Stuart Kelly: It's seconds out for literary title fight

The past few days have offered me a unique glimpse into the diversity of that nebulous entity, the "book world". On Wednesday night, Aravind Adiga, winner of last year's Man Booker Prize, gave a reading at Blackwell's on South Bridge. It was, technically, a "sell out", especially since Adiga isn't appearing at the Edinburgh Book Festival this year – an audience of around 60. It began well, with Adiga reminiscing about fighting with an acquaintance in a pub outside Gla

At Ocean Terminal the Sunday before, the audience was over 650, with rumours of 2,000 at the Glasgow event before. Who was the author? The wrestler Bret "The Hitman" Harte, above. His memoirs (based on audio diaries, like Tony Benn's) were delayed after he suffered a stroke in 2002, and are actually a compelling read. My brother Gordon and I queued with the rest as he regaled me with tales of other wrestlers – apparently the Ultimate Warrior now tours American campuses to discuss the dangers of homosexuality. The Hitman signed for two hours longer than scheduled, and spoke to each fan personally. At Blackwell's, the audience was the usual preponderance of grey hairs – but at Ocean Terminal it was young men, the very demographic most elusive for book events. Directors of the country's book festivals, take heed: Spandex may save your box offices.

Festival bids farewell

Speaking of book festivals, you will probably be aware that Catherine Lockerbie is standing down as director of the Edinburgh event. The Browser wishes her well in her new role, and congratulates her on nine remarkable years.

Great minds of stone

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Did you know that Edinburgh's statues have started talking to each other? If you go to www.mediascot.org/cut-throatbandits you'll find the likes of Hume, Scott, Adam Smith and Burns engaged in debate, using only their own published words. You can follow their escapades on Twitter and Brightkite –look out for Darwin riling poor old James Clerk Maxwell.