Thursday 1/4

HUGO HOUSE TEACHER'S READING
A bunch of people who teach at Hugo House read their work. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. Free. 6 pm.

LAURA LEIST
Leist talks about her book Eliminate Chaos, which sounds relaxing (and is scientifically not possible). Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park), 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333. Free. 7 pm.

RAY LARSON
The author of The Flora of Seattle in 1850: Major Species and Landscapes of Seattle Prior to Urban Development gives a lecture about plant matters. Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 NE 41ST. Free. 7 pm.

Friday 1/5

JOHN RINGO
Under the Breach is the fourth adventure novel in a series about an ex-Navy Seal. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

recommended CLEAN ELECTIONS FORUM
This is a forum on political campaign financing featuring David Sirota, author of Hostile Takeover: How Big Business Bought Our Government and How to Take It Back, as well as legislators from Washington and other places. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 652-4255. $5 suggested donation. 7:30 pm.

P. ANNA JOHNSON
She reads from Australia Years: The Life of a Nuclear Migrant, a memoir about moving to Australia during the Cold War out of fear of the bomb. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

Saturday 1/6

MOME: THE NEW GUARD
Tonight's the opening of an exhibition of work by young graphic artists, including Sophie Crumb, Zak Sally, Tim Hensely, Jeffery Brown, and others. Fantagraphic Bookstore and Gallery, 1201 S. Vale Street, 658-0110. Free. 5 pm.

JENNIFER OULLETTE
The science writer reads from The Physics of the Buffyverse, about science and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

Monday 1/8

recommended EDWIDGE DANTICAT
The Haitian fiction writer—critically celebrated, weighed down by prizes, a New Yorker contributor, etc.—talks about her life and work at this Seattle Arts & Lectures event. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 215-4747. $25 general admission. 7 pm.

Tuesday 1/9

CRANKY 8 RELEASE READING
A bunch of cranky poet types—plus John Olson—read their contributions to the so-so local literary journal. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030. $5. 7 pm.

DAVID WEBER
The author reads from his churchy fantasy novel Off Armageddon Reef. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400. Free. 7 pm.

recommended VALENTINO ACHAK DENG
The subject of Dave Eggers's new novel reads from it. He is in his 20s. He is from Sudan. The novel is called What is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng. Here's Michael Upchurch, in the Seattle Times: "There is something distinctive about the voice, something that catches you a little off-guard, in the book's very first sentence: 'I have no reason not to open the door, so I open the door.' The doors both actual and imaginative that spring open in Dave Eggers' What is the What lead into territory few American readers will be familiar with.... With its perfect blend of epic sweep and small, intimate moments, its stands worthily alongside the best work of Chinua Achebe, Amos Tutuola, and Ben Okri." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

Wednesday 1/10

recommended JOAN BURBICK
The author gives a talk—based on her book Gun Show Nation: Gun Culture and American Democracy—about "the social, legal and political history of gun culture, and its current re-emergence as a 'civil right' for certain classes of (primarily white) American men." Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 652-4255. $5. 7:30 pm.

RAE MEADOWS
Calling Out is a novel involving Mormon women. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600. Free. 7:30 pm.

Open Mic

MELLOW MONDAYS Poetry, a little music, and happy hour prices for poets and their friends at Bai Pai Thai, 2316 NE 65th St Ste 101, 527-4800. Free. 8 pm. POETSWEST Featured readers and an open mic at Ballard Library, 5614 22nd Ave NW, 682-1268 for info. Free. 4 pm. SCRATCHING POST Poetry open mic, all ages; signup at 7:30 pm at Mr. Spots Chai House, 5463 Leary Ave NW, 297-2424. Free. Thurs, 8 pm. SEATTLE POETRY SLAM Every Tuesday at ToST, 513 N 36th St., 547-0240. $5. Tues, 8 pm. SEATTLE SPIT Featured readers and an open mic. First Thursday of every month at 8 pm. at The Wild Rose, 1021 E Pike St, 324-9210. Free. First Thurs, 8 pm.