Speaking Tour: 9/20 - 9/26

Wednesday, September 20
>>>Town Hall, 7:30pm. James Fallows, correspondent for The Atlantic, leads the congregation in a hymn to the virtues of foresight. Fallows is flogging his book, Blind into Baghdad: America's War in Iraq, and would like you to know it didn't have to be like this. We can't wait for Tone-Deaf into Tehran. $5 at the door.

>>>University Bookstore, 7:00pm. Ah, chess. We knew there was some reason besides the coup that we were humming "One Night in Bangkok" this morning. David Shenk's book, The Immortal Game, puts you inside the thrilling history of the board game where you can be killed by a bishop. Free, but no castling for better seats.

Thursday, September 21
>>>School of Visual Concepts, 6:30-8:00pm. Want to kick-start your seduction by the dark side of the force? Libby Donovan and Chris Mowrer help plot your Death Star entry with The Cool Side of Microsoft: How to Get In. What should my portfolio look like? What do I bring to the interview: roses or chocolates...or a mind-control chokehold? Free; registration required.

>>>Third Place Books, 7:00pm. Nickel and Dimed author Barbara Ehrenreich returns with more tales of people who do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Bait and Switch capitalizes on the frustration of anyone playing against the house in pursuit of the American Dream. Free with a useless college degree.

>>>Elliott Bay, 7:30pm. Hearing Amy Wilentz in person may be more of a draw than reading her book, if we've been reading the right reviews. On the other hand, I Feel Earthquakes More Often Than They Happen is a great title, and precisely encapsulates our experience upon moving to California. If you've ever thought about moving to California, this one's required reading. Free, comes with a Schwarzenegger on the side.

Friday, September 22
>>>Elliott Bay, 7:30pm. Um, Irish writers living in Bellingham for $300, please. Michael Collins has written a book which treats academia sardonically. Death of a Writer combines two Seattle favorites, the literary novel and crime novel. If it has a double tall latte in it, he's golden. Free.

>>>University Bookstore, 7:00pm. The question we have about A Fictional History of the United States (with Huge Chunks Missing) is, who would know from fictional? Not high school students. High school students today are stupid. It's true, we read that somewhere. If you make it down there, ask T Cooper and Adam Mansbach for us if they expect people to know what really happened or not. Free with citizenship.

Saturday, September 23
>>>Elliott Bay, 7:30pm. The title of the book is 10 Steps to Repair American Democracy, so right away we're thinking PINKO! screaming GODDAMN COMMIE! gnashing our teeth. Steven Hill, eh? Probably related to Joe Hill, for all we know. Anyway, he was involved with some election reform in San Francisco. All adds up, doesn't it? Free, but be safe and prepare for involuntary extradition.

Sunday, September 24
>>>Shoreline Library, noon. This doesn't have anything to do with speaking but it's time for the Friends of Shoreline Library Annual Fall Book Sale, open to the public. Free, unless you buy something.

>>>Eagle Harbor Book Co., Bainbridge, 3:00pm. Wanna get slightly away? The "Click and Clack of publishing," Arielle Ekstut and David Henry Sterry, are giving a seminar on getting your book published successfully, called Putting Your Passion Into Print. Coincidentally, this is the name of their book on the same topic. Free, but what are the chances you walk without the $14.95 book? Be honest.

Monday, September 25
>>>University Book Store, 7:00pm. Gushworthy author Kelly Link reads from and signs Magic for Beginners, which includes the Hugo Award-winning story "The Faery Handbag." Free.

Tuesday, September 26
>>>Elliott Bay, noon. This has to be one of the most horrifying book titles we've ever come across: Turning the Future into Revenue: What Businesses and Individuals Need to Know to Shape Their Futures. Can you imagine if instead of the next minute, you got a fistful of useless cash and were stuck in the present moment with no future to spend it in? Consultant, visiting scholar at UW, and founder of Futurist.com, Glenn Hiemstra has got a lot to answer for. Get down there and heckle like there's no tomorrow. Free.

>>>Town Hall, 7:30pm. Town Hall's DarwinFest '06 continues with David Quammen talking about his book, The Reluctant Mr. Darwin. Huge procrastinator, Darwin -- gets a free sea voyage, takes years to write it up. Much like us with this list, except without the huge public outcry over the results. $5 at the door.