TO TAME A LAND

Rye Tyler grows up fast. At age 12, when his father is killed by Indians, he must fend for himself in the untamed, violent West. Jason Culp's textured voice is just right for characters who are decent but rough--"born with the bark on." Rye is especially likable, with his soft drawl and will to survive. Others in the story are also engaging, and display Culp's vocal range. When he moves from the predominantly Western twang to a polished lawyerly voice, it's a genuine surprise. Culp also thoughtfully dramatizes Rye's inner wanderings as he ponders what it means to take a life and what kind of man he's turning into, reflections that give depth and life to a portrait of the West in its rough-and-tumble infancy. J.C.G. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 07]