*GINA KOLATA

Gina Kolata's FLU: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It is heaven for those of us who like our history mixed with a little blood and guts. Kolata follows the extraction of DNA from the frozen bodies of victims of the 1918 epidemic, and extrapolates, through letters, what life was like in the midst of that horror. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

BARRY GROSSKOPF

A commonsensical good idea, local therapist Dr. Grosskopf's Forgive Your Parents, Heal Yourself guides the bitter child with a plan of storytelling and forgiveness. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

CHRISTOPER MERRILL

Poet Christopher Merrill experienced the Balkans conflict over 10 visits between 1992 and 1996, and his experiences are contained in this, his personal narrative, Only the Nails Remain: Scenes from the Balkan War, described as a "literary meditation." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 5:30 pm, free.

GARY BRECHIN

Apparently what Mike Davis did for Los Angeles, Brechin does for San Francisco in his sociological study entitled Imperial San Francisco: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

DOUGLAS COUPLAND

Willing to give Douglas Coupland another chance after the abysmal Girlfriend in a Coma? Well, so are the publishing companies. Miss Wyoming sends Hollywood celebrity through the wringer of Coupland's freely associative prose via an appropriately ironic airplane crash in the Midwest. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

*MARTA SANCHEZ, BRIAN CARPENTER,

REBECCA BROWN

A fine grouping, as usual, of local writers served up at Titlewave's dishy monthly series. Marta Sanchez is a seasoned in-front-of-crowds reader, having made the slam rounds; Rebecca Brown is the highlight -- she's a great reader: casual, funny, and intense. Also, live music. Titlewave Fine Used Books, 7 Mercer St, 324-6379, 7:30 pm, free.

SEATTLE POETS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

Poetic and photographic local history is documented in the attractive Seattle Poets and Photographers: A Millennium Reflection. Some participating artists include Marsha Burns, Paul Dorpat, Denise Levertov, Sherman Alexie, Colleen McElroy, and Heather McHugh. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, 366-3300, 4:30 pm, free.

*CLARK HUMPHREY

Mr. Humphrey, who has a brain that traps facts, has reissued his comprehensive account of the early-'90s Seattle music scene, Loser: The Real Seattle Music Story, with more pictures and an updated discography. Loser is a must-read if you want to understand why Seattle is the way it is today; celebrate the reissue with the author tonight. Two Bells Tavern, 2313 Fourth Ave, www.MISCmedia.com, 7 pm, free.

PETER NICHOLS

Here's a full-speed-ahead historical (1932) sea adventure, reportedly briny good reading, from a first-time novelist: Voyage to the North Star. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

*CHELSEA CAIN

See Bio Box. University Book Store, 4326 University Way NE, 634-3400, 7 pm, free.

JIM LICHATOWICH

The nicely self-explanatory title of Salmon without Rivers: A History of the Pacific Salmon Crisis surely provides enough information for this calendar listing. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

CARLA HARRYMAN, JEANNE HEUVING

Subtext presents Detroit poet Carla Harryman, whose books of experimental poetry and prose have been published by O Books and City Lights; her most recent title is The Words: After Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories and Jean-Paul Sartre. Harryman reads with Jeanne Heuving, a member of the Subtext Collective and author of the experimental prose book Snowball. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, $5.

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

Count the days no more -- 665 is back, reconfigured by Salon Productions. This open mic is hosted by Sarah Sharp, with featured readers adding to the equation. Four Angels Cafe, 1400 14th Ave at Union, 264-5139, 7:30 sign-up, free.

SPOKEN WORD

Each and every Thursday, this venerable Pioneer Square venue spotlights music, poetry, and comedy. Pioneer Square Saloon, 73 Yesler Way, 624-6444, 8:30 pm, free.

HOMELAND

Hosted by Circus and friends, "Seattle's own Little Bohemia" emerges from a hiatus transformed. The Globe Cafe, 1531 14th Ave at Pike, 264-5139, 7:30 sign-up, free.

SEATTLE POETRY SLAM

Even though fate pulled the old switcheroo with the Seattle Poetry Slam's brand new venue, the folks have found themselves a temporary new place in Pioneer Square. Vive la spunk! Dutch Ned's, 206 First Ave S, 340-8859, www.seattlepoetryslam.org, 9 pm, $3.