William T. Vollmann’s books are reports from what Gorky called “the
lower depths.” To make these reports, he throws himself into bad
situations. In one book, he throws himself into poverty; in
another, he throws himself into a war zone; in another, he throws
himself into the arms of a prostitute. In his latest book, Riding
Toward Everywhere, Vollmann throws himself into the hard life of
a hobo. The sweet side of the world is not for Vollmann; what he
wants is the misery and mess of humanity. (University Book Store,
4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. 7 pm, free.)

Charles Mudede—who writes about film, books, music, and his life in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe, the USA, and the UK for The Stranger—was born near a steel plant in Kwe Kwe, Zimbabwe. He has no memory...