THURSDAY 9/19


TERRY BROOKS

Seattle's own human fantasy franchise returns with Morgawr--his latest, and the third volume of the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way, 634-3400, 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. Secret Garden, 2214 NW Market St, 789-5006, 7 pm, free. Also Barnes and Noble, 2700 NE University Village, 517-4107, Fri Sept 20 at 1 pm, free.


SOYON IM, TANMEET SETHI, & CRISTINA TZINTZUN

The color of third-wave feminism is painted in a more radical voice by the women featured in Colonize This!, a recent anthology comprising young women of color discussing their relationship with feminism. Tonight's reading features two Seattle contributors (remember Cherry Pop?), along with an Ohio import. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.


JOHN KEAHEY

As Venice quickly finds itself becoming the latest waterlogged metropolis to go the way of Atlantis, John Keahey scrambles to save what's left of the soiled municipality in Venice Against the Sea. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.


*CHUCK PALAHNIUK

Chuck Palahniuk should be banished to screenplays. His novels, though occasionally cyclical and obtuse in a nonlinear, seemingly imageless fashion, are engulfing in a distinctly sordid, tabloid-news sort of way. I can't read his books without picturing the distinct shots of Ed Norton's jawline--and so I can't read his books. But if you can, do stop by and pick up a copy of his latest fil..., er, book--Lullaby--about a mysterious cursed book whose contents are the root of sudden infant death syndrome. SERIOUSLY. Bailey/Coy Books, 414 Broadway E, 323-8842, 7 pm, free.


FRIDAY 9/20


JAMES GARBARINO

Parental paranoia equals big business in the publishing industry--instructional/self-help parenting texts line yard sale libraries and bathroom magazine racks like expired TV Guides. Dr. James Garbarino is counting on your obsessive parental anxiety for his comfy paycheck. The best-selling author of Lost Boys returns with his most recent work, a shield to defend against the "emotional violence" of bullying, entitled And Words Can Hurt You Forever. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.


OLIVIA JUDSON

As her alter ego (one Dr. Tatiana), evolutionary biologist Olivia Judson transforms from mild-mannered science researcher to racy sex-advice columnist--sort of. Responding to the lurid queries of tropical cockroaches and invertebrate sea life isn't typical sex-column fare, but it certainly serves as an effective literary device for Judson's latest, Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice to All Creation: The Definitive Guide to the Evolutionary Biology of Sex. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.


ANTONIO AND JONNA MENDEZ

Love and Cold War populate Spy Dust, the true-life tale of the Mendez's storybook love affair among the ranks of the CIA. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 5 pm, free.


*SUE MINGUS

The widow of jazz genius Charles Mingus (ranked by many as the greatest musical mind America ever produced), Sue discusses Tonight at Noon: A Love Story--the chronicle of her years with Mingus as his wife and tour producer. Borders Books and Music, 1501 Fourth Ave, 622-4599, noon-2 pm, free.


*SARAH VOWELL

See Stranger Suggests. University of Washington, Meany Hall, 543-4880, 8 pm, $19.50.


SATURDAY 9/21


* ALAN CUMMING

Yes, that Alan Cumming. I apologize for my flaccid journalistic integrity, but in order to spare you, dear readers, a tirade of what would no doubt be nothing but waxing admiration, I must make this simple confession of unequivocal bias: I LOVE ALAN CUMMING. Period. Thank you for your patience. Bailey/Coy Books, 323-8842, 7 pm, free.


GABY WOOD

Edison's Eve, the British journalist's latest work, is a brief historical account of several of humanity's vain attempts to re-create mechanical life in the image of itself. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.


SUNDAY 9/22


GABE HUDSON

Former Marine Reserves rifleman Hudson's debut anthology, Dear Mr. President, compiles a series of stories reflecting a perceptive sense of absurdity from within today's armed forces. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.


MONDAY 9/23


GAIL DUBROW & DONNA GRAVES

Taking place at the titular location, the official book launch of Dubrow and Graves' new work--Sixth and Main: Preserving Landmarks of Japanese American Heritage--will be accompanied by a tour of one of the nation's last remaining, preserved Japanese-American bathhouses. Panama Hotel Tea & Coffee House, 607 S Main St, 515-4000, 7:30 pm, free.


PAISLEY REKDAL

Seattle native Rekdal (I dare you to say that name aloud), of former The Night My Mother Met Bruce Lee and Crash of Rhinos fame, returns with her latest collection of poems, the suggestively titled Six Girls Without Pants. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.


JONATHAN SCHORR

Schorr, a former inner-city school teacher, signs Hard Lessons, his academic case study of the current thriving poli-scholastic trend of the charter school system. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.


TUESDAY 9/24


*THOMAS FRIEDMAN

Pulitzer Prize-winning smarty-pants and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman kicks off the University of Puget Sound's Susan Resneck Pierce lecture series with his only West Coast speaking engagement on his current national tour. University of Puget Sound Fieldhouse, 1500 N Warner St, 253-879-3298, 7 pm, $8.


*IRA GLASS

See Stranger Suggests. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 215-4747, 7:30 pm, $20-$50.


SALMAN RUSHDIE

See Stranger Suggests. Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, $5.


WEDNESDAY 9/25


BAXTER BLACK

If you're one of those disaffected urbanites with a rustic fetish for the look of facial hair, the feel of rope burn, and the smell of horseshit--Baxter Black may very well be your dream man. Tonight the former livestock vet and current "cowboy poet"/NPR commentator signs his latest book of Skoal-soaked musings, Horseshoes, Cowsocks and Duckfeet. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.


SHEILA ELLISON

In her follow-up to The Courage to Be a Single Mother (currently Bothell, Washington's 15th most popular book according to Amazon.com), Ellison impresses us all with her singular valor in The Courage to Love Again. Barnes and Noble, 517-4107, 7 pm, free.


KELLEY ESKRIDGE

Compared in its press release to both Cast Away and The Matrix, Solitaire--Eskridge's debut novel--is assuredly either the most trite, banal novel of all time, or in dire need of a new publicity team. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.


ALEV LYTLE CROUTIER & FRANCECA MARCIANO

Two mysterious women from exotic lands converge on the mysterious and exotic Zeitgeist coffee house to read from their recent works: Seven Houses and Casa Rossa, respectively. Zeitgeist, 171 S Jackson, 583-0497, 7:30 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.

ELLIOTT BAY OPEN MIKE NIGHT--Hosted by P. Dawg. Wed Sept 25 at 7:30 pm. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 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.

HOMELAND--Tuesdays at 7 pm. Caffe Vita, 1005 E Pike 709-4440.

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 Laura Gamache, Lee Rahfeldt, Bruce Taylor. Sun Sept 22 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 grandiddy of open mics returns! This week: Anne Pitkin. Sun Sept 22 at 7 pm. Globe Cafe, 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: Sini Anderson and Marcus Rene Van. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Sit & Spin, 2219 Fourth Ave, 441-9484, $4.

STAGEFRIGHT-- Writing by and for youth, performed and hosted by youth. All ages welcome. Wed Sept 25, 7-11 pm. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, free.

TAKE A POEM INTO YOUR HEART--With featured poets M. Anne Sweet, Marjorie Rommel, and Kitty Todorovich. Thurs Sept 19, 7-9 pm. Lottie Motts Coffee Shop, 4900 Rainier Ave S, 725-8199, free.