* Stephen Elliot, Peter Rock, Anthony Swofford
Three contributors from a new collection of political fiction, the aptly titled Politically Inspired, which also contains works by David Rees and Michelle Tea. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free
* Moluka'i
This debut novel by Alan Brennert has a fascinating premise: a Hawaiian woman in the 1890s gets banished to a special island when it's discovered she has leprosy!! Twenty-Third Avenue Books, 1015 NW 23rd Ave, 224-5097, 7:30 pm, free
Salmon: King of Fish
Our brother recently named his cat Grand Puba: King of Mexico. A very cool name, but in no way related to David Montgomery's new book Salmon: King of Fish. We're pretty sure ol' Grand Puba and Salmon would get along splendidly, though, as the latter is a detailed evolutionary history of one of the little kitty's favorite treats. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free
Victor Lavalle
Lavalle's sprawling novel Ecstatic follows a morbidly obese guy as he writes horror flicks, corresponds with a political prisoner, and deals with his severely fucked up family. Twenty-Third Avenue Books, 1015 NW 23rd Ave, 224-5097, 7:30 pm, free
* Cindy Gutierrez, Claire Sykes, Tonaya Craft Thompson & Montana Dove Wojczuk
A bunch of good local poets. Gutierrez is a renowned performance poet and a playwright for the Miracle Theatre Group. Dove Wojczuk is an up-and-coming poet and filmmaker who just received a sizable Helene Wurlitzer grant to finish her first full-length poetry manuscript. Mountain Writers Center, 3624 SE Milwaukie, 236-4854, 7:30 pm, $3
The Time Traveler's Wife
Audrey Niffenegger's new book has been getting some buzz for its tricky premise; a Memento-esque love affair in which the man can't remember that he's known the woman for 15 years. Annie Bloom's Books, 7834 SW Capitol Hwy, 246-0053, 7:30 pm, free
Flyboys
James Bradley's account of nine US World War II airmen shot down while flying missions over Iwo Jima. Eight disappeared into Japanese prison camps; the ninth, some guy named George Bush, escaped. Thank God. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free
Berkely Breathed
The ex-Bloom County creator finds time in his busy schedule to sign his new book, Flawed Dogs, a humorous ode towards fixing dog overpopulation. Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne Blvd, 238-1668, 7:30 pm, free
* Tim Cahill
The popular Outside magazine editor and travel writer Cahill will read from his book Hold the Enlightenment a collection of 30 essays about his daring and often dangerous exploits. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside St., 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free
* Victor Grossman
When was the last time you got to see, in the flesh, an influential communist activist from the 1940s? Grossman's autobiography, Crossing the River remains a seminal work for the serious Leftist. Come get your old school radical change on. Laughing Horse Books Collective, 3625 SE Division, 236-2893, 7 pm, free
