FREQUENCY 2

The second volume in a series of audio anthologies featuring recent sci-fi short stories is read by young actors. This reviewer does not recognize the names of the authors--Bruce Holland Rogers, Jerry Oltion, Cory Doctorow, et al.--but they have penned enjoyably imaginative, offbeat tales, more in the fantasy and horror lines than "speculative fiction." Take the opening story, "Apple Golem." In Jewish folklore, a golem is a man made of clay animated by Cabalistic formulas. This golem, a female, consists of fruit. Her creator made her to satisfy perverse desires, only to find that she has perverse desires of her own. William Foss expressively reads with acute sensitivity to the story's chill and folkloric characteristics. His taste and skill belie his youthful voice. All the narrators here sound young, but all deliver intelligent, engaged readings. Though apparently designed for genre buffs, the recording will please all lovers of good yarns. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB / MAR 03]