* BRUCE CAMPBELL
See Stranger Suggests. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.
BRENDA PETERSON
Peterson signs her latest account of the sea's most insufferably stupid mammal, Sightings: The Gray Whales' Mysterious Journey. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
* ADRIENNE RICH
Charles Mudede writes: "I don't particularly care for new poetry; I stick with the old stuff: Tu Fu, Tennyson, Dickinson. There are, however, a few living poets who are worth recognizing, and Adrienne Rich is certainly one of them. Political, a lesbian, and limpid, I don't think our age could produce a poet of Rich's stature and celebrity; only another, earlier period (she was born in 1929) could honestly give birth to an actual poet." Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 652-4255, 7:30 pm, free.
DAVID BARSAMIAN
Decline and Fall of Public Broadcasting author and award-winning producer of Alternative Radio (broadcast locally on KUOW), Barsamian makes a special last-minute midday Elliott Bay appearance. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, noon, free.
ALEXANDER BLAKELY
In 1991, young college graduate Alexander Blakely, economics degree in hand, uprooted himself from his comfortable life in the States in an old-fashioned capitalistic attempt to exploit the fall of Soviet communism. In Siberia Bound, Blakely documents his expat adventures in the former Soviet Union, where he hawked everything from chocolate to latex. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
DONALD MAASS
Would-be authors take note: New York literary agent Donald Maass discusses his latest, Writing the Breakout Novel, and previews a workshop he will be leading at the end of the month. Hugo House Library, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 2 pm, free.
BRAD WATSON
Winner of the esteemed Sue Kaufman Prize for his previous book of stories, Last Days of the Dog-Men, Brad Watson returns with The Heaven of Mercury, his debut novel. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
JUDITH COOPER HADEN
Haden signs Oaxaca, her latest collection of photographs exposing the rich splendor of ancient Mexico. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.
DAVID JAMES DUNCAN
Duncan, of recent The Brothers K fame, reads from My Story as Told by Water. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free. Also, Kane Hall, Roethke Auditorium, University of Washington, 634-3400, Tues Sept 17 at 7 pm, free.
JENNIFER HOLM
Young-adult author Holm returns with the second work in her Boston Jane series, about an outspoken young girl finding her way in the wilderness of the Oregon Territory. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 4 pm, free. Also Park Place Books, 348 Parkplace Center, Kirkland, 425-828-6546, Wed Sept 18 at 9:30 am.
KEVIN J. ANDERSON & BRIAN HERBERT
Herbert, son of original Dune creator Frank Herbert, continues to "honor" (read: pillage) his dead father's memory by plundering his source notes for another goddamn series of science fiction prequels. Barnes and Noble, 2700 NE University Village, 545-4386, 1 pm, free. Also, University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, and Third Place Books, 366-3333, Fri Sept 13 at 7 pm, free.
* IVAN E. COYOTE
As a contributing member of the Taste This transgender performance collective, Coyote made a name for herself as one of a handful of voices behind Boys Like Her, a well-received collection of stories documenting the struggle of transgender youth. Tonight Coyote signs his/her new collection, One Man's Trash. Wildrose, 1021 E Pike St, 271-0364, 8 pm, $3.
JAMES WALLER
Waller, a psychology professor at Spokane's Whitmore College, attempts to guide those in need of textbook assistance with his new instructional text, Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Killing. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30, free.
SUZY ALLEGRA
Allegra signs How to Be Ageless: Growing Better, Not Just Older. Tip number one: Avoid writing self-help books. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.
JEREMY RIFKIN
Fossil fuel makes the world go 'round--politically, financially, physically. Social critic Rifkin, realizing the inherent flaw in such a system, has proposed an ecologically sound, politically absurd solution: The Hydrogen Economy. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
MITCH WALDROP
In the basement of the Pentagon circa 1962, a disheveled psychologist by the name of J. C. R. Licklider ("Lick" to his contemporaries) dreamt up a scheme that would facilitate "human-computer symbiosis"--and with his findings helped begin a revolution of personal computing. Waldrop tells his eccentric story in Dream Machine. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.
POETRY/OPEN MICS
* CATHARTICISM--Poetry, music, performance, and chaos, with host Ricky Rebel. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 861-8233, free.
JET CITY POETRY SLAM--New venue combining poetry, performance, and the cruel dynamics of reality TV. Tuesdays at 8 pm. Central Saloon, 207 First Ave S, 427-2300, $3.
MIDNIGHT CABARET--Stories, song, and performance with host Sylvia O'Stayformore. Saturdays at midnight. Coffee Messiah, 861-8233, free.
OUT OF TUNE--Poetry and music free-for-all hosted by Jon Hogan. Thursdays at 8:30 pm, signup at 8 pm. The 15th, 7515 15th Ave NW, 706-4973, free.
POETSWEST--Featured poets J. Glenn Evans, Dennis Michael, and Leonard Tews. Sun Sept 15 at 7 pm, Wit's End Bookstore & Tea Shop, 770 N 34th St, 682-1268, free.
reBIRTH--All-ages open-mic brouhaha. Sundays at 7 pm. French and European Artistic and Cultural Center, 623 Broadway E, 726-4843, free.
RED SKY POETRY THEATRE--The grand diddy of open mics returns! This week: Robbie Hart. Globe Café, 1531 14th Ave, 633-5647, 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. Featured this week: J. Wesley Fullerton. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Sit & Spin, 2219 Fourth Ave, 441-9484, $4.
