THURSDAY 11/21
KEITH DEVLIN
It's a little hard for a guy who got a C- in high-school algebra to wrap his pointy little head around, but apparently there still remains a "cutting edge" in mathematics--a series of conundrums that is the guiding force of mathematicians around the world. Stanford professor Devlin discusses the 21st century's greatest queries in The Millennium Problems. University of Washington, Kane Hall, Walker-Ames room, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.
FINE MADNESS
Editors of the long-running local literary magazine Fine Madness read selections from March Hares, a collection of the greatest poems published in their pages over the last 20 years. Open Books, 2414 N 45th St, 633-0811, 7:30 pm, free.
SCOTT HUNT
Further proof that the sword could beat the shit out of any Sharpie--Hunt chats with the world's preeminent peacemakers in The Future of Peace. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5:30 pm, free.
DANIEL LADINSKY
Noted translator Ladinsky mines the works of the spiritual masters in Love Poems from God. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
PAT O'DAY
Fifty dollars will get ya an autographed copy of It Was All Just Rock 'n' Roll: A Journey to the Center of the Radio & Concert Universe by "legendary Seattle DJ" O'Day, plus a performance by the similarly legendary Steve Miller. Experience Music Project, 325 Fifth Ave N, 770-2700, 7 pm, $50.
FRIDAY 11/22
* AL & TIPPER GORE
See Stranger Suggests. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 5:30-7:30 pm, free.
* BILL MAHER
Vociferous, opinionated, and smug: three great tastes.... Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 8 pm, free.
MARLENE BLESSING
Blessing discusses A Road of Her Own, a collection of stories by women exploring journeys out here in the primordial West, where the unshaven members of the "fairer sex" slaughter elk with their bare hands and hunt their own children for sport. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free. Also University Bookstore, 634-3400, Mon at 7 pm, free.
DONNA TARTT
After a 10-year absence following the publication of her debut novel, The Secret History, celebrated author Tartt returns with her well-received sophomore effort, The Little Friend. University of Washington, Kane Hall, room 120, 624-6600, 7 pm, free.
SATURDAY 11/23
MICHAEL MALONE
With the recent reissue of the bulk of his back catalog, Malone features The Last Noel, the seasonal timeline of a lifelong interracial friendship. Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, 587-5737, 3 pm. Also Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
MALACHY McCOURT
Noted for his own memoirs about sad, drunken Irish people, McCourt signs Voices of Ireland, a new collection that runs the literary gamut of the country's most notable wordsmiths--including Joyce, Yeats, Synge, and Swift, among others. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 2 pm, free. Also Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.
* JOEL SCHALIT
See preview this issue. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.
SUNDAY 11/24
* TITLEWAVE READING SERIES
Featuring Paul Hunter, Kathryn Christman, and Willie Smith. Titlewave Books, 7 Mercer St, 324-6379, 7:30 pm, free.
MONDAY 11/25
ANU & STUTI GARG
The reason that asshole in your office peppers his conversations with words like "pontificate" and "extrinsic": the Gargs' "A.Word.A.Day" (or AWAD, as I like to call it) website. And now they have condensed their wisdom into a book you can give to your uncle for Christmas. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
TUESDAY 11/26
LAURIE BLAUNER
A double shot with Seattle-based poet Blauner, supporting her fourth collection of poems (Facing the Facts) and debut novel (Somebody). Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.
JERRY STAHL
Two crack addicts steal a photo of President George W. Bush's balls (tattooed with a happy face) and attempt to blackmail Captain Untouchable in the latest novel by Stahl (author of Permanent Midnight and Perv), Plainclothes Naked. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.
WEDNESDAY 11/27
* BRUCE BENDERSON
Wanna be the willing subject matter of a book that purports to remark on "the character and future of North Pacific America"? Well, here's your chance: Benderson's "Harvesting the New Degeneracy" reading tour is ultimately a research assessment of us Nor'westerners, complete with music by Elders of Zion. Secluded Alley Works, 113 12th Ave, 839-0880, 8:30 pm, $5.
