EQUAL RITES

This novel from the Discworld science fiction series is a fun combination of fantasy with modern-day allusions. The reader brings a distinctive style and rhythm that suits the tale. The dry humor and tongue-in-cheek asides play well in the audio format. Celia Imrie portrays a young girl who believes she can become a wizard and an aging crone who is wise to the chauvinistic world of magic. The crone is a bit ragged and harsh in tone, fitting stereotypes concerning the village witch. In contrast, the young girl sounds as innocent and trusting as her character appears to be. An echo chamber effect is tried two or three times, adding little but not overly distracting either. J.E.M. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 99]