VOYAGE TO THE NORTH STAR

What happens when a man without sense or moral restraint has enough money to pursue his every whim? In this case, he outfits a beautiful, though absurdly delicate, yacht for an arctic hunting excursion. His wake of destruction is so appalling, and he is so emotionally removed from the suffering he causes that not even George Guidall's commendable reading can make this a pleasant listening experience. Guidall perhaps makes it bearable, provoking the listener to ponder whether this contemptible maniac represents perverse corporate greed or an individual's destructive power. Notable is Guidall's ability to match his narrative style to the writing; he switches seamlessly from an engaged conversational tone to a detached recitation of surreal violence. D.J. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 01]