BATTLEBORN

This story collection is powerfully delivered by an assortment of skilled narrators. In the bleak, wide-open spaces of Nevada and the American West, these characters are as likely to succumb to the violence and heartbreak they encounter as they are to find redemption and relief. Standout stories feature a young Italian who falls hopelessly in love with a prostitute while search parties hunt for his lost hiking companion, and a pair of brothers who are worn down by the grueling life of the Old-West gold miner. There’s little humor or relief in these tales, but neither is the heartbreak and anguish overwhelming. Across the board, the narrations are subtle and subdued—well suited to the restrained tone of these exceptional stories. S.N.M. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2014]