Monday, January 15: The Silence of Our Friends Reading

See our Event of the Week column for more details. Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, 624-6600, http://elliottbaybook.com, 7 pm, free.

Tuesday, January 16: Chain Letter S2 V1: A New Chain

The second year of the popular Chain Letter reading series begins in earnest on Capitol Hill. Tonight’s readers are next month’s event curators. Here are a whole bunch of exciting new names: C.C. Hannett, Ray Stoeve, Brilligh, and J’owl. I don’t know any of these poets, but I’m excited to learn more. Vermillion Art Gallery and Bar, 1508 11th Ave., 709-9797, http://vermillionseattle.com, 7 pm, free.

Wednesday, January 17: Red Clocks Reading

Elliott Bay 7 pm Portland author Leni Zumas’s second novel centers around five women in a post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest where abortion has been made illegal again. For Mike Pence, this is a happy ending; for the rest of us, it’s a nightmare. Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, 624-6600, http://elliottbaybook.com, 7 pm, free.

Thursday, January 18: Her Body and Other Parties Reading

Author Carmen Maria Machado reads from her celebrated debut collection of short stories, Her Body and Other Parties. It’s a book that crosses lines from sci-fi to horror to thriller to odd Law & Order: Special Victims Unit parodies. Seattle Public Library, 1000 4th Ave., 386-4636, http://spl.org, 7 pm, free.

Friday, January 19: Iron Gold Reading

Science fiction author Pierce Brown debuts a new phase of his Red Rising sci-fi series. A war hero finds new relevance in Iron Gold. Tonight, Brown will be in conversation with Seattle-area fantasy author Terry Brooks. University Temple, 1415 NE 43rd St,634-3400, http://www2.bookstore.washington.edu/, 7 pm, $28.

Saturday, January 20: Killing Marias Reading

Seattle’s first Civic Poet, Claudia Castro Luna, is now on her way to becoming Washington State’s next Poet Laureate. Tonight, she reads from her latest collection, which was published late last year by the amazing Two Sylvias press. Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave, 624-6600, http://elliottbaybook.com, 7 pm, free.

Sunday, January 21: Jack Straw Winter Showcase

Jack Straw helps writers and performers better convey their work in live and recorded settings. Tonight, Jack Straw artists including Leilani Lewis, Tai Shan, and ilvs strauss will perform new works intended to showcase the breadth of Jack Straw’s portfolio. Jack Straw Gallery, 4261 Roosevelt Way N.E., 634-0919, http://jackstraw.org, 2 pm, free.