SANDSTORM

The multiple elements in Rollins's plot border on the absurd: the quest for antimatter; women who reproduce without men; two women in search of Ubar, a legendary city buried in the Arabian Desert; the Queen of Sheba; and the prophet Job. Narrator Dennis Boutsikaris seamlessly switches genders, accents, and rhythm and systematically notches the tension higher and higher. His performance is flawless, yet it doesn't hide the thin plot and stereotypical characters. Still, the nonstop pace manages to keep the listener involved. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 05]