THURSDAY 10/3
ROBERT CLARK
Clark's Love Among the Ruins traces the love and passions of a particular teenage couple in the most overrated decade of the past century, the '60s. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 7 pm, free; also Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, Thurs Oct 3 at 7:30 pm, free.DAVE EGGERS
"Prickly literary giant Eggers (A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, McSweeney's) rolls into town pimping his new novel, You Shall Know Our Velocity. His readings are always compelling, and you should go see him and bask in his talents... but don't be startled by just how short this literary giant is in real life. You'll be able to hear Eggers over Elliott Bay's sound system, but you're going to have to stand on your chair to see the top of his curly head behind the podium." (Dan Savage) University Bookstore, 4326 University Way, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.*SURVEILLANCE
See preview this issue. Featuring appearances by Jonathan Lethem, Chris Abani, Steven Shaviro, David Shields, Diana George, and that damn Charles Mudede again--plus a whole heck of a lot more. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, $6-$10, also Sat-Sun Oct 5-6 at 10 am.

FRIDAY 10/4
*PAUL AUSTER
A layered novel of loss, grief, and obsession, Auster's The Book of Illusions tells the story of a university professor brokenhearted at the loss of his family, who finds solace in his fascination with the image of a lost silent-movie star. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.MELODY BEATTIE
Apparently all of our actions have consequences. Or so says prophet Melody Beattie. Gather around, everyone--the prophet, she speaks! Choices teaches us that, you know, we all have choices. And, like, you know, if we want to have meaningful lives, we're just gonna have to make the right choices. I think that must be why her book's called Choices. Because, you know, we all have 'em. Choices, I mean. This book was extremely helpful to me, and will no doubt have the same effect on you. East West Bookstore, 1032 NE 65th St, 523-3726, 7:30 pm, free; also Barnes & Noble, 2700 NE University Village, 517-4107, Thurs Oct 3 at 7 pm, free.WITOLD RYBCZYNSKI
The University of Washington has the uncommon distinction of being one of a rare establishments of higher learning in the nation to offer courses in what must be the fastest-growing language on Earth: Polish. Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the program, the university honors a series of Polish authors, beginning with The Perfect Houses of Andrea Palladio author Rybczynski. University of Washington, Kane Hall, Walker Ames Room, 543-6848, 7 pm, free; also Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, Sat Oct 5 at 7:30 pm, free.JOHN TRUDELL
Folk-rock political poet and Native American activist Trudell presents his insights by means of the "oldest Native American oral tradition: Spoken word." Geez, we stole that too? Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave, 467-5510, 8 pm, $16-$21.

SATURDAY 10/5
THOM HARTMANN
Paranoid lefties unite! So, word is, contemporary capitalism totally blows. For reals! Don't take my word for it--pick up a copy of Hartmann's latest, The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights (man, that's heavy), and back up your rather uninformed opinions with some soon-to-be-dated statistics. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.

SUNDAY 10/6
STRINGTOWN MAGAZINE ISSUE 5 LAUNCH PARTY
The annual release of the Northwest creative-writing magazine is accompanied tonight by a celebration of sorts, with readings from such contributors as John McFarland, Elizabeth McLagan, James Bertolino, and Greg Hischak, among others. Second Story Books, 1815 N 45th Ave, 547-4605, 7 pm, free.

MONDAY 10/7
*SEAMUS HEANEY
Drunken, angry, and loutish (or at least that's how I've imagined him--so sue me) Nobel Prize-winning poet Heaney travels from his native United Kingdom for an evening of Irish insight. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St, 215-4800, 7:30 pm, $18-$23.MIKE HAWLEY
Maybe this is rooted in my negative experience the other evening with a routine traffic stop, but in the past few days my ire for law enforcement officials has been rekindled to reflect the fury and angst of my high-school self. I am thus forced to waste the space theoretically devoted to Mr. Hawley, a career police officer and the current sheriff of Island County, with little more than this rambling grievance. Thank you for your understanding. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.MARTI OLSEN LANEY, Psy.D.
As many of you might know, I am what you might call "the strong, silent type." Because of this, I felt a certain amount of uncertainty with myself in this "extrovert world." Then Dr. Laney was able to show me the positive light of The Introvert Advantage. Did you know that one in every four people is an introvert? Holy cow! We should throw a party or something! With karaoke! Let's duet on a Bonnie Tyler song, okay!?!?! University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.*JONATHAN LETHEM
With an appearance by Heavier Than Heaven author Charles Cross, Lethem discusses Da Capo's Best American Music Writing, 2002, a collection he edited. University of Washington, Kane Hall, room 130, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.DAVID M. SKOVER
The Trials of Lenny Bruce co-author visits Elliott Bay with some insight and a few dirty words. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

TUESDAY 10/8
GAIL DUBROW
Dubrow and Donna Graves' new work--Sixth and Main: Preserving Landmarks of Japanese American Heritage--was recently accompanied by a tour of one of the nation's last remaining, preserved Japanese-American bathhouses, here in our fair city. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 2 pm, free.PATRICIA HENRY
Around the world in 2,029 days? Henry spent the time between her 48th and 56th years sailing across the globe to become one of the first women to do so. And then she got a book deal. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.* CAMDEN JOY
See Stranger Suggests. Confounded Books, 2235 Second Ave, 441-1377, 7 pm, free.CHIP KIDD
Former book-cover designer Kidd hits the keys in the most impressively titled novel I've seen all morning, The Cheese Monkeys: A Novel in Two Semesters--a playful story about a particular victim of a state art school. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.CYNTHIA NIMS
"One of Seattle's premier food writers and chefs," Nims explores the many ways in which humanity can murderously savor the ugliest of all shellfish, in a guide whose moniker is strikingly similar to the working title of my upcoming memoir, Crab Cook Book. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free.

WEDNESDAY 10/9
* IRVINE WELSH
See Stranger Suggests. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.THE WORLD OF ISLAM
The Seattle Arts and Lectures committee presents Wednesday University, an extended education program open to the public--courses meant to foster "intellectual stimulation" (Rrraaoooowww!). Fall's focus, as explored by University of Washington faculty member Jere L. Bacharach, is a study of them wacky Islamic fundamentalists. Henry Art Gallery, 15th Ave NE & NE 41st St, 543-2280, 7:30 pm, $70. Through Dec 14.