THURSDAY 10/12

At Home on the Earth
Brian Oaster's lovely new graphic novel, At Home on the Earth, is limited to a run of only 500 hand silk-screened copies. The ink wash drawings tell the story of a young boy who moves to a distant galaxy to be with his father, then spends the rest of his life missing Earth. Oaster will be signing copies of the book tonight, while Autopilot, Leigh Marble, and Jared Mees will provide the musical entertainment. Hawthorne Theatre, 1507 SE 39th, 234-7474, 8 pm, $3

The Human Experiment
Jane Poynter spent two years and 20 minutes living in Biosphere 2, where "food became scarce, oxygen levels dropped, people were hungry all the time, and factions were formed." Sounds like a day at the Mercury offices. Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne, 238-1668, 7:30 pm, free

FRIDAY 10/13

Lemony Snicket Release Party
The Series of Unfortunate Events series comes to a close with its thirteenth book, appropriately titled The End. Lemony Snicket won't be present for this party, but a few dozen adorable kids in costumes will be, plus games and prizes. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 228-4651, 2 pm, free

Laila Lamai
Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits, a novel about four Moroccans crossing the Strait of Gibraltar in an inflatable boat, was just nominated for the Oregon Book Award. See what all the critical praise is about as Laila Lamai reads from her book tonight. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free

Poetry Northwest Release Party
The Fall/Winter issue of Poetry Northwest is out, and it features poetry by Charles Wright, a critical essay on Portland's Literary Arts Poetry Downtown Series, a reflection by screenwriter Gil Dennis about working with Johnny Cash, and a ton more. So the magazine's throwing a big par-tay to celebrate. Press Club, 2621 SE Clinton, 7-10 pm, free

SATURDAY 10/14

Tess Gallagher
Tess Gallagher, an amazing poet and the widow of Raymond Carver, is doing a mid-afternoon reading of verse from her latest volume, Dear Ghosts. Highly recommended. Broadway Books, 1714 NE Broadway, 284-1726, 2 pm, free

Tangent Reading Series
In the second installment of the Tangent Reading Series, two Brooklyn poets, Allison Cobb and Jen Coleman, strut their stuff with Portland's own Maryrose Larkin. Clinton Corner, SE 21st & Clinton, 6:30 pm, free

SUNDAY 10/15

Conservatize Me
Liberal author John Moe went deep undercover into the world of right-wingers and penned this book about his experiences. He also unfortunately named his book after Morgan Spurlock's movie. Powell's City of Books, 1005 W Burnside, 228-4651, 7:30 pm, free

MONDAY 10/16

No Plot? No Problem!
Chris Baty's book (Baty founded National Novel Writing Month) is a great blueprint for how to get off your ass and write the first draft of that novel that's been living deep inside of you. And how to do it in just a month! Powell's Books on Hawthorne, 3723 SE Hawthorne, 238-1668, 7:30 pm, free