THE LAST BOOK IN THE UNIVERSE

Rodman Philbrick takes us into the future to a time after "the big shake," whose destruction has left the world with urbs, stackboxes, gang leaders, flatness, and grayness revolving around Eden, the land of "improved persons." Spaz navigates his way through this existence and finds healing for his sister Bean's leukemia and purpose for himself, with the help and inspiration of Ryter, a gummy or geez, and Lanaya, a proov. Remembering and writing, ignorance and intelligence, leaders and followers, the past and the future are all issues for the listener's consideration in this unsettling and moving novel. Narrating through the eyes of Spaz, Jeremy Davies draws us "backtimers" into this new world deliberately and convincingly. As a teenager, Davies is understated; as a remarkable young girl, he speaks with flair; and as an ancient, he narrates with passion. The wind chills the spine as Davies delivers the final message. Listen and ponder our existence. A.R. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]