*AMANDA DAVIS--In the footsteps of Lorrie Moore, Davis veers from literate humor to suburban self-reflamesection in her debut collection of linked stories, The Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing. Despite the seasonally inappropriate plaid-trimmed jacket cover, Davis' release is perfect for summer reading: light, engaging, ephemeral. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

LAWRENCE WESCHLER--In Boggs: A Comedy of Values, New Yorker staffer and Pulitzer Prize-winner Weschler profiles artist J. S. G. Boggs, who contrives dead-on replicas of real currency, which he exchanges at face value for goods and services, while being fully honest about the counterfeit. An amusing look at the false value of money. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

LYDIA MINATOYA--Seattle author Lydia Minatoya understands that paper can be as seductive a fuel as poppies. In her debut novel, The Strangeness of Beauty, Etsuko Sone's "I-story"--first person narrative--opens in Seattle in 1922. She has followed her husband to America, where he has abandoned her via death. When she must accompany her deceased sister's daughter back to China, she finds herself adrift in a culture in which she no longer fits. These are compelling elements, bits of beauty like haiku. Third Place Books, 1717 Bothell Way, 366-3320, 7 pm, free.

PAUL AUSTER--Auster, author of such gems as The New York Trilogy and Leviathan, reads from his canine-centered new work, Timbuktu. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

LILLIAN FADERMAN--Double winner of the Lambda Award, Faderman reads from a historical study, To Believe in Women: What Lesbians Have Done for America. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

*JUNETEENTH COMMUNITY READAROUND--Charles Johnson and other luminaries read throughout the day from Ralph Ellison's posthumous masterpiece, Juneteenth. Members of the public are invited to read passages or just listen. Langston Hughes Cultural Arts Center, 17th Ave & Yesler, 322-7030, 10 am, free.

JOHN-MANUEL ANDRIOTE--D.C. journalist Andriote reads from Victory Deferred: How AIDS Changed Gay Life in America, his account of AIDS' cultural effects from the early '80s on. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.

BARRY GROSSKOPF, M.D.--Grosskopf, a clinical instructor at the UW, reads from his new book. Nothing more needs to be said than the title: Forgive Your Parents, Heal Yourself: How Understanding Your Painful Family Legacy Can Transform Your Life. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

*STACEY LEVINE & BRET FETZER--Stacey Levine, author of Dra--, is small and moves quietly. She reads her brilliant fiction deadpan. Bret Fetzer is large and prone to gesticulation. He reads theatrically, from his fairy tales and plays. It's an inspired pairing. Pistil Books & News, 1013 E Pike, 325-5401, 7 pm, free.

GEORGINA KLEEGE--The experience of blindness is vividly and sensually portrayed in Kleege's book, Sight Unseen. Kleege is a well-respected novelist and essayist. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.

HARLAN COBEN--A Yoo-Hoo swiggin', hoop shootin' everyman narrates Coben's latest in a series of murder mysteries, The Final Detail. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.

MARK PENDERGRAST--Pendergrast strikes a local nerve with his newest book-length piece of journalism, The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5 pm, free.

*A. MANETTE ANSAY--See Book Review Revue, page 57. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

NANCY KRESS--Kress is one of the few science-fiction authors to plumb the psychological and societal implications of biotechnology, in fine and literate prose. She reads from her newest, Maximum Light. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

STEWART BRAND--Brand's grand vision has resulted in projects like The Whole Earth Catalogue, and now The Clock of the Long Now: Time and Responsibility, the Ideas Behind the World's Slowest Computer. He describes how he constructed a clock that will keep perfect time for the next 10,000 years, and how this might remind us of our place in the scheme of things. Third Place Books, 1717 Bothell Way, 366-3320, 7 pm, free.

WAYNE JOHNSTON--A sweeping epic of Canadian history, Johnston's The Colony of Unrequited Dreams is being heralded as a major work in his home country. He visits here to read from the comic/tragic work. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

*KATHLEEN TYAU--See Calendar Box. Elliott Bay, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 8 pm, free.

MARK PENDERGRAST--See listing for Tuesday June 22. Third Place Books, 1717 Bothell Way, 366-3320, 7 pm, free.

WITOLD RYBCZYNSKI--Rybcyznski's tome A Clearing in the Distance: Frederick Law Olmsted and America in the Nineteenth Century is appropriately grounded in the landscape of scholarship. Olmsted, who designed New York's Central Park, co-founded The Nation, and managed California's largest gold mine, among other accomplishments, is done justice here. Kane Hall 120, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, free (tickets).

OPEN MIC

Note to regularly programmed open mics: The Stranger will list events only if we receive an announcement--regular listings will be dropped unless we are notified that the events are in fact ongoing.

665--Words and music add up in this evening venue, tonight presenting All Ages Slam. Four Angels, 1400 14th Ave (at Union), 689-8661, 7:30 pm, free.

THE PEARL--Turn irritation into beauty: Bring fiction, poetry, film, or drama. Every first Thursday celebrates Dead Poets. The Pearl, 4215 University Way NE, 547-3326, 8 pm, free.

RED SKY POETRY THEATER--Continuing its 18th season of readings, spotlighting local writers plus an open mic. Tonight, Katherine Wing steps on stage. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave (at Pine), 633-5647, 7 pm, free.

LIVINGROOM--Every Monday about this time, people read and rant and play music. Tonight features Bridgett Quaife. Habitat Espresso, 222 Broadway E, 689-8661, 7:30 pm, free.

HOMELAND--The homiest of open mics, with reader Linda Lerner from N.Y.C., and espresso chocolate chip cookies. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave (at Pine), 324-8815, 7:30 pm, free.

SEATTLE POETRY SLAM--Seattle's launch pad to infamy, hosted by Allison Durazzi. This week: Erotica Slam, with special guest host Gabrielle Bouliane. Call to set up a slot. OK Hotel, 212 Alaskan Way S, 366-2280, 9 pm, $3.

STAGE FRIGHT--Soothing or ruthless, poetic or bad-ass, creative contradictions take the stage. If you're 14-24, this is the place to be. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7 pm, free.

COFFEE MESSIAH--Come to confess your sins, stay for a cookie. Open mic for poetry, stories, music, rants, and more. Coffee Messiah, 1554 E Olive Way, 860-7377, 8:30 pm, free.