BOOKS: EVENTS

BRIGHTON: poets Pamela Wilkie and Jackie Wills read from their collections, Voyager and Powder Tower respectively, at The Media Centre, 9-12 Middle Street, Mon 26, 8pm, pounds 5/pounds 3.50/pounds 2.50. 01273 747086

NORWICH: poet Don Paterson reads from Nil, Nil and God's Gift to Women at the Centre for Creative and Performing Arts, UEA, Tue 27, 7pm, pounds 3.50/pounds 2 (on the door only). 01603 592810

EDINBURGH: Ian Rankin reads from his new Inspector Rebus novel, The Hanging Garden, at James Thin, 53-59 South Bridge, Tue 27, 7pm, free. 0131 556 6743

CANTERBURY: Robert Temple reads from his latest book The Sirius Mystery at Waterstone's, 20/21 St Margaret Street, Thur 29, 7pm, pounds 2. 01227 456343

LONDON: Peter Porter reads from his most recent collection, Dragons in Their Pleasant Places at the Voice Box, Royal Festival Hall, Tue 27, 7.30pm, pounds 4/pounds 2.50. 0171 960 4242

2'Since You've Been Gone' - Walter Mosley's lecture on race relations in the twentieth century, chaired by Paul Boateng, is part of Radio 3's Sounding the Century festival at the Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, Wed 28, 7.30pm, pounds 6/pounds 3.50. 0171 960 4242

2'Miracles and Machines: Technology and the Imagination' - novelists, poets and scientists scrutinise technology and its effects from the 19th to the 21st century. 'Incendiary Violence', David Bradshaw on flying machines (12 noon); 'Miracles and Machines', Doron Swade on Babbage's Difference Engine (3pm); 'Pandemonium', Kevin Jackson on Humphrey Jenning's book (5pm); 'Dawn of the Digital', Sadie Plant on technoculture (7.30pm). All at the Voice Box, Royal Festival Hall, Sat 31, pounds 4/pounds 2.50 (per event). 0171 960 4242.