REPORT FROM ENGINE CO. 82

Little boys often dream of becoming firefighters, picturing themselves as the heroes who put out fires, save lives, and rescue stranded cats. This 1972 book by Dennis Smith, author of REPORT FROM GROUND ZERO, removes the glamour, while demonstrating the challenges facing Smith and his fellow firefighters in New York City, where most alarms are false. Lloyd James sounds like a firefighter. His voice has enough roughness to convince the listener that he's ready to do battle every time the alarm bell rings; James's emotions seem to ebb and flow with the book's events. Unfortunately, this abridgment leaves the listener wondering what parts of the story are missing. D.J.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 02]