Wednesday Oct. 17

Alan Cheuse

The Fires is a pair of novellas from Cheuse, book commentator for NPR's All Things Considered. OK, you get points from me for being on NPR. But, seriously, if I see one more back-cover blurb that speaks of "loss and love" I am going to bludgeon myself. Why can't literary works break new ground on hate and gain already? Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free.

Gary Eberle

Eberle's Dangerous Words addresses the complications and derision that arise in discussions of religion, myth and, you know, that G-O-D guy. First Unitarian Church, 1011 SW 12th Ave., 228-6389. 7-8:30 pm. $1-$5 suggested donation.

David Oliver Relin

Co-author of the renowned Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations...One School at a Time, Relin comes to local libraries to share his story of building schools in some of the most underdeveloped areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Woodstock Library, 6008 SE 49th Ave., 988-5399. 6:30-7:45 pm. Free.

Thursday Oct. 18

Laurie Perry

From the creator of the popular blog crazyauntpurl.com comes Crazy Aunt Purl's Drunk, Divorced and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split, about a spurned woman who rallies from her husband's abrupt departure by becoming a yarn aficionado. Personally, I would have named it The Longest Book Title Ever About Finding Solace in Needles: No, Not That Kind of Needles—Drugs Will Kill You But Yarn Makes Everything Alright. It just rolls off the tongue better, don't you think? Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton, 228-4651. 7 pm. Free.

Barbara Sjoholm

In The Palace of the Snow Queen: Winter Travels in Lapland, seasoned traveler Sjoholm writes about her sojourn in the frosty wonderland of the far north. See, snow still does exist. Take that, Al Gore! Powell's on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 238-1668. 7:30 pm. Free.

Friday Oct. 19

Susan Faludi

The Terror Dream, the new book by the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of Backlash, scrutinizes post-9/11 America and the transformation of social ethos. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651. 7:30 pm. Free.

Delphine Hirasuna

The Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center presents a slide lecture by Hirasuna based on The Art of Gaman, her book about art and crafts made by Japanese Americans during their captivity in World War II internment camps. The Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, 121 NW 2nd Ave., 224-1458. 4:30-6:30 pm. Free.

D'Norgia Taylor

Local writer Taylor introduces her first novel, String Beans & Candy Canes, a sci-fi story about two time-traveling friends. And here I thought it was going to be a really, really crazy cookbook. Reflections Bookstore, 446 NE Killingsworth St., 288-6942. 6 pm. Free.

Saturday Oct. 20

Poetry Northwest Publication Party

Poetry Northwest celebrates the publication of its fourth issue, which features work by Rachel Hadas, Killarney Clary, Richard Kenney, Stanley Plumly and Nobel laureate Eugenio Montale. Stop by to get a free copy of the magazine, drink a glass of wine, and brush shoulders with the poetic elite. Maiden in the Mist, 639 SE Morrison St., 232-5553. 7 pm. Free.

The Tangent Reading Series

The series presents a collection of readings from Bay Area poets Sarah Anne Cox and Dana Teen Lomax, and local poet Jesse Morse. Away with you to the Press Club, for yonder the word-spinning shall commence! The Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton St., 233-5656. 7 pm. Free.

Monday Oct. 22

David Barsamian

Alternative Radio director-founder Barsamian lands in Little Beirut to discuss one of the city's favorite topics: the country going to hell in a hand basket. Specifically, he'll be talking about his most recent collection of interviews, Targeting Iran, which includes the perspectives of everybody from Noam Chomsky to historian Nahid Mozaffari. SEIU Local 49 Union Hall, 3536 SE 26th Ave., 344-5078. 7 pm. Free.

Tuesday Oct. 23

Jane Porter

Porter brings her "Classic Romance Modern Lit" (i.e., Harlequin romance) to Portland with her new steamy read, Odd Mom Out, about a Harley-riding, combat boot-wearing mom who stands out like a sore thumb in her wealthy Seattle suburb. I bet she gives all the neighbor kids booze, too. Twenty-Third Avenue Books, 1015 NW 23rd Ave., 224-5097. 7 pm. Free.

Steve Perry and Michael Reaves

Hans Solo and Luke Skywalker scored points with nerds (and fans of virility metaphors) everywhere when Luke's penile-nosed X-Wing Fighter shot a pair of tiny photon torpedoes into the center of the Death Star, thus causing the evil space fortress to explode. Now, thanks to Perry and Reaves and their book Star Wars: Death Star, you can learn the complete story of the diabolical space station—from creation to destruction—so you can finally sleep easy at night under your Chewbacca sheets. Cough-geek!-cough. Powell's Books at Cedar Hills Crossing, 3415 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton, 228-4651. 7 pm. Free.