ARCTIC INVASION, VOL. 1

From an Antarctic outpost, humanoid Shawna strives to save Earth from global freezing engineered by space aliens. One suspects this original audio play will appeal most to younger listeners and sci-fi fanatics, who may relish the rich use of sound and electronic music, and who may forgive the mediocre writing and uneven acting. Though the publisher calls itself "Audioflix," the production seems inspired more by comic books and video games than by cinema in its brisk, even pace, simplistic concept, melodrama, and sketchy characterizations. Youth-oriented virtues include violence that is more muted than one would expect; little, if any, sex; and a female protagonist portrayed as plucky, decisive, and smart, if not in a strict sense human. Y.R. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 08]