EMPIRE STATE

It's hard to listen to this and not compare the superheroes to known characters like Rocketeer, Sandman, and Batman, but the resemblance is superficial. The novel is an original creation of Adam Christopher, set in a strange city that is futuristic yet patterned after the 1930s. Throw in superheroes, mad scientists, and inter-dimensional doppelgangers, and you have the makings of a fascinating novel. Narrator Phil Gigante brings the moody, foggy book to life but is hampered by a confusing structure and other annoying flaws. Still, if anyone can make the story work, it's Gigante, a huge talent. His solid baritone lends weight to the story of a city fighting for survival. And there is a wonderful story here, hidden among the excess. M.S. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2012]