by Traci Vogel

EUGENE CERNAN

Eugene Cernan was The Last Man on the Moon -- and with the help of co-author Don Davis, the story of his status is turned into an insider memoir, full of gossip on the personalities that surrounded him, and tales of harrowing machismo. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 1:30 pm, free.

LAURA SEWALL, PH.D.

The emerging field of ecopsychology is based on the obvious premise that man's mental health is not separable from the health of his natural environment. In Sight and Sensibility: The Ecopsychology of Perception, pioneer scholar Laura Sewall writes about this inextricability and its resonance in a future that promises less and less access to nature. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.

CAROLYN SERVID & DONALD SNOW

The Book of the Tongas depicts eerie, foggy landscapes -- a hell of a place to live -- where you might find the sublime in rotting logs and landfalls. Servid & Snow have done a marvelous coffee table anthology packed with both melancholy and anthropology. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

JACK CADY

Retired to Port Townsend, a person would have plenty of time to thumb through his scholarly library and compile an era-sweeping anthology of American literary history -- which is just what Jack Cady has done with The American Writer: Shaping a Nation's Mind. A very personal, quick introduction by an ex-UW professor. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

RODNEY ROMNEY

Something called Wilderness Spirituality (is this like ecopsychology?) drives Seattle First Baptist Church pastor Rodney Romney's book, presented here as part of the Seattle Spiritual Reading Series, co-sponsored by Seattle First Baptist Church (hmm). Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

LINDA ANDREWS, KEVIN MILLER

Once again, the most delightful Open Books: A Poem Emporium treats local poetry royally, featuring Governor's Award-winning Linda Andrews and her book, Escape of the Bird Women, alongside Bainbridge poet Kevin Miller, whose most recent collection is Everywhere Was Far. I stupidly missed listing their showcase of Clifford Burke way back on the 10th, so won't you go and send my apologies? Open Books, 2515 N 45th, 633-0811, 7:30 pm, free.

FRIDAY 11/19

*GORE VIDAL

Vidal once said, "There is no human problem that could not be solved if people would simply do as I advise" -- a remark that's illuminated by another quotation: "In America, the race goes to the loud, the solemn, the hustler. If you think you are a great writer, you must say that you are." Intelligent cynicism on display tonight, as part of the University Book Store's Centennial Reading Series. Get there early. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 634-3400, 7:30 pm, free (tickets).

TERRY BROOKS

Haggard John Ross catches a gypsy morph -- a shape-changing, wild-magic creature -- and must attempt to harness its power so that he and Nest can turn to the Word before Gask, and escape the Void. If any of this makes sense to you, you won't want to miss fantasy master Terry Brooks reading from his newest, Angel Fire East. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 6:30 pm, free.

PAUL MATTHEWS

British poet Paul Matthews, author of the collection The Ground That Love Seeks, brings creative language to the Hugo House while teaching this weekend, and also reads at Elliott Bay from his newest work. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5:30 pm, free.

DEREK HAYES

People who are obsessed with maps are frequently charming; I think we may safely say that Vancouver map-maven Derek Hayes, progenitor of the generous and beautiful Historical Atlas of the Pacific Northwest: Maps of Explorations and Discovery, which collects over 320 original maps of our area, is a fascinating fellow. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

*RAVEN CHRONICLES

Contributors to the newest issue of the great and innovative local lit rag, The Raven Chronicles, read to celebrate its issuance. Readers will include Sharon Carter, Jo Nelson, Paul Nelson, Cathy Ruiz, Diane Westergaard, and more. Northwest Spokenword Lab, 14 S Division St, Auburn, 323-4316, 6 pm, free.

ALEIDA RODRIGUEZ

Rodriguez brings a slew of awards to the book jacket of her poetry collection, Garden of Exile, promising bilingual richness in a promising debut. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.

*JUDITH THURMAN

See Book Review Revue, page 39. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.

PADMA HEJMADI

A beautiful and obtuse little gift book, Room to Fly: A Transcultural Memoir proposes to bring together East and West, mixing Hejmadi's own personal memories with musings on art and literature. Hejmadi's writing has been anthologized in Rushdie's Mirrorwork: Fifty Years of Indian Writing. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

MICKEY O'CONNOR

A multimedia evening includes Chicago's O'Connor reading "fractured" poetry, alongside filmmaker Martha Colburn's newest creations, and the eclectic sounds of jazz-fusion trio Tactile. Cinema 18, 1412 18th Ave at Union, 860-8590, 9 pm, $5.

*MARCI BLACKMAN

Po Man's Child grips you with a hand whose nails have not been trimmed in a long, long time. The tale of a sadomasochistic woman whose family keeps cropping up like exposed nerve endings, Blackman's prose is rendered even more dangerous via her own performance of it. She was last seen here as part of Sister Spit. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.

GLORIA BURGESS

Edmonds-based poet Gloria Burgess promises a sleepy afternoon of beauty and richness, reading from her newest collection, Journey of the Rose. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 4:30 pm, free.

MARK JUDE POIRIER

Freaky people, à la David Foster Wallace's early fiction, are given voice in Poirier's promising debut short story collection, Naked People. Poirier manages, unlike Wallace, to draw them out, although he still falls prey to the preciousness found at the edge of freakdom. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5:30 pm, free.

JACK CADY

See listing for Thurs, 11/18. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

JOE KURMASKIE

Travel down bumpy roads with Joe Kurmaskie's Metal Cowboy: Tales from the Road Less Pedaled. Kurmaskie shares his stories in a narrative described as "Dave Barr and Charles Kuralt squeezed together on a bicycle." Hmm. Wide World Books & Maps, 4411A Wallingford Ave N, 634-3453, 7:30 pm, free.

INDIRA GANESAN

Child of the East Indian fiction boom, Ganesan brings her charming storytelling to a second novel, Inheritance, which follows life on Pi, a tiny imaginary island off the coast of India, as seen through the eyes of 15-year-old narrator Sonil. Elliott Bay Books, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

OPEN MIC

Note to regularly programmed open mics: The Stranger will list events only if we receive an announcement -- regular listings will be dropped unless we are notified that the events are in fact ongoing.

665

If you've been counting the days until this reading series returns, this is your lucky day. Hosted by Sarah Sharp, with featured readers adding to the mix. Four Angels Cafe, 1400 14th Ave at Union, 264-5139, 7:30 signup, free.

THE PEARL

Turn irritation into beauty: bring fiction, poetry, film, or drama. Every first Thursday celebrates Dead Poets. The Pearl, 4215 University Way NE, 547-3326, 8 pm, free.

SPOKEN WORD

Each and every Thursday, this venerable Pioneer Square venue spotlights music, poetry, and comedy. Pioneer Square Saloon, 73 Yesler Way, 624-6444, 8:30 pm, free.

RED SKY POETRY THEATER

Seattle's longest-running reading series turns 19 this season. Celebrate with Paul Nelson and dancer/choreographer Stephanie Skura, in a debut of their poetry/movement collaboration Meat Again. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th off Pine, 633-5647, 7:30 pm, donation.

THIRD PLACE BOOKS OPEN MIC

A place to share poetry; all are welcome, but swear words are discouraged (it's a family bookstore, for Christ's sake). Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 7 pm, free.

HOMELAND

Hosted by Circus and friends, "Seattle's own Little Bohemia" emerges from a hiatus transformed. The Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave at Pike, 264-5139, 7:30 signup, free.

SEATTLE POETRY SLAM

With a new venue and a new night, Seattle's biggest poetry slam is alive and kickin'. Tonight, arm yourself for the 4th Annual Haiku D'Etat! Rupert's, 309 First Ave S, 628-7703, www.seattlepoetryslam.org, 9 pm, $3.

CATHARTICISM

Come to confess your sins, stay for a cookie. Open mic for poetry, stories, music, rants, and more. Tonight features the ever-lovin' "Poetry Schlamm." Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 860-7377, 8:30 pm, free.