Sex Ain’t All it’s Cracked Up to Be (and Other Spurious Theories, Explored)

Readings & Events 

Vikram Chandra India's crime world examined in his novel Sacred Games. Barnes & Noble (Bellevue), 626 106th Ave. N.E., 425-451-8463. 7 p.m. Wed. Jan. 31.

Frances McCue Of course there really is a Richard Hugo, and McCue's written about her interest in the poet in her new memoir/biography, Chasing Richard Hugo. (Rescheduled from Jan. 16.) Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 322-7030. $5-$10. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Jan. 31.

Jack Prelutsky Newly named the U.S. Children's Poet Laureate, he presents his latest, Behold the Bold Umbrellaphant. (Rescheduled from Nov. 29.) Ballard Branch Library, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W., 206-684-4089. 6:30 p.m. Wed. Jan. 31.

Joseph Price Examining the link between athletics and religion in his lecture, "Goal to Go: Religion and the Super Bowl." (First in a series of three.) Room 220, Kane Hall, UW campus, 543-0540, www.UWalum.com. $5-$10. 7:30 p.m. Wed. Jan. 31.

Calvin Trillin SEE THE WIRE, WEDNESDAY. Also at Third Place Books, 7 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 1.

David Domke This UW prof explores the intersection of religion and politics, and the implications for the 2008 election, in a lecture sponsored by the Simpson Foundation. Tallmadge Hamilton House, 5225 15th Ave. N.E. 1 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 1.

Chris Hedges SEE THE WIRE, THURSDAY.

Charles Johnson This author of Middle Passagespeaks on "Whole Sight: The Intersection of Culture, Faith, and Imagination." Co-sponsored by University Book Store. Room 120, Kane Hall, UW campus, www.simpsoncenter.org. 7 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 1.

John Newhouse Exposing the raw sordid underbelly of the aviation industry in his Boeing Versus Airbus: The Inside Story of the Greatest International Competition in Business. Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 1.

Neal Pollack & Dan Savage Authors of two recent books on fatherhood meet to discuss alternative parenting strategies, with music from Awesome. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St. Free. 8 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 1.

Richard Ramsden A lecture on "Rare Wildflowers Above the Treeline" from this photographer and gardener. Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St, 527-3210. 7 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 1.

Jonathan RabanSet in Seattle, his novel Surveillanceexamines post-9/11 paranoia. Queen Anne Books, 1811 Queen Anne Ave. N., 283-5624. 6:30 p.m. Thurs. Feb. 1; Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Tues. Feb. 6.

Cecile Andrews She'll help you reprioritize with her new lifestyle-advice book Slow is Beautiful. Third Place Books. 6:30 p.m. Fri. Feb. 2.

Clayton EshlemanA reading by this Eastern Michigan University poet. Open Books, 2414 N. 45th St. 633-0811, www.openpoetrybooks.com. 7:30 p.m. Fri. Feb. 2.

Jay Griffiths Ruminations on the concept of wilderness in her Wild: An Elemental Journey. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Fri. Feb. 2.

Dan Simmons An expedition to find the Northwest Passage is haunted by. . . something. . . in his thriller The Terror. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Fri. Feb. 2.

Mohamed Hashi Dhama A reading by this Somali poet. Room 120, Communications Building, UW campus. 7 p.m. Sat. Feb. 3.

Cavalcade of AuthorsAs part of the 17th annual Left Coast Crime Convention, the Seattle Mystery Bookshop is sponsoring two afternoons of appearances by over 70 authors. (See http://lcc2007.com for convention info.) Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., 587-5737. www.seattlemystery.com. Noon-6 p.m. Sat. Feb. 3, noon-4 p.m. Sun. Feb. 4.

Claire MatturroBone Valley is her latest Lilly Belle Cleary mystery. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St., 587-5737. Noon, Sat. Feb 3. Parkplace Books (Kirkland), 348 Parkplace Ctr., 425-828-6546. 3 p.m. Sat. Feb. 3. Third Place Books. 5:30 p.m. Sun. Feb. 4.

Terry McAuliffe Is he laughing at them or with them in What a Party: My Life Among Democrats? Third Place Books. 6:30 p.m. Sat. Feb. 3.

Maya Sonenberg This UW creative writing program director's new story collection is Voices from the Blue Hotel. Elliott Bay Book Co., 7:30 p.m. Sat. Feb. 3.

John Taliaferro A slice of Alaska history in his In a Far Country: The True Story of a Mission, a Marriage, and the Remarkable Reindeer Rescue of 1898. Elliott Bay Book Co. 2 p.m. Sat. Feb. 3.

Gabriel Thompson A look at the lives of undocumented Mexican immigrants in his book There's No José Here. Elliott Bay Book Co. 5 p.m. Sat. Feb. 3.

William DietrichAncient mysteries, dashing adventures, and perplexing puzzles await hero Ethan Gage in Dietrich's Napoleon's Pyramids. University Book Store. 7 p.m. Mon. Feb. 5.

Michael Honey Memphis in 1968: a turbulent time and place for the Civil Rights movement. Honey's book Going Down Jericho Road tells the story. Elliott Bay Book Co. 7:30 p.m. Mon. Feb. 5.

Eric Klinenberg The dangers of media consolidation revealed in his book Fighting for Air: When a train derailed and a cloud of poisonous gas threatened Minot, N.D., the city's radio stations proved useless for broadcasting emergency warnings, because all of them were owned and remote-controlled by Clear Channel, with no actual humans on the premises. Co-sponsored by Elliott Bay Book Company. Downstairs at Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., 652-4255. $5. 7:30 p.m. Mon. Feb. 5.

Earl PalmerControversial again, thanks to Hollywood, writer C.S. Lewis is the topic of this pastor's lecture. Upper Gwinn Commons, Seattle Pacific University campus, 281-2723. 7:30 p.m. Mon. Feb. 5.

Gilda's Club This cancer support group celebrates the launch of Intimacy After Cancer: A Woman's Guide by Dr. Sally Kydd and Dana Rowett. Gilda's Club Seattle, 1400 Broadway, 709-1400, www.gildasclubseattle.org. 6:30 p.m. Tues. Feb. 6.