NEVERWHERE

The remarkable thing about this tape is that, from the first lines, it gives one a strong impression of darkness and dread. It’s a novel based on a British TV series--a suspenseful and funny adventure tale of a nebbishy Londoner caught up in a nightmarish, magic world below ground. Neither the premise nor the plot is all that new and compelling. But the execution! First, there’s the writing--the delicious witty sense of humor; the vivid, albeit broad, characterization; the delightful dialogue; the adroitly evoked black atmosphere. Then there’s the performance--Gary Bakewell’s charming Scottish accent, his sense of the book’s architecture, his puckish treatment of the humor, his deft characterizations. Third, there’s the production--Blakewell’s narration judiciously punctuated by sound effects and music that perfectly reinforce his efforts. All in all, a delightful listen. Y.R. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JAN 98]