Gessen is a founder of the journal n+1, which originated with a lovely, scathing essay chastising McSweeney's naiveness and defending negativity. n+1 quickly established itself as a thoughtful publication about life and literature and other great things. Tonight, Gessen reads from his debut novel, All the Sad Young Literary Men, a poignant book about success and failure that could create a movement around n+1 in the same way that A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius did for McSweeney's. (Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. 8 pm, free.)