The Hugo House has announced the lineup for their Hugo Literary Series for 2011-2012. It mostly features local writing talent—Heather McHugh! Sherman Alexie! Megan Kelso! Kevin Sampsell and Lidia Yuknavitch from Portland! Plus more!—paired with some fine local musicians, including members of Visqueen, "Awesome," and Grand Hallway.

The big out-of-town name here is Sam Lipsyte, who is one of the funniest novelists at work today. (My review of his most recent novel, The Ask, is right here.) Themes the writers and musicians will be writing about include "The Haves and the Have Nots;" "While You Were Sleeping;" and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Having seen most of these authors read before, I'd say "While You Were Sleeping" and "The End of the Line" will be the more roundly entertaining of the four nights, though every night has its own very particular high points. Tickets go on sale August 8th, or August 1st for Hugo House members.