A LADDER TO THE SKY

Listeners are in for a masterfully written story, powerfully performed. Handsome, manipulative, ambitious Maurice Swift is set on becoming a famous novelist and a father--no matter what it takes. The narration is so arresting that one feels like a voyeur while hearing Maurice manipulate, through seduction, his first victim, aging author Erich Ackermann. From there, listeners observe Maurice's life and career by hearing from Ackermann; Maurice's wife, Edith; his son; a literary biographer; and others, including Gore Vidal. The trio of narrators does an exceptional job of voicing Maurice--young and old, sober and drunk--and his victims--the innocent and the ruthless. Listeners will find themselves challenged by the question of who owns story ideas and left with a rather grim view of the publishing world. E.Q. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2019]