Thursday 10/26

BARACK OBAMA
The guy who will one day be the first black president of the United States talks about and signs The Audacity of Hope. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 624-6600 for info. $5. 6 pm.

ROGER SIMPSON, MIGAEL SCHERER, SCOTT NORTH
The writers/journalists talk about Covering Violence. Wessel & Lieberman, 208 First Ave S, 682-3545. Free. 7 pm.

REBECCA GOLDSTEIN
The MacArthur "genius" talks about Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 1-888-219-5222. $6-$8. 7:30 pm.

Friday 10/27

MARTHA J LAGUARDIA-KOTITE
So Others Might Live is about Coast Guard rescues. Barnes & Noble Downtown, 600 Pine St, 264-0156. Free. 12:30 pm.

ELIZABETH EDWARDS
The wife of the vice-presidential candidate John Edwards reads from Saving Graces: Finding Solace and Strength from Friends and Strangers. Kane Hall, Room 120, UW Campus, 634-3400 for info. $5 or free with purchase of book. 7 pm.

MICHELLE ORANGE
The Sicily Papers is "a series of letters Orange wrote on a trip to Italy to an anxious correspondent." University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

BILL BRYSON
The author of A Walk in the Woods and other books reads from The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, a memoir. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 624-6600 for info. $5. 7:30 pm.

POETRY BUS
A big mixed bag of an event, with readings and performances by the Vis-à-Vis Society, Joshua Beckman, Matthew Zapruder, and lots of others. This is the culmination of a 50-city bus tour. Space Needle, 400 Broad St, 676-5337 for info. $5 suggested donation. 8 pm.

Saturday 10/28

PAUL HUNTER, JUDITH SKILLMAN
The poets read from recent work. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 4:30 pm.

WAYNE MADSEN
He talks about Jaded Tasks, Brass Plates, Black Ops and Big Oil. Trinity Methodist Church, 6512 23rd Ave NW, 784-2227. Free. 7 pm.

ALEX STEFFEN, BRUCE STERLING
They read from Worldchanging: A User's Guide for the 21st Century, a guide to "tools, models, and ideas for changing the world." Al Gore wrote the introduction. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 652-4255. $5. 7:30 pm.

WILLIAM KITTREDGE
His novel The Willow Field is "the shit," says David James Duncan. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. 7:30 pm.

Sunday 10/29

CECILE ANDREWS
She reads from Slow is Beautiful: New Visions of Community, Leisure and Joie de Vivre. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 4 pm.

Monday 10/30

AMY SEDARIS
See Stranger Suggests. Neumo's, 925 East Pike St, 634-3400 for info. $5 in advance, $7 at the door. 6 pm.

RORY STEWART
He reads from The Prince of the Marshes: And Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraq. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

ERIK LARSON
Thunderstruck is about two men: the inventor of wireless communication and a murderer. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

Wednesday 11/1

DEEPAK CHOPRA
The spiritual hoohah talks about Life After Death: The Burden of Proof. University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd, 634-3400 for info. $5 suggested donation. 7 pm.

ESTHER SCHOR
The poet and Princeton professor reads from her new biography, Emma Lazarus. Henry Art Gallery, 15th Ave NE at NE 41st St, 1-888-219-5222. $6-$8. 7 pm.

HERBERT ELLISON
Ellison talks about Boris Yeltsin and Russia's Democratic Transformation. Kane Hall, Walker-Ames Room, UW Campus, 634-3400 for info. Free. 7 pm.

JOHN MOE
The radio personality reads from Conservatize Me. Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park), 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333. Free. 7 pm.

KATHERINE MIN
Secondhand World is a novel about a Korean family. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. 7 pm.

MEREDITH QUARTERMAIN, PETER QUARTERMAIN
They talk about poetry, and read it. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. Free, donations accepted. 7:30 pm.

STEPHEN KING
The very famous author holds forth. He's entertaining. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 215-4747. $25-35 general admission. 7:30 pm.

TINA CASSIDY
She reads from Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born. According to the Washington Post: "In this breezy popular history, Cassidy, a former Boston Globe reporter and editor, surveys centuries of terrible childbirths around the world, attended by doctors, nurses and midwives with strange theories and, in more than a few cases, deeply sadistic streaks." Ravenna Third Place, 6504 20th Ave NE, 523-0210. 7:30 pm.