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.)