Orhan Pamuk

This year’s fall literary programming has a distinctly global cast. A quick glance at the autumn events calendar reveals readings by writers from Turkey, Chile, Morocco, England, and even a few from the good old U.S. of A. Writers of all shapes and sizes, from wannabes to Nobel Prize winners will grace Buffalo’s literary stages this fall. Here’s a quick preview.

JUST BUFFALO LITERARY CENTER

>Babel<

Perhaps the most anticipated literary event since Arundhati Roy came to Buffalo in 2004, Just Buffalo’s new subscription-based series will kick off with a reading and conversation with Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish novelist who won the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature. All of Buffalo will be reading his novel Snow in anticipation of his visit on November 8. A month later, on Pearl Harbor Day (December 7), playwright Ariel Dorfman will take the stage. All of Buffalo will be reading his most famous play, “Death and the Maiden.” All events take place in Asbury Hall at The Church. Babel subscription and author info is available at www.justbuffalo.org/babel.

>Nickel City Poetry Slam<

Host Gabrielle Bouliane, Just Buffalo and the Albright-Knox continue their two-plus year collaboration bringing Buffalo audiences the best in local and national poetry slam talent the first Friday of each month in Clifton Hall at the gallery.

>Small Press Poetry<

Hosts Kevin Thurston and Aaron Lowinger bring poets from small presses the world over to read the third Thursday of each month at Rust Belt Books at 7pm. September 20, Jay Millar and Barbara Cole. October 25, Aaron Belz, Jennifer L. Knox and Shanna Compton. November 16, former Buffalonian Stephanie Gray and Dan Machlin. December 13, Rust Belt proprietor Kristi Meal and Mathew Klane read.

>Open Readings and the Literary Cafe<

For those looking to try their hand at reading in front of an audience, open readings offer a great opportunity. Just Buffalo hosts three per month. Two are hosted by Livio Farallo: on the second Wednesday at the Carnegie Art Center in Tonawanda and the third Sunday at Rust Belt Books. Readings begin at 7pm and up to ten people can sign up to read for five minutes. On the first Thursday of the month, Just Buffalo and the Center for Inquiry in Amherst host a third open reading. This year’s new host is Perry Nicholas.

>Interdisciplinary Series<

Just Buffalo’s interdisciplinary series brings together writing with other displines, primarily music. Hosted by the fabulous Joyce Carolyn, these readings take place about 10 times per year. The season kicks off at the Tralf with, “All That Jazz: A Riff in Words,” featuring the Eastman Quintet from Williamsburg, Brooklyn and Buffalo poets Celes Tisdale and Lonnie Harrel, September 22, 8pm, $10. Visit www.justbuffalo.org for more info.

>Spotlight on Youth<

Spotlight on Youth is another open reading series sponsored by Just Buffalo and many other organizations. Kids 12-18 are encouraged to bring any form of artwork—writing, painting, photos, dance numbers, songs, music, anything to these jam-packed quarterly events. The two fall events take place on September 19 and November 14, both at 6:30pm, at Planned Parenthood of WNY, 2697 Main St.

>Communiqué<

Forrest Roth, who edits the Flash Fiction for artvoice, continues his series presenting short, short fiction at Rust Belt Books. Two readings will take place this fall. Deb Olin Unferth and Gary Lutz (returning for an encore after a great reading last year) read on November 1 and BOA editions editor and writer Thom Ward will read on November 29. All readings begin at 7pm.

>new/reNEW Series<

Ryki Zuckerman of Earth’s Daughters is going to be running as many series as Just Buffalo itself before long. She decided she wanted more readings and will now be kicking off the “new/reN.E.W.” series. “new” refers to the non-gray-haired poetry set, while N.E.W. stands for “Niagara Erie Writers,” the aforementioned demographic of the silver lock. new/reN.E.W. kicks off on September 20 with Mike Basinski (N.E.W.) and Karlen Chase (new) at 7pm at Impact Artists Gallery in the Tri Main Center.

GRAY HAIR READING SERIES

The “Gray Hair Series” is Zuckerman’s and Earth’s Daughters original reading series, and it generally features poets of a certain demographic defined by its silvery tresses. It continues its successful run at Hallwalls Cinema at the Church on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm. The fall season starts off with a reading by Arts Council Director Celeste Lawson and poet Barbara Holender.

POETIC PLUS AT UB

The UB Poetics program, headed by poet Steve McCaffrey, continues to bring in exciting experimental and avant-garde poets from around the world, as well as presenting events featuring student work. The season kicks off with a graduate student reading on September 8 at 8pm at Rust Belt Books. There’s a triple launch of student sponsored publications: P-Queue, Damn the Caesars and Pilot, September 28 at 8pm at Big Orbit Gallery. British poet Allen Fisher returns for the first time since 1997, October 9 at 1pm in 420 Capen Hall at UB. Boston Review editor and poet Timothy Donnelly, October 19 at 7:30pm at Hallwalls and poet and editor Paul Hoover also reads at Hallwalls on December 5 at 7:30pm. The annual Oscar Silverman Reading at UB features former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass on Friday, November 9 at 8pm, 250 Baird Hall, UB. The highlight of the UB season is a reading, jointly sponsored by the Poetics Program and Exhibit X Fiction, by this year’s National Book Award Winning poet, Nathaniel Mackey. A great poet and a great reader—don’t miss it!

THE WRITE THING

AT MEDAILLE COLLEGE

Curators Ethan Paquin and Ted Pelton’s series of fiction and poetry writers presents an array of interesting talent this season. West Coast poet Joseph Lease kicks off the series on September 20, followed by Moroccan novelist and critic Anouar Majid on October 11. Fiction writer Aimee Parkison, October 25. Poet Maxine Chernoff, December 6. All events begin at 7pm and take place in the library at Huber Hall.

CANISIUS COLLEGE

CONTEMPORARY

WRITERS SERIES

Mick Cochrane hosts this series, which begins the year with acclaimed fiction writer Brock Clarke in the Grupp Fireside Lounge of the Richard E. Winter ‘42 Student Center on Tuesday, September 25 at 7pm.

ROOFTOP POETRY CLUB

Librarian Lisa Forrest has been running a great series featuring local and not-so-local writers on the roof of Buffalo State’s Butler Library for the past year. As it is scheduled irregularly, it’s best to visit the Web site to see what’s on the horizon. It’s also worth checking out the audio archive she has created of past events. All the readings are available as podcasts for streaming or download at http://www.buffalostate.edu/library/rooftop/.

TALKING LEAVES…BOOKS

Buffalo’s best independent bookstore hosts readings and book signings throughout the year. Talking Leaves is sponsoring readings by Sara Schulman as part of UB Gender Week, September 23 at 3pm at Hallwalls and September 24 at 4 pm in 120 Clemens Hall at UB. Short story writer Rishi Reddi reads and signs from her book Karma and Other Stories on October 18 at 7 pm at the Main Street Store.

SCREENING ROOM

READING SERIES

This venerable local open reading series founded by the late Rosemary Kothe meets the third Wednesday of each month at 7:15 (sign-up time) at the Screening Room. 3131 Sheridan Drive. Admission $2.

SPOKEN WORD SUNDAYS

Allen Street Hardware is host to Liz Mariani’s new spoken word series. This is an open reading series that meets every Sunday at 8pm and features open readings and local featured readers. Sign-up is at 7:45pm.

TRU-TEAS POETRY

AT THE TEA ROOM SERIES

Trudy Stern, proprietor of this great addition to the Elmwood Village scene, hosts this open reading series the first Sunday of every month at 4pm in the Insite gallery behind Tru-teas on Elmwood Avenue, hosted by Trudy Stern.