The Edinburgh International Book Festival pitches camp in Charlotte Square Gardens this year between 9th and 25th August, hosting a staggering 800 authors from around the world. The quality and range of authors always draws wide interest, and this year is no exception. Following the launch of ticket sales last month, heavy traffic made the web site inaccessible for a while and a good number of events have already sold out.

Even though tickets for many of the big draws such as Salman Rushdie, Sean Connery (launching his biography written by friend and filmmaker Murray Grigor), Margaret Atwood, and Ian Rankin and the "Mystery Guest" are no longer available, EdinburghGuide.com's picks reveal plenty of events of interest which still have tickets available.

Politics and World Affairs

Foreign political commentators and journalists offer their perspectives on some of the pressing concerns of contemporary world politics. Robert Kagan (22 August 3.30pm), American political commentator and foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain should present quite a different set of questions to those offered by Lawrence Freedman & David Ryan (18 August 12 noon) who look at US foreign policy in the Middle East and particularly in Iraq as part of the War and Terror thematic grouping of events. British involvement is covered by Solomon Hughes, Jeremy Scahill and Bob Shepherd (19 August 11.00am, Peppers Theatre), who look at corporate profiteering, mercenary firm Blackwater, and other commercial security companies.

Particularly topical is the East and West series exploring relations between the west and the Islamic world. Events of note include Jane Frere, Ilan Pappe and Raja Shehadeh (9 August 3.30pm) who focus on the exodus of the Palestinian population on the 60^th anniversary of the founding of Israel. Russell Razzaque (9 August 12.30pm) looks at the rise of Islamic suicide bombing.

A number of correspondents report from conflict zones around the world. James Fergusson & Sean Rayment (15 August 11.00am) bring journalists' accounts of the British involvement in Afghanistan, including testimonies from the soldiers in the killing zones of Helmand. In remembrance of assassinated Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, Arkady Babchenko and Åsne Seierstad (24 August 12 noon) offer a soldier's account of life at the front line, and a correspondent's perspective on the effects of war on Chechyna. Matthew Green (10 August 11.00am, Peppers Theatre), Reuters journalist, investigates Joseph Kony, the infamous leader of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army in The Wizard of the Nile: The Hunt for Africa's Most Wanted.

This year's Focus on China theme has provoked early interest, with sold-out events by Tianaman Square protestor Diane Wei Liang, Chiew-Siah Tei, and analysts Mark Leonard and Rana Mitter. You can still find your way into the conversation, however, with Orange short-listed Xialu Guo Xiaolu Guo (17 August 6.45pm) who draws on her own experience as a film-maker in her novel, 20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth about a young woman who travels 1800 miles from her dusty village to seek her fortune. Another option is Yiyun Li (11 August 7.00pm) with her acclaimed collection of stories, A ThousandYears of Good Prayers. She talks about her writing and the challenges of being a writer in exile.

For non-fiction, Sun Shuyun (25 August 6.45pm) offers A Year In Tibet, her personal account of a remote Tibetan village known for its anti-Chinese stance. Jonathan Fenby, John Keay & John Man (12 August 12 noon) provide expert insight into a broad range of Chinese historical development.

Fiction

If famous authors of fiction draw your attention, tickets are still available (at the time of writing) for the following: Louis de Bernières, Julian Barnes, Tony Parsons, Anne Enright, James Kelman, Irvine Welsh, Alan Sillitoe and Will Self (24 August 1.30pm) brings his new post-9/11 dystopic novel, The Butt.

Personal Picks

Hanif Kureishi (17 August 11.30am), author of The Buddha of Suburbia, presents his latest work, Something to Tell You, which explores love, sex, and race.

David Malouf (23 September 7.00pm, Traverse Theatre) should prove a post-festival treat. This award-winning Australian author, winner of the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, brings his latest collection of stories, Every Move You Make.

New Events

Popular author Alexander McCall Smith (23 August 6.30pm RBS Main Theatre) will appear at this additional time, and Clive James (21 August 11.30am, RBS Main Theatre) returns to the festival.

Scottish Authors

Scottish authors are well-represented at the festival with over 200 names, including the award-winning James Meek (13 August 5.00pm) with the novel We Are Now Beginning Our Descent, based on his own experience as a Guardian war correspondent in Afghanistan. For a more intimate focus, Sophie Cook's (19 August 10.15am) Under the Mountain follows a young girl's introduction to young love.

The Rest

During its August run the Edinburgh Book Festival is like a kind of literary village, with its cafe, book shops, kids area, and pleasant, grassy, outdoor seating area. It doesn't cost anything to go to the book fest, and if you are at a loose end and the sun is out, it's a great place to get between the covers or pick up a free Times newspaper (one of this year's Edinburgh Book Festival sponsors) and plan your next move on the Edinburgh festival at large.

You will also find the Book Festival's Art in the Garden project, which will present a series of works on the theme of climate change by Glasgow School of Art graduate Ric Warren.

Many more themes and authors can be explored at the festival website (see releated links) where you will also find the extensive list of events for children and further details on all events.