MORE than 700 reading events will be held around the city during the upcoming Shanghai Book Fair, which will feature prestigious guests including Nobel Prize laureate Svetlana Alexievich and popular science fiction novelist Liu Cixin, the event's organizer said yesterday. Alexievich will talk about her latest book, Second-Hand Time, and exchange ideas with local readers.

The Belarusian journalist and author will hold a seminar in Sinan Mansions next Friday and a book signing in Shanghai Exhibition Center next Saturday.

Meanwhile, 10,000 pocket books containing excerpts from online novels will be handed out to the city's Metro passengers for free during the fair to promote reading on journeys. Each book will have a 30-yuan (US$4.52) Metro card attached to it.