*RICK MOODY

Moody, whose critically-acclaimed novels include Garden State, The Ice Storm, and, most recently, Purple America, returns with his second collection of short stories, Demonology. See Stranger Suggests. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main, 624-3400, 7:30 pm, tickets required (available free at store).

*ARTHUR M. SCHLESINGER, JR.

An American historian who has twice won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, Schlesinger will present Seattle Public Library's annual A. Scott Bullitt History Lecture. The retired Harvard history professor and former special assistant to JFK will focus on the extraordinary social and political changes that took place during the past century, because, as a wise man once said, it is only through a knowledge of the past that we can grasp why our future looks so damn grim. First Methodist Church, 811 5th Ave, 386-4103, 7:30 pm, free.

*KEN AULETTA

Reading and book-signing by the author of World War 3.0: Microsoft and Its Enemies, an investigation of Bill Gates' perfidious wrangling to consolidate his flabby-fisted control on the new digital economy, build the most powerful monopoly in the history of capitalism, and turn everyone into google-eyed peons serving the globalized Internet fiefdom. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

HARRIETT WOODS

Woods, a past president of the National Women's Political Process, will discuss her new book, Stepping Up to Power: The Political Journey of American Women. Kane Hall, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, tickets required (available free at University Bookstore).

IT'S ABOUT TIME READING SERIES

Featured readers are Patricia O'Neil, Verlena Orr, Warren Scholl, and Martha Silano, plus an open mic. Seattle Public Library, 5009 Roosevelt Way NE, 727-8875, 6:30 pm, free.

APRIL HENRY

Reading and book-signing by the author of Heart-Shaped Box, a new thriller about a high-school reunion, a secret admirer, and a mysterious homicide. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737, noon, free.

*ANTHONY LOYD

Loyd--a British veteran of the Gulf War currently serving as a special correspondent for The Times of London--will read from and sign his new, critically-acclaimed memoir about the Bosnian conflict, My War Gone By, I Miss It So. Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, tickets required (available free at store).

RICK RIDGEWAY

Reading by the author of Below Another Sky. See Bio Box. REI, 222 Yale Ave N, 467-8793, 7 pm, free.

*DR. OWENS WIWA

Owens is the brother of the late Nigerian author and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. As president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ken Saro-Wiwa mobilized Nigerians to opposed Shell Oil's destruction of Ogoni land; he was executed by the Nigerian military in November of 1995. Owens Wiwa, a doctor and human rights activist, escaped the country only a few days after his brother's murder. He has documented the human rights abuses of the Nigerian army as well as established rural health clinics to minister to the Ogoni people. Like his brother, he is an integral member of MOSOP and has held various posts in the Ogoni movement. Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave, 720-0285, 5:30 pm, $5-$10.

SAM ABELL

Abell--whose photography has been appearing in the pages of National Geographic for over three decades--will present a discussion/slide show based on Seeing Gardens, his new photodocumentary book that captures in pictures and prose a wide variety of imaginatively construed gardens and beautifully wild landscapes. Elliott Bay Book Company, 5 pm, tickets required (available free at store).

RED SKY POETRY THEATRE

Charlie Burks is the featured reader at this installment of Seattle's longest-running reading series, now celebrating its 20th spoken word-errific season. Open mic sign-up begins at 7 pm. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th, 633-5647, 7:30 pm, free.

THREE POETS & AN OPEN MIC

This evening's event will feature readings by Nancy P. Abercrombie, Glen Miller, Victory Lee Shouten, and Douglas Schuder. Hey! Wait just one darn second! Isn't that FOUR POETS!?! Oh, well. Can't have too many poets now, can you? Wit's End Bookstore & Tea Shop, 770 N 34th St, 682-1268, 7 pm, free.

GARY GIDDINS

Giddins--filmmaker, music critic, and author of the National Book Critics Circle Award-winning Visions of Jazz--will read from and discuss Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams, the first volume of his new biography on the legendary pipe-smoking pop crooner from Spokane. Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, tickets required (available free at store).

*JOYCELYN MOODY

Moody, an associate professor of English at the UW, reads from and signs her new book, Sentimental Confessions: Spiritual Narratives of 19th Century African American Women, described as a "groundbreaking study of evangelism, sentimentalism, and nationalism in early American holy women's autobiography." University Bookstore, 7 pm, free.

RADICAL WOMEN STUDY GROUP

Weekly discussion of Making More Waves, an anthology by Asian American women that portrays through poetry and autobiographical essays the experiences of immigrants, activists, youth, and elders. Open to the public. School of Social Work, 4101 15th Ave NE, 722-6057, 7 pm, free.

EAST INDIA TRADING CO.

Ira Parnes hosts this weekly all-ages poetry, prose, and spoken word open mic. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 208-1188, 7 pm, free.

*BRENDA PETERSON

Peterson, hailed by Mark Bekoff as "one of the most eloquent nature writers of our time," will read from her new memoir, Build Me an Ark: A Life with Animals. "Part seer, part scientist, [Peterson] slipstreams between worlds," says Sy Montgomery. "Only a person who as a child could sleep with a rattlesnake and as an adult swim with wild dolphins could bring us such a magical memoir." Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, tickets required (available free at store).

MICHAEL CONNELLY, GEORGE P. PELECANOS

A crime fiction double-whammy! Connelly will read from and sign A Darkness More Than Night, his latest thriller featuring LAPD detective Harry Bosch. Pelecanos will read from and sign Right as Rain, his new mystery set amid the racism and corruption of Washington, D.C. University Bookstore, 7 pm, free.

*PETER CAREY

Carey--author of the Booker Prize-winning novel Oscar and Lucinda--has been receiving scads of critical acclaim for his latest novel, True History of the Kelly Gang, a fictionalized confession of real-life 19th century Australian outlaw and larger-than-life anti-hero Ned Kelley. Benaroya Hall, 200 University, 621-2230, 7:30 pm, $7.50-$18.

*TESS GALLAGHER

Gallagher will be reading poetry from her latest collection, Portable Kisses, as well as sharing some previously unpublished work by her late husband Raymond Carver, recently published in Call If You Need Me: The Uncollected Fiction and Other Prose. Elliott Bay Book Company, 7:30 pm, tickets required (available free at store).

THE MOVIE GENERATION LECTURE SERIES

UW professor emeritus of history Jon Bridgman will talk about "The Cold War and Film Noir," the last in a series of lectures on cinema and society. Kane Hall, UW Campus, 543-0540, 7 pm, $12/$10 students and UW Alumni Association members.

ROBERT WINTNER

Reading and book-signing by the author of the short story collection Lonely Hearts, Changing Worlds. University Bookstore, 7 pm, free.

STAGEFRIGHT OPEN MIC

Literary reading hosted by students of Bush Upper School, open to the public. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 515-2353, 7 pm, free.