Michael Chabon at Northwestern, free books at Columbia

April 13, 9:03 AMChicago Literary Scene ExaminerRobert Duffer

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It might've been a pleasure to burn for Guy Montag but it's an even greater pleasure to get free copies of the book he stars in throughout April. You can get a free copy of Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury's 1953 classic parable on subversion and the redemption of individual thought, at any of The Big Read sponsored events at Columbia College Chicago, which are all FREE and open to the public.

Tonight's panel (Monday, 4/13/09) is "Burning Bright: A Dialogue on Creative Freedom in the Age of New Media(624 S. Michigan, 3rd floor of the library)." In their words:  "Local and national artists and theorists from across a range of creative disciplines discuss how governmental, corporate and self-censorship impact creative expression. Panelists include: Steve Edwards, former host of WBEZ's 848 and current acting program director for the station; new media artist Stacia Yeapanis; Dr. Al Gini, professor of Business Ethics at Loyola University; hip hop artist and DJ Sundance of WVAZ-102.7FM; and Los Angeles political artist Karen Fiorito via conference call. Moderated by Cole Robertson."

Tomorrow night (Tuesday, 4/14/09) Sam Weller will discuss his Bradbury biography, The Bradbury Chronicles", at 7pm at 1104 S. Wabash Ave., 8th fl. Check out the exclusive Examiner interview with Weller on the story behind the biography: how his vomitatious bout with food poisoning during his first interview with this American literary legend turned into the biography and an enduring freindship. According to Weller, it's the first time the story has been told in print or pixel.

Up north at 7:30pm tonight in Evanston, Pulitzer-winning novelist Michael Chabon lectures and signs books as part of Northwestern University's "Great Authors Series"(2001 N. Sheridan Road, Evanston Campus). Chabon had a lot of literary success (The Wonder Boys, to name one) before The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Klay won the 2001 Pulitzer. It's the only novel I've read that captures the vivid dimensions of a comic book through words and words alone. Ambitiously imagined and brilliantly evocative, it's a post World-War II story of two young men, one an escape artist, the other a closeted dreamer, who meet in America and build an empire on their art and love for comics. Chabon will be signing books, including his 2007 critical flop, The Yiddish Policemen's Union. FREE and open to the public.