NEW YORK - In case you're wondering which books to read this fall, Michael Moore has a suggestion: Don't read any.

   Not the new fiction by Toni Morrison or Philip Roth or Stephen King. policy by Sen. Barack Obama, whom Moore is supporting for president; or Bob Woodward's latest on the Bush administration; or Thomas Friedman's manifesto on the environment.

   Not even a little paperback meant as a handbook to the political campaigns. It's called "Mike's Election Guide 2008" and it's written by a certain Academy Award-winning filmmaker and well-known agitator - Moore.

   "There really is no time for any frivolity. People are already working two jobs to put gas in the tank, so they can drive from the first job to the second job. People need to spend as much of their free time as possible for candidates," says Moore.

   But a multibillion-dollar industry has been built around such "frivolity." Booksellers, including officials at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble Inc., say that fall releases look surprisingly strong for a time when the public will supposedly be too preoccupied to care. Barnes & Noble fiction buyer Sessalee Hensley says the literary work is as good as any in recent years, while Amazon's senior books editor, Brad Parsons, finds a "nice mix" of fiction and nonfiction.

   Some books might even appeal to two people likely to be among the busiest on Earth this fall: Obama, the Democrats' presumptive nominee, and his presumed Republican opponent, Sen. John McCain.

   McCain has said he's a fan of John Updike, who will be releasing "The Widows of Eastwick," his sequel to the best-selling "The Witches of Eastwick." Three writers cited favorably by Obama will have novels out: Marilynne Robinson, whose "Home" is a companion to her Pulitzer Prize-winning "Gilead"; Morrison, with "A Mercy," set on a plantation in the 17th century; and Roth, whose "Indignation" takes place on a Midwestern college campus in the 1950s.

   Other anticipated titles include Kate Atkinson's "When Will There Be Good News?" - the new literary crime thriller from the author of "Case Histories." Wally Lamb, author of "She's Come Undone," has completed his first novel in a decade, "The Hour I First Believed." Pulitzer Prize winner Annie Proulx has a new story collection, "Fine Just the Way It Is." Booksellers also are hopeful about "2666," by the late Chilean author Roberto Bolaño, whose "Savage Detectives" was a critical and commercial success last year.

   Some fiction fits right into an election year, such as Christopher Buckley's "Supreme Courtship," a satire of the judicial branch, and Curtis Sittenfeld's "American Wife," which fictionalizes first lady Laura Bush. Sittenfeld, author of the best-seller "Prep," continues a tradition of novelists imagining the private lives of American leaders, like such recent works as Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Olen Butler's "Intercourse," a story collection that includes a peek into the bedroom of the current first couple.

   Familiar names such as King, Michael Crichton, Candace Bushnell, Gregory Maguire, Dennis Lehane, Nelson DeMille, David Baldacci and Vince Flynn will be back. Sister Souljah has written a sequel to "The Coldest Winter Ever," which helped kick off the "Urban Lit" phenomenon. Anne Rice has a new book, "Called Out of Darkness," a memoir that details her Christian faith and its influence on her vampire novels.

   Publishers did hold some books until after Election Day, such as Patrick Tyler's "A World of Trouble," a history of presidents and the Middle East that Farrar, Straus & Giroux will publish in December. Around the same time, Collins will release "My Word is My Bond," a memoir by actor Sir Roger Moore.

   Three September releases that won't be overlooked: Obama's "Change We Can Believe In," a policy book and collection of speeches; Woodward's fourth volume about the Bush administration; and Friedman's "Hot, Flat and Crowded," his first since the million-selling "The World Is Flat."

   Topical works are scheduled from Moore, Paul Begala and Ann Coulter. Topical thoughts will be transmitted from ancient times through Garry Wills' translation of epigrams by the Roman satirist Martial.

   Scholastic Inc., the U.S. publisher of the Harry Potter books, starts a new series this fall, "The 39 Clues," 10 planned novels by 10 authors, packaged with multimedia games, contests and trading cards, enhanced by a movie deal with Steven Spielberg. A well-established franchise, Christopher Paolini's "Inheritance" fantasy series continues with "Brisingr."

   Abraham Lincoln's bicentennial is not until February, but fall offers a warmup for the deluge: John Stauffer's "Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln"; Harold Holzer's "Lincoln President-Elect" and "Tried by War," by James M. McPherson, a Pulitzer Prize winner and leading Civil War historian who thinks, despite thousands of books about the president, that Lincoln's war leadership deserves more attention.

   Alice Schroeder's "The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life" is an authorized biography of the billionaire investor. David Hackett Fisher, winner of the Pulitzer for "Washington's Crossing," has written "Champlain's Dream," about the founding of Quebec.

   The Library of America will honor poet John Ashbery with a volume of his early work, a rare tribute to a living artist. The letters between Robert Lowell and Elizabeth Bishop, celebrated poets and equally intense correspondents, have been compiled. Poet Jay Parini has written "Promised Land: 13 Books That Changed America," including essays about "On the Road," "The Feminine Mystique" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

   A ritual for any season: celebrities telling all. Ted Turner gets personal in "Call Me Ted," Alec Baldwin sounds off on parenthood and divorce in "A Promise to Ourselves," Prince takes you on stage for "21 Nights" and Maureen McCormick adds to the minimountain of "Brady Bunch" literature with "Here's the Story." Memoirs also are coming from Eminem and Tony Curtis. Bill O'Reilly's new book is called "A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity." Don Rickles, 82 and fresher than ever, is working on a book of letters that should be out in November.

FALL BOOKS 

FICTION

"Divine Justice," David Baldacci, the latest thriller from the author of "Absolute Power." "2666," Roberto Bolaño, a five-part epic from the late author of the acclaimed "Savage Detectives."

"Supreme Courtship," Christopher Buckley, a political satire by the author of "Thank You for Smoking." "Just After Sunset," Stephen King, short stories from the horror master.

"The Hour I First Believed," Wally Lamb, a 700-page novel by the author of "She's Come Undone." "The Given Day," Dennis Lehane, a Boston-based epic from the author of "Mystic River." "A Lion Among Men," Gregory Maguire, more "Wicked"-ness from the author of "Wicked." "A Mercy," Toni Morrison, a short novel by the Nobel laureate about a 17th-century plantation. "Brisingr," Christopher Paolini, more from the million-selling "Inheritance" fantasy series.

"The Hour I First Believed," Annie Proulx, stories from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "The Shipping News."

"The 39 Clues: Maze of Bones," Rick Riordan, the first of a multivolume, multimedia fantasy series. "Home," Marilynne Robinson, a companion to Robinson's Pulitzer Prize winning "Gilead." "Indignation," Philip Roth, life lessons on a Midwestern campus in the 1950s. "American Wife," Curtis Sittenfeld, the author of "Prep" fictionalizes the life of Laura Bush.

"The Widows of Eastwick," John Updike, a sequel to his "The Witches of Eastwick."

NONFICTION

"A Promise to Ourselves," Alec Baldwin, the actor's thoughts on parenting and divorce.

"The World Is What It Is," Patrick French, the authorized biography of Nobel laureate V.S. Naipaul.

"Hot, Flat and Crowded," Thomas Friedman, a call for environmental action from the million-selling author of "The World Is Flat." "The Outliers," Malcolm Gladwell, the author of "Blink" ponders the meaning of success.

"The Longest Trip Home," John Grogan, a memoir by the author of "Marley & Me." "Here's the Story," Maureen McCormick, all the news from the "Brady Bunch" actress. "Tried by War," James M. McPherson, the Pulitzer Prizewinning historian reviews the military leadership of Abraham Lincoln.

"Mike's Election Guide 2008," Michael Moore, an election handbook, with jokes, from the Academy Award-winning filmmaker.

"John Lennon: The Life," Philip Norman, an 800-page biography by the author of "Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation."

"Change We Can Believe In," Obama for America, policy statements and speeches from Sen. Barack Obama and his campaign staff.

"Called Out of Darkness," Anne Rice, a memoir about faith by the author of "Interview With the Vampire." "The Snowball," Alice Schroeder, an authorized biography of billionaire investor Warren Buffett. "Call Me Ted," Ted Turner, the famed media mogul tell his story.