CARINA DEL ROSARIO

Different concerns are featured in Del Rosario's compilation of oral histories, A Different Battle: Stories of Asian Pacific American Veterans -- from "questions of political loyalty, to being mistaken as the enemy." Del Rosario reads, and presents a slide show of photographs by Dean Wong chronicling the International District. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 6 pm, free.

TERRY PRATCHETT, DAVID GEMMELL

Two bigwigs of fantasy and humor read at the UW. Pratchett, billed as "Great Britain's most popular writer," will discuss the latest installment in his humorous Discworld fantasy series, The Fifth Elephant. Kane Hall 120, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, free (tickets).

TIM CAHILL

The eccentricities of dolphins are featured in Tim Cahill's travelogue/frolic Dolphins, produced in conjunction with the IMAX film of the same name. Cahill will show slides. Kane Hall 130, UW Campus, 624-5677, 7 pm, free (tickets at University Book Store).

CHUCK PETTIS

Pettis reads from his book Sacred Space: Discover and Create Places of Power. He is the creator of the Seattle ley-line map and the Mutiny Bay stone circle. East West Bookshop, 6500 Roosevelt Way NE, 523-3726, 7:30 pm, free.

THOMAS MOORE

A popular psychological and spiritual thinker, Moore presents his meditative book of quotations and art, Original Self: Living with Paradox and Originality. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

GUY GAVRIEL KAY

Canadian fantasy writer Kay leaves other historical fantasy writers in the dust. He's got a huge fan base for his Sarantine series, of which Lords of Emperors is the second and newest volume. Mystery, intrigue, and a fantastical historical feel pull the story together. Kane Hall Walker Ames Room, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7 pm, free (tickets).

MARUSYA BOCIURKIW

Atmospheric poetry, borderless in its imagery, finds a voice in Bociurkiw's newest collection, Halfway to the East. The Vancouver poet visits Elliott Bay to kick off National Poetry Month. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 1:30 pm, free.

MIKE DILLON, JOSEPH GREEN, KELLI RUSSELL

AGODON

Contributors to Floating Bridge Press' Pontoon: An Anthology of Washington State Poets read from their work as part of a National Poetry Month reading series. Third Place Books, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, 366-3320, 4:30 pm, free.

ANNA PAVORD

Anna Pavord is all about tulips -- her tumescent tome, The Tulip, is full of history, literature, and color plates burrowing into the flower's tangled roots. Pavord, gardening correspondent for Britain's Independent newspaper, makes a spring stop at Elliott Bay. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

KAREN ARMSTRONG

Armstrong, former nun and author of the best-selling A History of God, reads from her newest, The Battle for God, a study of the success of Fundamentalism. Sponsored by Seattle First Baptist Church. Seattle First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave, 634-3400, 7 pm, free (tickets at University Book Store).

MICHAEL ARMACOST

Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and current president of the Brookings Institute, Armacost reads from his book Friends or Rivals? The Insider's Account of US-Japan Relations. Kane Hall, UW Campus, 634-3400, 7:30 pm, free (no tickets required).

*JONATHAN RABAN

See Stranger Suggests, page 53. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, $5.

TESSA RUMSEY

Poetry month continues to get its due at Elliott Bay with this reading by San Francisco poet Rumsey from her new collection, Assembling the Shepard. Rumsey's work, extolled by the likes of Jorie Graham and Forrest Gander, promises "nervy, energetic intelligence." Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

*LIZ WALDNER, JOHN OLSON

With poetry that makes your saliva run, Liz Waldner and John Olson both exploit the sensuousness of language against the baseboard of science. Waldner's newest collection, A Point Is That Which Has No Part, winner of the 2000 Iowa Poetry Prize, asks questions like "Why did you make me like this?" from a god whose personality is scattered among "shadow-patterned greens." Olson, Seattle poet and Stranger contributor, is most recently the author of Eggs & Mirrors, in which hunger's meaning encompasses much more than physical craving. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, 322-7030, 7:30 pm, $5 donation.

BHARTI KIRCHNER

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

KRISTIN HENSHAW, JOHN WILLSON

Blue Begonia Press features these two Bainbridge Island poets in new collections -- Henshaw's Sifting through Stones, and Willson's The Son We Had -- both full of fulsome personal meditation. Elliott Bay Book Company, 101 S Main St, 624-6600, 7:30 pm, free.

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, featuring Wendy Plummer. 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.

WINDOW PAIN

An eclectic open mic that encourages you to "bring your circus act!" Lottie Mott's Coffee Shop and Collective Baggage, 4900 Rainier Ave S, 725-8199, 7 pm, free.

RED SKY POETRY THEATER

Seattle's longest-running reading series livens up the tiny Globe Cafe. This week's featured reader is Robin Schultz. Globe Cafe, 1531 14th & Pine, 633-5647, 7:30 pm, free (donation).

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

Seattle's highest-powered slam hunkers down at Dutch Ned's, with featured readers each week, plus open mic for money. Dutch Ned's, 206 First Ave S, 340-8859, www.seattlepoetryslam.org, 9 pm, $3.

CATHARTICISM

Confess your sins at this open mic: a forum for cleansing your soul in public. Poets, writers, musicians, welcome. This week's theme is "Sin-Be-Gone," and promises to feature a live crucifixion. Coffee Messiah, 1445 E Olive Way, 860-7377, 8:30 pm, free.