THE BRADBURY REPORT

The protagonist in Steven Polansky's debut novel is named Raymond Bradbury, which is rather confusing. Nevertheless, the author’s portrait of medical cloning and its effects on a near-future society is compelling, especially as enhanced by the deepest voice in audio, that of Stefan Rudnicki. Voicing a dog-tired man at the end of his rope, Rudnicki reads in a monotone, eschewing emotion or verve in favor of grim exhaustion. As the story moves forward relentlessly, the listener is immersed in a world in which a man can live for too long a time, drifting with no discernible purpose or goal. Later, as copious dialogue takes center stage, Rudnicki defines various characters and their traits, allowing the listener some auditory relief from this bleak world. A.Z.W. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2010]