THURSDAY 2/5



GREG KLERKX

Klerkx signs Lost in Space: The Fall of NASA and the Dream of a New Space Age. University Bookstore, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

JOHN MURRAY

Ann Patchett calls Murray's short-story collection, A Few Short Notes on Tropical Butterflies: Stories, "compassionate, brutal, and unflinchingly true." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

FRIDAY 2/6



SASHA CAGEN

Cagen talks about Quirkyalone: A Manifesto for Uncompromising Romantics, full of advice for single people. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3333, 6:30 pm, free. (Also on Mon Feb 9 at Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 5 pm, free; and at University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.)

ROBIN HOBB

Fool's Fate is a book of fantasy. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

SHARON HASHIMOTO

The Seattle poet reads from her first collection, The Crane Wife. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

SATURDAY 2/7



CRAIG LESLEY

The novelist reads from his forthcoming memoir, Burning Fence. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 2 pm, free.

PETER WARD

Ward signs Gorgon: Paleontology, Obsession, and the Greatest Catastrophe in Earth's History. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 6 pm, free.

* HOWARD ROBERTSON

See Stranger Suggests, page 23. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

SUNDAY 2/8



DUANE NIATUM

The Crooked Beak of Love is a collection of poetry. Ravenna Third Place Books, 6405 20th Ave NE, 525-2347, 2 pm, free.

GREGORY WOLFE

Wolfe reads from Intruding Upon the Timeless: Meditations on Art, Faith, and Mystery, about which Annie Dillard says: "Not since [Flannery] O'Connor's Mystery and Manners has there been such bracing insight on the pile-up where art and faith collide." Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 3 pm, free.

DAVID CHRISTOPHER LA TERRE

The Ira Project is about gender, art, apathy, phonies, and other stuff. Rendezvous Jewel Box Theater, 2322 Second Ave, 441-5823, 8 pm, free.

MONDAY 2/9



LANI GUINIER

Harvard Law School's Guinier (author of The Miner's Canary and other books) lectures on race issues. Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 389-7263, or write uec@seattlechamber.com to register, noon, free.

* GREGORY HISCHAK, MATTHEW BLACKETT, ELLEN FORNEY, FRAYN MASTERS

Hischak is the publisher of the sporadic zine Farm Pulp and an award-winning playwright; Blackett and Forney are fucking great comic artists; and Masters (according to press materials) is a fiction writer and "a five-foot-seven-inch blond girl from Portland." Confounded Books, 315 E Pine St, 441-9880, 7 pm, free.

BRAD THOR

State of the Union is a thriller. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free. (Also on Tues Feb 10 at Seattle Mystery Bookshop, 117 Cherry St, noon, free.)

EVA HOFFMAN

After Such Knowledge examines the enduring legacy of the Holocaust from the perspective of the children of its survivors. Kane Hall, University of Washington, 634-3400, 7 pm, free. (Also on Tues Feb 10 at Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 5:30 pm, free.)

* REBECCA BROWN, MICHAEL KLEIN

See Stranger Suggests, page 23. Elliott Bay Book Company, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

TUESDAY 2/10



ESTHER MUMFORD

The expert on African American Northwest history gives a lecture and signs her books Calabash and Seattle's Black Victorians, 1852-1901. Gilda's Club Seattle, 1400 Broadway, 709-1400, 6 pm, free.

SUSAN VREELAND

The Forest Lover is a novel. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

LINDA TUHIWAI SMITH

The author of Decolonizing Methodologies and the director of the National Institute of Research Excellence for Maori Development and Advancement at the University of Auckland (there's a mouthful) lectures on the subject of "indigenous research models." Kane Hall, Walker-Ames Room, University of Washington, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

CHARLES LEWIS

Lewis signs The Buying of the President 2000. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

DMITRY ALEXANDROVICH PRIGOV

The poet, essayist, and artist, who belongs to the Moscow Conceptualist School, reads from his Moscow Texts and Screams, which mimics and exploits the admittedly hilarious style of totalitarian discourse. (A translator will translate.) Thompson Hall, Room 317, University of Washington, 543-6848, 7 pm, free.

ELIJAH WALD

Escaping the Delta is a biography of roots musician Robert Johnson. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

WEDNESDAY 2/11



JAMES SHREEVE

Shreeve signs The Genome War: How Craig Venter Tried to Capture the Code of Life and Save the World. University Bookstore, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

CHALMERS JOHNSON

The author, professor, and longtime president of the Japan Policy Research Institute discusses The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic. Trinity United Methodist Church, 6512 23rd Ave, 624-6600, 7 pm, $5.

PACO UNDERHILL

The founder and CEO of Envirosell Inc. signs his new book, Call of the Mall. Third Place Books, 366-3333, 7 pm, free.

POETRY/OPEN MICS
HOMELAND--Words. So many words. Tuesdays at 7 pm. Caffe Vita, 1005 E Pike St, 709-4440, free.

OPEN MIKE NIGHT--Musicians, poets, whoever. Thursdays at 8 pm. 15th Avenue Alehouse, 7515 15th Ave NW, free.

POETSWEST--Featuring Cathy Ross, David Thornbrugh. Sun Feb 8 at 7 pm. Penny Cafe, 1707 NW Market St, 682-1268, free.

RED SKY POETRY THEATER--Featured readers and an open mic. Sundays at 7 pm. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave, 547-4585, 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. Wednesdays at 8 pm. Bad Juju Lounge, 1518 11th Ave, 709-9951, $4.

SEATTLE SPIT--Queer spoken word. First Thursday of every month at 8:30 pm. Featured readers Feb 5: Peter Pereira, Tennessee Mary, Robin Akimbo. Wildrose, 1021 E Pike St, 369-2471, free.

STAGE FRIGHT--Youth open mic. Fourth Wednesday of every month at 7 pm. Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, free.

TAKE A POEM INTO YOUR HEART--Poetry reading. Fourth Friday of every month at 7:15 pm. Lottie Motts Coffee Shop, 4900 Rainier Ave S, 725-8199, free.

WOMEN'S POETRY NIGHT--Spoken word from the fairer sex. Thursdays at 8 pm. Bar, 1525 E Olive Way, 322-1788, free.