ARTS& ENTERTAINMENT Hanging Oct with the Dream King: Neil Gaiman at the Vancouver Public Library, October 6 Sajia Kabir, OP Contributor Neil Gaiman looked pleased when he saw that only 75 people had shown up for his reading at the Vancouver Public Library. “It means,” he explained, “there will only be 75 people’s books for me to sign.” Most writers would love to have Gaiman’s prob- lem of having to sign thousands of books for reams of adoring fans. Success hasn’t spoiled the best- selling author of the groundbreaking Sandman comics, the children’s book Coraline, and his new novel, Anansi Boys, which last week debuted at num- ber one on the New York Times bestseller list. At the start of the reading, he gently pointed fans at the back of the room to empty seats near the front. Gaiman, famous for usually being dressed com- pletely in black, wore a CBGB’s t-shirt; he had done a benefit reading at the legendary rock club a couple of weeks back to help stop it from being shut down. He joked that he had attained his adolescent dream of headlining CBGB’s without having to make any records. He then proceeded to read in his dry British accent the first chapter of Anansi Boys. This section deals with the embarrassments faced by the protago- nist Fat Charlie—not really that fat—at the hands of his father Mr Nancy, who he doesn’t know is actually the West African spider god and trickster par excel- lence, Anansi. After the reading, Gaiman was interviewed by John Burns, book editor of the Georgia Straight (which organized the event with the CBC-radio book club), and then took part in a Q/A session with a few fans. Gaiman talked extensively about the writ- ing process: how deadlines, like the prospect of hanging, concentrate the mind wonderfully, the perils of trying to attain perfection, and how—without him being aware of it—certain themes repeated themselves in his novels. All the questions and answers were intriguing, but I would have preferred some more reading from some of his other work. Nevertheless, Neil Gaiman was a gracious speaker and I look forward to seeing Mirrormask—the film he made for the Jim Henson company with artist Dave McKeane—when it gets a widespread release. Iain W. Reeve, Internet Super-Highway Hitchhiker Shopgiel Starring Steve Martin and Claire bie When Mirabelle (Danes) is seduced Ray Porter (Martin), a wealthy and caring older man, her life takes a much-needed turn for the better. But in time, she must make a choice between Ray and Jeremy (Schwartzman), a struggling musician closer to her age...but maybe not to her heart. October 21 North Country Starring Charlize Theron and Frances McDormand A fictionalized account of Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines, the first major suc- cessful sexual harassment case in the United States, where a fernale miner (Theron) who endures a ed of abuses files a landmark lawsuit. - a ai Doom Starring a bunch of no ssieou goons In the year 2145, a group of Marines on Phobos, one of Mars’ moons, face off against monsters who infiltrate their base after an experiment goes—gasp—seriously awry. October 21 Cuff the Duke w/ Old Soul The Lamplighter Pub Oct. 19 @ 9pm Tix $11 available at Scratch, Zulu, and Red Cat Judas Priest Pacific Coliseum Oct. 23 @ 7:30pm Tix $34.50-—59.50 available at Ticketmaster Depeche Mode GM Place Nov. 15 @ 8pm Tix $59.50—89,50 available at Ticketmaster Theatre The Diary of Anne Frank An adaptation of the classic about a young girl who kept a diary in a Nazi concentration camp. Stanley Theatre Sept. 22—Oct. 23 - Tix $24.75—59.50, call 604.687.1644. _ Mom’s The Word 2: Unhinged: Tales from the Front Lines of Motherhood Granville Island Stage Oct. 12—Nov. 12 Tix $25—35.50, call 604.280.3311 Little Mercy’s First Murder Film noir musical fantastique Touchstone Theatre Nov, 3—12 Tix available at 604.709.9973 or www.touchstonetheatre.,com Campus Events The Amelia Douglas Gallery presents Boris Sichons collection of instruments from around the world Featuring photographs by Ian Joyce Sept. 22—Noy. 5, Opening reception September 22 @ 2—5:30pm, Artists talk September 23 @ 12—1pm For Gallery times, call 604.527.5495. Douglas College Departments of Theatre and Stagecraft Present: Les Belles Souers November 4—12 @ 7:30pm Talkback performances Nov. 7 @ lpm and Nov. 8 @ 7:30pm _ Matinee performances Nov. 7 @ lpm and Nov. 12 @ 2pm Douglas College Departments of Theatre and Stagecraft Present: Frankenstein November 12—19 @ 7:30pm Talkback performances Noy. 14 @ 1pm and Noy. 15 @ Matinee performance Nov. 19 @ 2pm @ 7:30pm