~ Jean Cocteau

* Monster, genius, maniac? On Monday, September 08th, film buffs might want to wander down to the U-District at around 7:00 PM. Author Christopher Sandford will be at the UW Bookstore to discuss Polanski: A Biography with Seattle’s own Warren Etheredge [www.thewarrenreport.com]. Since Polanski is still in France (“a fugitive from justice”), this is probably as close as most fans will ever come to the man himself.

* Not free, but if you can can beg, borrow, or steal $5 (and refrain from spending it on PBR), get thee to Town Hall Seattle (1119 8th Ave.) for Slovenian author, film-maker, critic, philosopher, and all-around brilliant guy, Slavoj Zizek. Zizek is in town to read from and discuss Violence: Six Sideways Reflections, one of the first volumes in Picador’s “BIG IDEAS / small books” series. Event begins at 7:30 PM. Tickets are available at the door, starting at 6:30 PM.

* Sandra Tsing Loh returns to Elliott Bay Book Co. to share her latest, Mother on Fire: A True Motherf%#$@ Story About Parenting!, with those of us who are sick unto death of heartwarming anecdotes and uplifting life lessons. Monday, September 08th at 7:30 PM.

* Seattle art critic Matthew Kangas has written over a dozen books about art. On Tuesday, September 9th, Kangas will present his latest, Relocations: Selected Art Essays and Interviews, spanning 40 years of Northwest artists. U-District, UW Bookstore, 7:00 PM.

* Stuart Cohen’s novel The Army of the Republic is being touted as a dystopian vision of the near-future, brilliant, prescient, etc. Based partly in Seattle, the novel is about ecotopian guerillas working to save a US government that has become little more than the puppet of corporate oligarchies. I’m paranoid enough as it is, thank you very much, but if you haven’t already made your tin hat (I’ve got extras, if you need one) and covered all your windows with aluminum foil, you might want to visit Elliott Bay Books at 7:30 PM on Tuesday.