DANGEROUS LAUGHTER

As a writer, Millhauser sees things in society that no one else recognizes but that everyone feels. He builds a dazzling but darkly comic series of surrealistic tales from his observations. This new collection opens like a Saturday morning cartoon as a story called “Cat ‘n’ Mouse” is rendered in Millhauser’s characteristically precise style as read by George Guidall. It’s followed by 12 more stories that explore different themes, including obsession, youth, misery, and human ambition. The enchanting readers make the total experience haunting and thought-provoking. The last story, “The Wizard of West Orange,” about the librarian at Thomas Edison’s laboratory, is so well delivered by Andy Paris that listeners will hate to hear it end. Engaging narrators pour life and realism into fantastic events. S.C.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2012]