Verse Chapter Verse is The Stranger's reading series in which we combine a big-name author with a hot local band. If you'll recall, we packed out Chop Suey with the pairing of China Miéville and Tomten at the end of May. Now I'm going to tell you about what we've got planned for the next one. I'm really excited about this.

None of Colson Whitehead's novels are like any other of Colson Whitehead's novels. He's written books about semi-mystical elevator inspectors, crazed stamp enthusiasts, well-paid experts in the art of naming things, and a tight-knit clique of young African-American kids in a mostly white vacation community. His next book looks to be a dive into a new genre for him: Zone One is a novel about a group of survivors trying to re-colonialize Manhattan in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by zombies. Whitehead is one of his generation's best novelists, and he's a witty, clever speaker, too, so this should be a lot of fun.

Of course, the author is just part of Verse Chapter Verse. If you haven't attended before, here's the setup: The featured band plays three or four songs, the author reads for a little bit, I'll interview him for a little bit, you'll interview him for a little bit and then, while the author signs your books, the band comes back onstage and plays us out with a set of four or five songs. This time around, we'll be pairing Whitehead with The Curious Mystery, a psychedelic, garage-y outfit whose atmospheric songs should be a great complement to Whitehead's creepy, funny ode to the months after the end of the world.

So save the date: This edition of Verse Chapter Verse will be Thursday, October 27th at Chop Suey. It'll just cost you $5. Third Place Books will be selling copies of all of Whitehead's books, there will be plenty of booze for everyone, and I guarantee you'll have a good time. I'll let you know when tickets go on sale right here on Slog.