *takes off hoodie, walks 3 blocks downhill*

"Freezing again, gimme back my hoodie" — Karl the Fog ☁️ (@KarlTheFog) June 2, 2019

Summer in San Francisco: 9am: ☁️☁️☁️

11am: ☁️🌥☁️

2pm: ⛅️🌤⛅️

5pm: ☁️🌥☁️

9pm: ☁️☁️☁️ (repeat every day until Oct 1) — Karl the Fog ☁️ (@KarlTheFog) May 30, 2019

Q: Your book is full of beautiful photos — well, beautiful if you like fog. You seem pretty pro-San Francisco while the city is getting derided by East Coast writers as being disgusting, rotten and over. What do you say to those mistaken scribes? Will you be sending them a copy of your book?

A: I’m just forwarding them videos of rats climbing up poles in their subway cars.

Q: Tourists are often shocked to see you, especially in the summertime. What’s your suggested one-day itinerary in San Francisco for our freezing out-of-town guests?

A: San Francisco’s hottest one-day itinerary is called “Carbs,” and this place has everything: Tartine, Hot Cookie, Bob’s Donuts, and that cart on Mission Street that sells bacon-wrapped hot dogs at 1 a.m.

Q: Are you in a book club? What are some of your favorite titles?

A: Not in a book club, but I like to catch up on your San Francisco literature. Currently flipping between “Less” and “Season of the Witch.” Both are great, but could use more fog.

Q: Last time we talked, I asked you why the Giants were in a slump. You said, “We’ll be back in 2018.” We weren’t. And now things are even worse. There are far fewer fans in the seats at Oracle Park for you to chill these days. What’s the deal, Karl? What should the Giants do to turn this around?

A: Bochy is retiring after this season (and going straight to the Baseball Hall of Fame), so maybe it’s time they start with someone who has a fresh perspective. Someone out of left field. Someone who has no baseball coaching experience and also hangs above left field. I’m talking about me. I should coach the Giants.

Q: Are you excited the Warriors are moving to town or do you not really care since they’ll be playing inside? It’ll be harder to torture their fans.

A: I’d be happier if they had a retractable roof so I could watch the Splash Brothers from up here.

Q: At the end of my San Francisco City Insider podcast, I always subject the guests to a lightning round. It includes these three questions, and I’d like you to answer them, too. What’s your favorite burrito in San Francisco? Where’s your favorite place to get a stiff drink? What’s your favorite movie filmed in San Francisco?

A: Taqueria Cancun, Martuni’s, “Sister Act.”

Q: You’ve hovered over San Francisco for centuries. Do you think the city’s best days are ahead of it or behind it?

A: Clouds are like Heptapods in the sense that we also have a non-linear concept of time. But that works out in my favor because San Francisco is a city of cycles — it has its ups and downs, and then manages to completely reinvent itself. The only thing I’ll share is that 2047 is going to be a great year. Just you wait.

“Karl the Fog: San Francisco’s Most Mysterious Resident”

By Karl the Fog with a foreword by Sutro Towers

Chronicle Books

(122 pages; $14.95)

My book comes out in a few weeks, and I'm thrilled to share that I'm the "#1 New Release in Bridge Photography." I'd like to thank the Golden Gate Bridge for everyone you bribed to make this happen. Check it out: https://t.co/m3kyUnMbuR pic.twitter.com/yvCHChwT6D — Karl the Fog ☁️ (@KarlTheFog) May 16, 2019

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