*CHARLES CROSS

The great Paula Gilovich writes: "And this is how I ended up liking [Charles Cross' Heavier Than Heaven]. Even as Kurt Cobain's story is burdened by blockish journalism, this city, the associations (most Seattle residents will personally know someone quoted in this book), the endless fans, the portent, the disappearing portent, there is something that remains oblivious to it all." Barnes & Noble, 2799 NE University Village, 517-4107, 7 pm, free.

*KITTY HARMON

The woman responsible for compiling The Pacific Northwest Landscape: A Painted History will sign and talk about it. A Painted History is a collection of reproduced works by over 125 artists, and it features an introduction written by the luminous Jonathan Raban. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

JAMES NEFF

Neff wrote The Wrong Man, a book that must somehow prove an error. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

SAM WITT

Winner of the Katherine Bakeless Nathan prize will read from his new poetry collection, Everlasting Quail. Open Books, 2414 N 45th Street, 633-0811, 7:30 pm, free.

*LAWRENCE LESSIG

This Stanford law professor wrote The Future of Ideas: The Fate of the Commons in a Connected World, which is about how evil conglomerates are using law and technology to transform the Internet into "nothing more than TV on speed." In his book, Lessig suggests that we turn our backs on progress and instead opt for a new Dark Age, lest our creative and free expression be stifled. Kane Hall, Room 110, UW campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

STEPHEN ELLIOTT

Elliott's debut effort, A Life Without Consequences, describes a descent into homelessness, drugs, and angst. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

*HOLIDAY MAGIC ON QUEEN ANNE

This annual gigantic author festival begins with Michael Collins, who was short-listed for the Booker Prize last year. Collins will sign copies of his book The Keepers of the Truth. The list continues with local mystery writer G.M. Ford pushing his latest, Fury; busy Kitty Harmon with The Pacific Northwest Landscape: A Painted History; local children's author Carole Lexa Schaefer along with illustrator Pierr Morgan; and Lyanda Lynn Haupt, the author of Rare Encounters with Ordinary Birds: Notes from a Northwest Year. Plus, John Hansen from The Watermark publishers in Port Townsend will demonstrate how he makes his hand-bound blank books. There will also be carolers, refreshments, free gifts, complimentary gift wrap for purchases, and 10% off everything in the store. That about covers it. Queen Anne Avenue Books, 1629 Queen Anne Ave N, 283-5624, 5:30 pm, free.

ANNE HERMAN

Herman has compiled not one but two books of animal photos encaptioned by pithy Shakespeare quotes, in her quest to tell us what our pets are really thinking. One's called Meditations for Dogs, while the other is called Meditations for Cats. Her next book will be Meditations for Chickens, which will use this famous quote by Shakespeare: "Every fowl is unfortunate born/For all their noble dreams end up in a stew." Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free.

*NEW AFRICAN VOICES

See Stranger Suggests. UW campus, Mary Gates Hall, room 258; tickets available at University Bookstore, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.

*BRIAN GOEDDE, DJs SUSPENCE, DUSK, SHINGI

See Stranger Suggests.

SAMANTHA BARBAS

With Movie Crazy, Barbas explores the profound influence that fans have on the film industry, and how the Hollywood celebrity cult was established. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

ROSS HAMILTON

Sequim, Washington has a photographer! His name is Ross Hamilton, and tonight he offers a look into his new book A Wilderness Trilogy, which is "a love letter to the Olympic peninsula." There will also be a slide show, which will probably show his French letter to the Olympic peninsula. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

*RICHARD DELGADO

This "nationally prominent scholar" offers his comments on race issues in the U.S. with his book, Critical Race Theory. He'll discuss recently developed social constructions on ethnicity in conjunction with KUOW's Steve Scher as part of the Walker-Ames Lecture Series. Kane Hall, Room 210, UW campus, 616-1825, 6 pm, free.

JIM CURRIE

The Mindful Traveler purports to clarify the deeper meaning of travel, demands that travelers keep journals, and accuses the tourism industry of being ruthless. Amen! Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

STEPHEN R. DONALDSON

Author of the best-selling Chronicles of Thomas Covenant takes a detour with The Man Who Fought Alone, which introduces a "new" kind of hero: an alcoholic martial artist. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

PETER STARK

Stark is identified as an outdoorsman, and with his book, Last Breath: Cautionary Tales from the Limits of Human Endurance, he expounds on the perils of "extreme adventure." If you climb too high, swim too far, or trek too long, then you may die, and death is everything you don't want to be. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.