INFERNO

Alan Carpentier, science fiction writer, takes a dive out of a window at a convention and ends up at the gates of hell. Following Dante's lead, and guided by Mussolini, he sets out to travel the circle of hell on a quest to find a way out. Tom Weiner adopts a gruff, cocky, and impatient manner for Carpentier. His strong pace is effective in depicting Carpentier's arrogance and the extent to which that arrogance is modulated as he moves through his journey and develops a fondness for Mussolini. The residents of hell whom Carpentier encounters illustrate various sins relevant to the twentieth century. Weiner relies on a range of expressive accents in portraying them. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2009]