DAN SIMMONS
Simmons (Summer of Night) makes his assumedly welcome return to science fiction with an academic amalgam of technological critique, space epic, and rumination on Homer's Iliad, titled Ilium. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
KATHIE FONG YONEDA
Independent script consultant (a job title that sounds more than a little self-important, if you ask me) Yoneda addresses her recently released guide, The Script-Selling Game, in a conversation with local film... um, guy Warren Etheridge. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
FRIDAY 8/1
ELISE JUSKA
Clogging up the shelves with another neurotic tome in the ever-popular "lonely metropolitan mess" subgenre, Juska presents Getting Over Jack Wagner, the story of an anxious city girl attempting to move beyond her terrible taste in music. Barnes & Noble, 2700 NE University Village, 517-4107, 7 pm, free.
JON KRAKAUER
Krakauer explores religious fundamentalism within the borders of our own country in Under the Banner of Heaven, the story of a gruesome 1984 double murder of a woman and her infant daughter, as perpetrated by her brothers-in-law--two Mormons claiming to be working under the will of God. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
MERCEDES LACKEY, LARRY DIXON
Lackey (Heralds of Valdemar) pens the sixth volume of the Bedlam's Bard series: Mad Maudlin, a tale of a demon who eats homeless children. Here in a rare public appearance with her husband, author Larry Dixon. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
SATURDAY 8/2
MARY DAHEIM
In Hocus Crokus, her latest "bed and breakfast" mystery, Daheim transports her wacky cast of recurring characters to a casino, where a mystery with all of the stark realism of a Scooby-Doo episode unfolds. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737, noon, free. Also, Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.
FERRIES ON PUGET SOUND
This begs some poorly constructed quip about seamen, but I can't seem to muster the energy: Six authors share their works about ferry boats in our region, including Robert Atkins' Nautical Highways, Alan Stein's Safe Passage, Caroly Neal and Tom Janus' Puget Sound Ferries, and Steve Russell's Kalakala. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, noon, free.
DANIEL ROBINSON
Former wildfire fighter Robinson (fighter of wildfires, that is, as Robinson's character remains at presstime undetermined) stays close to home with his debut novel, a tale of loss and guilt called After the Fire. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
SUNDAY 8/3
JANET STERNBURG
Sternburg revisits the last years of her mother's life in Phantom Limb, her latest, examining her mother's relationship with the titular condition that haunted her following an amputation late in life, and its metaphor for loss. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.
KEN SWARNER
Swarner (who, by reports, has been featured in no less than five Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies) takes his syndicated column, The Family Man, to the bookstore with Whose Kids Are These Anyway? True Confessions of a Family Man. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6504 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, 7 pm, free.
MONDAY 8/4
DANIEL HAYES
The young and the inappropriate: Hayes' debut collection, Kissing Me, examines twentysomething "intimacy" by way of sexual detachment, creepy obsession, and other unmentionables. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
TUESDAY 8/5
MICHAEL SIMS
The shell of human mortality gets a thorough once-, twice-, thrice-over in Sims' (Darwin's Orchestra) latest, a collection of noteworthy facts about all of your 2000 parts titled Adam's Navel. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
WEDNESDAY 8/6
AUSTIN CLARKE
Famed Canadian Clarke (Pig Tails 'n Breadfruit) makes his bid for stateside recognition with The Polished Hoe, his latest novel, chronicling the tumultuous life of a respected black matriarch/murder suspect in the Caribbean islands of the 1950s. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
Sold out. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 11 am, free.
BROOKE DOJNY
Following the great fanfare of an appearance by our former first lady, Dojny presents her equally momentous exploration of shellfish preparations, The New England Clam Shack Cookbook. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free.
BHARTI KIRCHNER
Darjeeling author Kirchner returns with a novel, set in Seattle, whose title is a little easier on the tongue: Pastries: A Novel of Desserts and Discoveries. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
* SUBTEXT POETRY READING
This month the still-excellent Subtext series plays host to featured poets Joe Donahue (Incidental Eclipse) and Peter O'Leary (Gnostic Contagion). Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, free.
POETRY/OPEN MICS
HOMELAND--Words. So many words. Tuesdays at 7 pm. Caffe Vita, 1005 E Pike St, 709-4440, free.
POETWEST--Featuring Michael Magee and Jean Musser. Sun Aug 3 at 7 pm. Penny Cafe, 1707 NW Market St, 682-1268, free.
SCRATCHING POST--Poetry open mic, all ages. Thursdays at 8 pm, signup at 7:30 pm. Mr. Spot's Chai House, 5463 Leary Ave NW, 297-2424, free.
SEATTLE POETRY SLAM--Open mic and slam with Karen Finneyfrock. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Bad Juju Lounge, 1518 11th Ave, 709-9951, $4.
WOMEN'S POETRY NIGHT--Spoken word from the fairer sex. Thursdays at 8 pm. The Bar, 1525 E Olive Way, 322-1788, free.
