FICTION

CHAINS OF COMMAND
Dale Brown
Read by George Guidall

Listeners can count on this experienced narrator to catch every nuance of the author's characterizations. After the dismemberment of the Soviet Union, Russian hard-liners take control and attempt to subjugate Moldova—with the Ukraine right in the middle. A Desert Storm veteran airman and the U.S.'s first female combat pilot enter to save the day. The plot, though somewhat dated, is jam-packed with the excitement expected of Brown. Along the way, Guidall differentiates the smorgasbord of characters with his usual style. A.L.H. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

THE CHILD IN TIME
Ian McEwan
Read by Simon Prebble

Though its subject matter concerns the disappearance of a child, McEwan's novel is intensely interior, concerning itself with the aftermath of this shattering event on the little girl's father, Stephen Lewis. The novel, perhaps McEwan's most tender, explores the rending caused by grievous loss and the possibility for restoration. It is no less a mediation on the nature of childhood and on time itself. Simon Prebble's performance is subtle and nuanced, portraying both the intellectualism of Lewis, the author of acclaimed children's novels, and the profound desperation and sorrow that have overwhelmed him. Prebble’s reading is measured and undemonstrative, and more intense for it. M.O. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

CUBICLES
Camika Spencer
Read by A Full Cast

Camika Spencer has truly captured the corporate dynamics of a large Southern telephone company. Three female employees lead predictable lives until tragedy strikes the office; then their seamless world rips apart, revealing secrets and ambitions. Three different women portray the major characters, each in separate chapters. Each narrator gives a dynamic audio portrayal. The author has filled her novel with a highly interactive group of major characters who wander in and out of each other’s chapters. Anyone who has ever worked in a cubicle will relate to this audiobook. P.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

DEAD ABOVE GROUND
Jervey Tervalon
Read by Myra Lucretia Taylor

Tervalon’s highly atmospheric story of an African-American family in crisis takes place in New Orleans in 1946. Helen, matriarch of the Duchamps family, tries desperately to rescue one of her daughters from the clutches of lothario Lucien Fauré, who means to settle a decades-old score between himself and Helen. The clash brings to the surface secrets about Helen's past that are best left buried. Myra Lucretia Taylor delivers an extraordinary performance. Her smooth shifts from French to Creole to English patois are sublime. So too is the way she wraps the listener in velvety tones that totally entrance. P.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

THE FLAG CAPTAIN
Alexander Kent
Read by Michael Jayston

In 1797, as the war between England and France (soon to be joined by Spain) continues, the Royal Navy is devastated by the Great Mutiny. Flag Captain Richard Bolitho returns to his home in Falmouth in the midst of the crisis and immediately becomes a player in the events that follow. Michael Jayston reads this action-packed adventure with spirit and dash that mesh exceedingly well with the writing. His characters' voices are a perfect match for their personalities, and he conveys the excitement, chaos, and horror of battles at sea and hand-to-hand combat. The lives of seaman and officers, all subject to the wills of their superiors, are told with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy, and Jayston's performance enhances every aspect of the story. This is a top-notch audio, an example of how good listening can get. S.S.R. •••
© AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award

HOLD TIGHT THE THREAD
Jane Kirkpatrick
Read by Barbara Rosenblat

The final book of the Tender Ties Historical Series finishes Marie Dorion Venier Toupin’s story. Although the story is fictional, the backdrop is true to history and involves the conflict among the different cultural groups on the French Prairie in the newly formed Oregon Territory. Marie, an Ioway Indian, was the first woman to settle in the Oregon territory. Now in the last decade of her life, she’s trying to make peace in a conflict-ridden time. Narrator Barbara Rosenblat tells this saga with her usual award-winning skills. Her voice conveys Marie’s fortitude as she weaves her family into a strong, bold tapestry of love. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

PASSING
Nella Larsen
Read by Robin Miles

Larsen’s landmark novel was first published in 1929. Its author was one of the celebrated writers of the Harlem Renaissance. Clare Hendry, a black woman who passes for white, marries a white man who doesn't know his wife's true heritage. Irene Redfield, Clare's childhood friend, is also fair enough to pass but has remained true to her community. When the two women accidentally meet as adults, their lives become entwined in the complexity of segregated America in the 1930s. Robin Miles gives an excellent performance. The novel countered racial stereotyping of African-American speech, and Miles has held true to the author’s intention. P.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

PLAN OF ATTACK
Dale Brown
Read by William Dufris

Dale Brown, a former pilot and now master of the techno-terrorism thriller, presents a new and frightening scenario. After a sneak attack on America that devastates all its strategic air forces, the nation has the choice to engage in a retaliatory global thermonuclear war or totally surrender on Russia’s terms. William Dufris, a master at narration, skillfully makes this unthinkable threat plausible by creating unique voices for the gleefully energized 19-year-old reconnaissance technician; the determined Major McLanahan, stripped of his rank because of brilliant but unauthorized military action; and the relentlessly vengeful Russian President Gryzlov. Dufris’s somber sincerity makes both the plot and the staggering array of advanced weaponry chillingly believable. K.A.T. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

THE PRIEST
Francine Rivers
Read by Chris Fabry

The first in Rivers’s Sons of Encouragement series tells the story of Moses, his younger brother, Aaron, and the Israelites as they flee Egypt. Chris Fabry narrates the story from Aaron’s point of view, revealing a jealous younger brother molded by timing and circumstance. Using vocal nuance, pitch, and tight pacing, Fabry captures Aaron’s struggles with self-doubt, sin, and failure. Fabry seamlessly depicts the discontent of the woman, children, and old men when Moses joins God on the mountain. The first half of the story focuses on Moses; the second half spotlights Aaron, his love for his brother, and his personal growth through adversity. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

RELENTLESS
Edward Gorman
Read by Tom Stechschulte

Tom Stechschulte brings authenticity to soft-spoken Marshal Lane Morgan, sounding tough and trustworthy as needed. This traditional Western reads like a detective story as Lane unravels the clues to murder. Morgan’s wife, Callie, has a felony warrant out on her in Chicago from her youth, and now her ex-husband, David Staunton, whom she hated, has been found stabbed in Morgan’s Colorado town. Stechschulte provides believable voices and consistently differentiates the many townsfolk involved. He effectively communicates the agony Lane feels as he risks his marriage, his reputation, and his home to prove who killed Staunton. Stechschulte presents the story with finesse. S.C.A. ••• © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award

RETRIBUTION
Jilliane Hoffman
Read by Martha Plimpton

Prosecutor C.J. Townsend and Special Agent Dominick Falconetti search for a Miami serial killer (dubbed Cupid by the press) who is perpetrating gruesome murders of young women. When he’s unexpectedly apprehended, C.J. realizes that the suspect raped her 12 years earlier, and she’s determined to make the charges stick. With steady investigation, Townsend and Falconetti tie up loose ends, or so they think. Martha Plimpton narrates this legal thriller with surprising ease, given the graphic descriptions of Cupid’s deeds. Not for the faint of heart, Plimpton’s narration keeps the story flowing and the listener on edge. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

SECRETS NEVER TOLD
Rochelle Alers
Read by Caroline Clay

Morgana Johnson-Wells has secrets. First, there’s the family story of a card game in which the loser had to hand over his daughter in marriage to the winner. Then, there’s the story of the wife who found out nearly simultaneously that her mother had died and that her husband of three decades was having an affair. The wrong narrator could have ruined this superb novel about a contemporary African-American family. But Caroline Clay is on target with her subtle and complex narration, making this production pure pleasure. P.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

THE TAIL OF THE TIP-OFF
Rita Mae Brown
Read by Kate Forbes

Rita Mae Brown and her feline co-author, Sneaky Pie Brown, return with their eleventh cozy. Narrator Kate Forbes gracefully changes her pitch, tone, and timbre to cross species lines. She captures the personality and charisma of each cat and dog, as well as human protagonist Postmistress Harry Hairsteen and her companions. Humans stumble over one another and sniff with disdain at murder scenes; whereas, cats and dogs collect clues and look out for one another. The tribulations of the Crozet, Virginia, community form the background for the two murders. A.H. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

USING WHAT YOU GOT
Karen E. Quinones Miller
Read by Susan Spain

Tiara Bynum is a beautiful African-American on the cusp of womanhood. Haughty, manipulative, and used to getting her way, she finds that her narcissistic behavior ultimately leads to her downfall. Specifically, when the man of her dreams does not return her ardor, she makes decisions that have disastrous consequences for all concerned. Susan Spain's narration gives vitality to this conflicted young woman. Buyer beware, this is a realistic portrayal of contemporary urban life, and the auxiliary characters use profanity in just about every sentence. But make no mistake—this is a provocative production. P.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

JUVENILE

ACTION JACKSON
Sandra Jordan & Jan Greenberg
Read by Edward Harris

This American Library Association Sibert Honor book details the creation of a Jackson Pollack painting. Pollack’s studied and careful process incorporates his world experiences—from the big sky and Native American sand painting of his Western boyhood to the beat of his favorite jazz musicians. From the moment the canvas is placed on the floor until the last flick of his unconventional medium, house paint, Jackson moves and dances around his work. Ed Harris’s straightforward and unobtrusive narration provides ample opportunity for the listener to appreciate the artist at work. Some painting moments are studied and reflective; others are a frenzy of activity. Harris’s tone and pacing mirror each. Gentle jazz provides just the right background. A.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

THE BOOK OF DEAD DAYS
Marcus Sedgwick
Read by Roger Rees

Marcus Sedgwick’s creepy, foreboding fantasy centers around a magician’s desperate search for a book against an approaching deadline—the new year. Valerian and his servant, Boy, comb an unnamed, fading European city, following clues and digging up graves, culminating their search in an underground city square. Roger Rees helps maintain the uneasy tone, differentiating the gruff Valerian from lower-class Boy and Willow and assorted secondary characters, and even managing some required Latin. The slow meting out of details might frustrate listeners—at times the book seems TOO mysterious. If the ending seems unresolved, listeners can at least hope that loose ends will be tied up in the sequel, THE DARK FLIGHT DOWN, to be released in June. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

THE BUGALUGS BUM THIEF
Tim Winton
Read by Stig Wemyss

Tim Winton may be one of Australia's most famous authors of serious adult fiction, but one hearing of THE BUGALUGS BUM THIEF will make you wish he’d write more often for children. This is a ridiculously sublime story about what happens when everyone in town wakes up to find their—“ahem”—bums missing. It turns out that bums are incredibly useful items; without them you slide off chairs and lose your pants. Well-known Australian actor Stig Wemyss reads with the perfect amount of insouciance and naïve seriousness. His Skeeta Anderson—the boy who decides to solve the mystery of the missing bums—is straight-ahead detective with a bit of middle school bravado. The adults sound much as adults sound to kids: important and clueless. His pacing is up-tempo, as befits a town crisis. And the laughs are many. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

CHILD X
Lee Weatherly
Read by Claire Corbett

When a high-profile court case makes Jules into “Child X,” her life turns upside down. Suddenly the paparazzi are hounding her wherever she goes. Clare Corbett delivers a splendid portrayal of this 13-year-old, who finds herself in unsolicited trouble. Corbett easily conveys Jules’s highs and lows as she is pushed to the edge by the media and compelled to tell her side of the story. Although a quick listen, the production is well done in narration and structure. The story is an excellent exposé of the media’s lust for the latest scandal. D.L.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

FAT BOY SWIM
Catherine Forde
Read by Gary Lewis

Fourteen-year-old Jimmy Kelly, the largest kid in town, is hiding a culinary talent. GI Joe, the world’s toughest coach, is on a mission. When he learns of Jimmy’s talent, he recruits him for the special mission in return for swimming lessons. As the layers of blubber Jimmy has been hiding behind slowly fall off with his new exercise regime, he uncovers the truth behind the Shadow Shape that has been haunting his dreams. The story’s Scottish dialect contains some unfamiliar words, but Gary Lewis’s brogue creates an authentic atmosphere, and the context is rich enough to aid the listener in interpreting the meaning of the unfamiliar slang. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

A GREAT AND TERRIBLE BEAUTY
Libba Bray
Read by Joanna Wyatt

Gemma, who has grown up in colonial India, returns to be educated in the ways of being a proper young woman at boarding school in Victorian London—but India might not be as far away as she thinks. The story has a pervasive, if contrived, atmosphere of lush sensuality—there’s a little magic, a little romance, and a lot of intrigue. Listeners who are most familiar with Jo Wyatt as Lyra in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series will be impressed by her range and characterizations here. That the story sometimes feels choppy or abrupt may be the fault of the abridgment, and the ending seems ripe for a sequel. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

KING OF THE MIDDLE MARCH
Kevin Crossly-Holland
Read by Michael Maloney

In the final book of the Arthur Trilogy, young hero Arthur de Caldicot ventures to an island off the coast of Venice as the Fourth Crusade is about to begin. As the story of Arthur’s coming-of-age and knighthood unfolds amidst the bustle of a city besieged by warriors from many lands, Arthur’s “seeing stone” reveals to him the world of the legendary King Arthur as disharmony spreads among the Knights of the Round Table. Weaving these two stories together takes the skill of a masterful author. Narrating the shifting settings and the diverse cast of characters, along with the pageantry, brutality, and reality of the crusading experience, is a tall order. Michael Maloney rises to the challenge. Whether it’s the dignity of the dying King Arthur, the lilt of the serving maid, the heart-wrenching reunion of a mother and son, the coldness of a scheming father, or the resounding sagacity of the wizard Merlin, Maloney gives voice to each. Listeners will find much to savor in this recording. A.R. ••• © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award

THE PEPINS AND THEIR PROBLEMS
Polly Horvath
Read by Julie Halston

The Pepin family does, indeed, find itself in an endless stream of preposterous predicaments. How can a responsible family provide appropriate hospitality when its cow suddenly dispenses lemonade instead of milk? What is the appropriate phrase with which to inform a very fine neighbor that he’s fallen in love with a barber pole? The Pepin family’s ridiculous vignettes will be enjoyed by elementary-age listeners while the book’s impressive vocabulary will be appreciated by teachers and parents. Julie Halston’s reading of this odd story evokes the image of a librarian reading to young children. Perhaps the story could have been more lively if it had been narrated by someone with a knack for accents and goofy voices. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

TIME PIECES: The Book of Times
Virginia Hamilton
Read by Lisa Reneé Pitts

Narrator Lisa Reneé Pitts brings a sincere, ingenuous quality to Valena, the heroine of Newbery-winning author Virginia Hamilton’s last novel. Eleven-year-old Valena, soon to be in sixth grade, finds that life is still full of phenomena that are difficult to understand—ghosts in the dark, the Aurora Borealis, a tornado, and the cruelty of racism. Valena’s mother tells her stories of their family’s past, which help Valena understand her own life and find her strength. Pitts handles each of Valena’s confused moments with a fine blend of childish spite and little-girl uncertainty. She does especially well detailing the family’s history, from the capture of Tunny Maud, a Pygmy woman taken to America in slavery, to the escape of Valena’s great-grandfather on the Underground Railroad. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

VERNON BRIGHT AND THE FASTER-THAN-LIGHT SHOW
Steve Barlow, Steve Skidmore
Read by Nigel Lambert

Vernon Bright lives up to his name in more ways than one, and narrator Nigel Lambert is hilarious in his portrayal of the talented student. Vernon is in charge of the lights for the school performance of ROMEO AND JULIET. On the basis of past events, everyone, including the teacher/director, is nervous about what sort of light show Vernon has planned. Vernon explains complex scientific concepts simply and accurately to his less than bright friends and listeners. There are laughs aplenty as words such as “poleaxed” and “ghastly joviality” are used appropriately. A fun way to learn about science and Shakespeare. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

NONFICTION

A DOG'S LIFE
Paul Bailey
Read by Paul Bailey

Canine Circe's sixteen-year life span plays a major role in A DOG'S LIFE, but Paul Bailey's book isn't the collection of dog stories that you might expect. It does have light anecdotes, such as the story of his decision to take home the mixed-breed puppy (he often uses a coarser term) in the pet store window, but it also goes into other areas of Bailey's life during those sixteen years, including somber moments such as the death of Bailey's partner, David, and his encounters with homophobia in Romania. Literary-minded listeners will enjoy hearing anecdotes about fellow authors such as Kingsley Amis. A former actor, Bailey shifts well between humor and drama, recreating his feelings as he recalls his joys and sorrows. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM
Shai Cherry
Read by Shai Cherry

There is a brief flourish of trumpets. An announcer delivers the topic of the particular lecture. A small group erupts into applause. Professor Cherry seizes the mike, and also the day, because he is an excellent lecturer with an encyclopedic knowledge of his subject. In 24 lectures he takes listeners from Judaism's earliest beginnings to today. His young-sounding voice fairly vibrates with enthusiasm, and, best of all, he is mostly objective, not favoring one or the other of the modern versions of Judaism. There is a lot to learn, and one learns a lot here. The production is accompanied by an excellent course guide. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

JAMES HERRIOT'S CAT STORIES
James Herriot
Read by Christopher Timothy

Stories culled from the works of veterinarian James Herriot show the way cats wander into people's lives, often having an unexpected impact. A few stories are humorous, such as the tale of Oscar's stops in town, while most are touching, sometimes bittersweet. Cat lovers will empathize with Herriot as he recalls how he struggled to bond with Ollie—a stray who took to his wife, Helen, but was wary of him—only to lose the cat shortly after making progress. Christopher Timothy, who played Herriot on the BBC, makes the stories his own, reading as if he were recalling his own experiences. At three hours, this short visit to the Yorkshire Dales will whet your appetite for more of Herriot's stories. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

THE JOURNEY OF CRAZY HORSE
Joseph Marshall III
Read by Joseph Marshall III

As might be expected of a narrator whose heritage includes a strong oral tradition, Lakota historian and author Joseph Marshall brings Crazy Horse to life. This production has it all —solid writing, fascinating subject, and deep insights into a unique time and culture. With its awed and respectful reading, the book becomes worthy of sitting in your driveway to finish. Marshall’s voice is a perfect match for the wisdom and mores of the Lakota; he captures their philosophical approach to life, respect for nature, and outrage at being invaded by Euro-Americans. Even though history has told us how the story ends, Marshall still keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, rooting for Crazy Horse and the lost Lakota way of life. H.L.S. ••• © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award

MADAME HILLARY: The Dark Road to the White House
R. Emmett Tyrell, Mark Davis
Read by Richard Rohan

MADAME HILLARY could be considered the follow-up to Tyrell’s earlier BOY CLINTON. In this book, Tyrell paints Hillary Clinton as a conniving, scheming, and power-hungry woman. Richard Rohan’s reading offers a tone and pace that captures the character of the book. Rohan clearly expresses Tyrell’s contempt for the New York senator and former first lady. The book does not attempt to be balanced at all, and Rohan projects Tyrell’s frequent sarcasm toward his subject. Tyrell is an editor of the conservative AMERICAN SPECTATOR, and his politics come through loudly and clearly in this work. M.L.C. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

MY LIFE AS A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY
Nancy Cartwright
Read by Nancy Cartwright

Don’t have a cow, man—Bart Simpson is a girl! This loosely kept secret is exposed in full as voice-over artist Nancy Cartwright, ebullient and high energy enough to light up her native Ohio, tells all. “Simpsons” fans will revel in the insider information; biography fans will enjoy the memoirs of an actress who committed to her dream and saw it through with spectacular results. Cartwright certainly has a dream job—six hours of work a week, great compensation, and the ability to walk down the street unassaulted by celebrity-seekers. A feel-good, rollicking listen. D.J.B. 2005 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

QUEEN BEES AND WANNABEES
Rosalind Wiseman
Read by Lee Adams

This guide to raising, supporting, and managing a daughter through the pitfalls of adolescence will help parents better understand and communicate with their teen. Based in part on a curriculum developed by Wiseman, the book explains everything from development and cliques to boyfriends, lying, and the struggle for independence. Lee Adams reads the work with authority and tough-love, encouraging parents to be accountable as both disciplinarians and guides to adulthood. While 12 hours of parenting advice may seem like overkill, Wiseman delivers useful information, including the girl’s perspective on parental responses. Adams presents these in the easily recognizable tone of the frustrated teen, even nailing the teenage mantra of “What-ever--” Adams makes this a highly educational and entertaining package. H.L.S. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

THE RECKONING: What Blacks Owe to Each Other
Randall Robinson
Read by Cornell Womack

Randall Robinson is a voice of African-American consciousness. An initiator of the protests in the United States that helped end apartheid in South Africa, Robinson now ponders our nation. He convincingly argues that the growing presence of modern prisons, many privatized for-profit operations, is as much a threat to this current generation of African-Americans as slavery was to an earlier one. Cornell Womack gives a powerful narration. He is reflective as Robinson himself in the autobiographical segments, defiant as a young man fresh out of prison, and articulate as a mature man who mentors troubled youth. This book delivers an important message for all Americans. P.R. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

RETHINKING OUR PAST: Recognizing Facts, Fictions and Lies in American History
James W. Loewen
Read by James W. Loewen

Down-in-the-mouth blue-staters will find solace in this brilliant and common sense series of lectures on the myths of American history. Dr. Loewen, professor emeritus at the University of Vermont, put his Lincolnesque visage on the cover of this sturdy set; one hopes that listeners across the country will feel the wisdom of this great teacher beaming into their minds. Is it true that Manhattan was purchased by the Dutch from the Indians for $24? Of course not, and Loewen leads us to the truth with incisive questions worthy of a forensic detective. This collection belongs on the shelf of every high school library in the country. With any luck, a copy may be smuggled into Texas. J.W. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

SECRETS OF THE MILLIONAIRE MIND: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth
T. Harv Eker
Read by T. Harv Eker

A witty pep talk for wealth-seekers is delivered by someone who’s still amazed he’s a millionaire. T. Harv Eker’s audiobook should shake even the most entrenched negative thinkers out of their easy chairs. Eker is bursting with energy and the need to teach you, and you, and yes, you, how to increase your wealth and quality of life by emulating his methods, which, oddly enough, are similar in many ways to methods taught for centuries about self-improvement. The good news is this stuff is worth repeating as we tend to forget to maintain our momentum. Eker also imbues his lessons with easy-to-remember self-motivating techniques as you make your way to your abundant bliss. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine

SIX MONTHS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD: The Paris Peace Conference of 1919
Margaret MacMillan
Read by Margaret MacMillan

Professor Margaret MacMillan, of the University of Toronto, presents 14 lectures about a momentous period in the modern world. The production examines the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 in great detail. There are also several lectures examining the impact of the conference on various countries and regions, such as Germany, Poland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. MacMillan has an erudite voice and clearly communicates great enthusiasm for the period. At times her excitement makes her pace a little rapid, but that’s the only defect in her presentation. She convincingly argues that much of world history after 1919 was influenced by the events of that fateful year. M.L.C. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine