Talking Book Topics

November-December 1997
Books for Adults--Fiction

Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including biographies, classics, gothics, mysteries, romances, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books are labeled with the code RC and play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library.

Note: For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language."

Fires of Winter RC 41831
by Johanna Lindsey
read by Anne Hancock
3 cassettes
Lady Brenna of Wales hates the Vikings, and she cannot understand why her father has promised her to Garrick Haardrad, son of a Viking chieftain. But she loves her father and will do his bidding. However, when Garrick's father arrives to claim Brenna for his son, he comes with only vengeance on his mind. Some violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1980.

Playboy Stories: The Best of Forty Years of Short Fiction RC 42199
edited by Alice K. Turner
read by Gary Roan
5 cassettes
Collection of short stories that have appeared in Playboy magazine. Authors include Ray Bradbury, Shirley Jackson, James Thurber, James Baldwin, John Cheever, Joyce Carol Oates, Nadine Gordimer, Isaac Bashevis Singer, and many more. The preface states, "There is no 'formula' to Playboy fiction--though we admit to a weakness for a good, strong story line." Descriptions of sex and some strong language. 1994.

Children of the Alley RC 42356
by Naguib Mahfouz
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Originally written in 1959. The Nobel Prize-winning author spins a tale of the descendants of Gabalawi, a wealthy and powerful man. Outcasts of the family settle around the walls of the estate to form an "alley," which becomes the birthplace of Egypt. Outwardly, the story depicts the residents' struggles, weaknesses, successes, and failures. At a second level of meaning, it is an allegory of the spiritual history of humankind. Violence and some strong language. 1996.

House on Fire RC 42368
by Denis Hamill
read by Ray Foushee
3 cassettes
Fireman Kevin Dempsey wooed his wife, Polly, after saving her from a fire. He buys a house for her birthday while she's on vacation, but she calls to say she and daughter, Zoe, are not returning--and that Zoe is not his biological child. While Kevin reels from the lab tests that prove his sterility, his older brother Frank, a cop suspended for stealing, sets out to find Polly. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1996.

The Tunnel RC 42472
by William H. Gass
read by Steven Carpenter
6 cassettes
William Frederick Kohler, a midwestern professor in his fifties, has finished his life's work--a study called Guilt and Innocence in Hitler's Germany. All Kohler has left to write is the preface. But as he attempts to do so, he finds himself writing the story of his own life, spent mostly either in a chair or digging a tunnel out of his basement. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1995.

Collected Short Stories RC 42527
by Aldous Huxley
read by Anne Flosnik
3 cassettes
Twenty-one short stories originally published in 1957 reflect Huxley's penchant for mysticism and interest in social commentary. Includes "Happily Ever After," "The Death of Lully," "Sir Hercules," "Little Mexican," "Young Archimedes," "Chawdron," "Fairy Godmother," and "The Claxtons." 1957.

Showdown at Centerpoint: Star Wars Corellian Trilogy, Book 3 RC 42546
by Roger MacBride Allen
read by Chuck Benson
2 cassettes
As Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia fight to put down the revolt of the Human League in the Corellian sector, it becomes apparent that the rebels have weapons capable of incredible destruction at their disposal. And the worst of these is the infamous Starbuster, a weapon that can be programmed to annihilate entire solar systems. Sequel to Assault at Selonia (RC 42545). 1995.

Banking on Death: A John Putnam Thatcher Mystery RC 42560
by Emma Lathen
read by Andy Chappell
2 cassettes
What begins as a "nuisance trust" to New York banker John Putnam Thatcher becomes a murder investigation and much more. The Schneider family is difficult at best, but are some of them involved in the death of one of the heirs? 1961.

The Yellowstone: Rivers West RC 42563
by Win Blevins
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
The Great Northwest, 1840s. Robert Burns Maclean, known to all as Mac, has been trapping in the Shining Mountains with several other men. He feels at loose ends, but when he sees the Yellowstone, he realizes his destiny lies along its banks. He will start his own trading business and ask permission to marry Annemarie, a Cheyenne woman. But Mac has no money with which to begin his venture. Strong language and some violence. 1988.

Battle Flag RC 42564
by Bernard Cornwell
read by Roy Avers
3 cassettes
Nate Starbuck, Bostonian turned Confederate officer, serves under Stonewall Jackson during the hectic summer of 1862. Overcoming both personal and military challenges, Nate distinguishes himself in a series of actions leading up to the climactic and bloody Second Battle of Manassas. Sequel to Copperhead (RC 39191). 1995.

The Powder River: Rivers West RC 42576
by Win Blevins
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Adam Smith Maclean, part Indian, who works as a doctor at an army fort to which Cheyenne people are being relocated, and Elaine, a teacher, have just gotten married. On the couple's wedding night, the Cheyenne decide they can no longer endure their treatment and must return to the Powder River, fifteen hundred miles north. Adam and Elaine feel they must go also, but army soldiers will not make it an easy trip. Some strong language and some violence. 1990.

HMS Cockerel: An Alan Lewrie Naval Adventure RC 42577
by Dewey Lambdin
read by Bruce Huntey
3 cassettes
A domesticated Alan Lewrie is recalled to active service for England's war with revolutionary France. As first lieutenant aboard the HMS Cockerel, Alan is caught up in the bloody siege of Toulon, a brief capture by Napoleon Bonaparte, and a climactic sea battle. A fast-paced, bawdy story told with technical and historical detail. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.

The Truest Pleasure RC 42588
by Robert Morgan
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
North Carolina mountains, early twentieth century. Ginny Peace is seventeen when she attends her first Pentecostal revival and has an experience that causes religion to become a major force in her life. Ginny eventually meets and joins Tom Powell in a marriage of convenience: she needs someone to help her care for her father and their land, and Tom wants a farm of his own. But soon Ginny's faith becomes a problem for Tom. Some strong language. 1995.

Animal Planet RC 42598
by Scott Bradfield
read by Barry Bernson
2 cassettes
A dark and incisive satire on corporate America and popular culture. Charlie the Crow roams the globe inciting an animal revolt against human domination. Though Charlie's own rebellion is quashed, it sets off a wildlife uprising that is soon exploited by opportunistic human marketers. Strong language. 1995.

The Colorado: Rivers West RC 42600
by Gary McCarthy
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Isaac Beard works for his father-in-law in St. Louis until the day mountain man Jim Savage comes to town. Following a series of unfortunate incidents, Isaac and Jim set out for the Colorado Grand River, where they plan to become rich trapping beaver. It is more than a year before Isaac returns to St. Louis to claim his family. But things have changed, and it is a different family that makes a home along the Colorado. Strong language and some violence. 1989.

Changing Seasons: 1954-1980 RC 42602
by Betty Palmer Nelson
read by Terry Hayes Sales
3 cassettes
Evelyn Lanier met Ward Knight in high school and married him after college. As the years go by, the children arrive, Evelyn becomes restless, and the marriage breaks up. Only then does she begin to realize she must rely on the strength of previous generations of women in her family. Sequel to Uncertain April (RC 39428). Some strong language. 1996.

The Collected Short Fiction of Bruce Jay Friedman RC 42603
by Bruce Jay Friedman
read by Barry Bernson
3 cassettes
This collection of short stories, originally published between 1953 and 1995, is divided into seven sections: "By Way of Introduction," "Crazed Youth," "Halcyon Days," "Mother," "Sex," "Death," and "The Family Man." Known for his black humor and satiric, surrealistic style, Friedman includes works previously uncollected or unpublished. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1995.

Ship Fever and Other Stories RC 42607
by Andrea Barrett
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
2 cassettes
Collection of eight short stories, many taking place in the historical past and within the context of scientific inquiry and discovery. The title piece, a novella set during Ireland's Great Famine, describes the existential adventure of a young Canadian doctor who tends to Irish immigrants suffering from typhus while he tries to impress the woman he loves. 1996.

Bloodline RC 42610
by Sidney Sheldon
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes (Reissue)
When beautiful Elizabeth Roffe becomes heir to her father's international pharmaceutical empire, her decision not to sell the stock exposes her and the company to great danger. Some strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1978. 1977.

The Harry Chronicles RC 42619
by Allan Pedrazas
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
With income from his Fort Lauderdale beach pub, Harry Rice finances his avocation as a private investigator. When Harry is hired to locate a stolen gun collection, he becomes embroiled in adultery, smuggling, and murder--for which he himself is a suspect. An elusive naked dancer and an iron-pumping mobster add color. Some strong language. 1995.

St. Famous RC 42621
by Jonathan Dee
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
While Paul Soloway is recuperating from having been kidnapped and beaten, he is courted by the media to tell his story. An unpublished novelist, Paul is loath to cash in on what he considers to be a cheesy story of random violence. When his agent finally discovers which buttons to push, Paul agrees to a lucrative book deal about his experience. Meanwhile Paul's captured abductor is contemplating his own claim to fame. Some strong language and some violence. 1996.

Accounting for Murder: A John Putnam Thatcher Mystery RC 42632
by Emma Lathen
read by Andy Chappell
1 cassette
At first, Senior Vice President John Putnam Thatcher is acting only to protect the Sloan Guaranty Trust interests in the National Calculating Company (NCC). But when a renowned auditor reviewing the NCC books is murdered, Thatcher launches into an investigation of the sinister business. 1964.

The House on the Lagoon RC 42669
by Rosario Ferré
read by Gabriella Cavallero
3 cassettes
In twentieth-century Puerto Rico, Isabel is writing a novel that depicts her marriage and the family history. Her husband, angered at her account, adds his version of events. The combined story reveals political conflicts, power struggles, racism, and sexism that pit family members against one another. 1995.

The Dawn of Mercy: Winds of Change, Volume 1 RC 42677
by Michael R. Joens
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
Already three generations of Hochreiters have kept the Montana ranch going, and Tyler, as first-born, is expected to follow in his father's footsteps. But Tyler knows that the family's gift for farming has gone to his brother Billy. Tyler wants to become a preacher. But will his father understand? 1996.

Zia Summer RC 42682
by Rudolfo Anaya
read by David Hartley-Margolin
3 cassettes
The murder of his beautiful cousin haunts Sonny Baca, small-time private investigator. More than a sense of obligation to his Chicano family, his love for Gloria drives him to investigate what looks like a cult sacrifice of her life. The fears and undercurrents around the murder threaten to explode the usually peaceful Albuquerque, with its coexisting Hispanic, Anglo, and Native American cultures. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex. 1995.

Equation for Evil RC 42683
by Philip Caputo
read by Chuck Benson
4 cassettes
In California, Duane Boggs opens fire on a school bus full of Asian American children and then kills himself. Special agent Gabriel Chin is assigned to assist psychiatrist Leander Heartwood in performing a psychiatric autopsy on Boggs to determine if the slaying was driven by racism or something else. They soon realize the strong probability of a mastermind behind Boggs. Strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1996.

Four Ways to Forgiveness RC 42690
by Ursula K. Le Guin
read by Yvonne Fair Tessler
2 cassettes
Four interconnected novellas that all take place on the twin planets Werel, a slave-owning oligarchy, and Yeowe, Werel's subjugated colony, which eventually rebels and wins independence. The protagonist of A Woman's Liberation is a former slave, who escapes one kind of servitude only to discover its existence in another form. Some descriptions of sex. 1995.

Hide and Seek RC 42717
by James Patterson
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Singer Maggie Bradford has fame, two children, and a new husband named Will who is an actor and former soccer star. But Maggie, who once killed an abusive husband, suspects Will of sexually abusing her daughter. She confronts him and soon is on trial for murder. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

Exclusive RC 42718
by Sandra Brown
read by Yvonne Fair Tessler
3 cassettes
Not known as an outstanding reporter, Barrie Travis is delighted when the first lady offers her an exclusive about her son's crib death. But the president's wife has more than simple grief on her mind, and soon Travis is investigating a complex plot. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

A Broken Vessel: Julian Kestrel Mystery RC 42753
by Kate Ross
read by James DeLotel
2 cassettes
A nineteenth-century Cockney prostitute, Sally Stokes, pinches an anonymous letter written by a woman whose life is in danger. Julian Kestrel, a dandy and amateur sleuth, sets out with Sally to save the woman, but they must determine her identity and that of Sally's client. Strong language, violence, and some descriptions of sex. 1994.

Conquerors' Pride RC 42756
by Timothy Zahn
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
After a long period of interstellar peace, an eight-ship Peacekeeper task force is attacked and destroyed. When a high-ranking statesman discovers that his son is the sole survivor of the battle, he recruits Adam Quinn of the elite Copperheads to mobilize his team of fighter pilots for the rescue. 1994.

Bearer of the Pipe RC 42760
by Don Coldsmith
read by David Palmer
2 cassettes
Dark Antelope, chief tracker and scout of Elk-Dog People, is borne a son, Wolf Pup. This "child of destiny" comes to discover his true calling: medicine man and bearer of the pipe, the Story Skins, and the sacred Spanish bit. However, before he can realize his destiny, Wolf Pup must undergo a dangerous vision quest into the wilderness. 1995.

Choke RC 42762
by Stuart Woods
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
Former Wimbledon contender Chuck Chandler teaches tennis in Key West. His first clients are millionaire Harry Carras and his wife, Clare. Chuck's attraction to Clare makes him a murder suspect when Harry dies in a mysterious diving accident. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.

Out of the Darkness RC 42763
by Susan Kelly
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Liz Connors is worried about her income when two of the magazines she writes crime columns for in Cambridge, Massachusetts, threaten to fold. Then noted crime writer Griffin Marcus asks her to help him with a book. Over the past few years, the bodies of women with multiple stab wounds in their chests have been found on the banks of a local river. Marcus wants to prove a man just captured is responsible. Strong language and some violence. 1992.

Secret Admirer RC 42764
by Patricia MacDonald
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
On New Year's Eve, children's book author and illustrator Laura Reed is in her sick son's room when she hears a loud noise. Knocked unconscious by an intruder, Laura awakens to find her husband dead and herself the prime suspect, especially in the eyes of her mother-in-law. When childhood acquaintance Ian Turner sails into the beach town, Laura is grateful for his friendship, even though it starts more hateful rumors. Strong language and some violence. 1995.

Windy City Blues: V.I. Warshawski Stories RC 42770
by Sara Paretsky
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Collection of nine stories set in Chicago about the tough female private eye. In "Grace Notes," V.I. relates the history of her family as she tracks down her grandmother's past. Features several characters from other Warshawski mysteries. Some strong language and some violence. 1995.

The Distinguished Guest RC 42771
by Sue Miller
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
Activist author Lily Maynard, in her eighties, is in failing health and must live with her son's family until she moves into a retirement community. Her acclaimed memoirs have brought her notoriety but also revealed her family's pain, which they now must face. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1995.

Carnal Hours RC 42773
by Max Allan Collins
read by Bruce Huntey
2 cassettes
The wealthy Sir Harry Oakes, ensconced in tax-free Nassau in 1943, hires Chicago sleuth Nate Heller to get the adulterous goods on his son-in-law. Harry is killed, and his daughter asks Nate to clear her husband of the murder charge. Nate runs into a web of political intrigue in the idyllic islands. Strong language, violence, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1994.

Arachne RC 42778
by Lisa Mason
read by Madelyn Buzzard
2 cassettes
Far above the town of post-quake San Francisco, bionic professionals make instant psychic transactions in telespace. When hallucinations and blackouts threaten Carly Nolan's promising law career, she is pressured to undergo psychic surgery at the hands of a fiend who steals human souls. Strong language and descriptions of sex. 1990.

Walking West RC 42779
by Noëlle Sickels
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
The tale of a grueling and parlous migration of families by covered wagon from Indiana to California in 1852. The story, told from a woman's point of view, is a chronicle of the seven-month journey related in "common little bits . . . the chores and smells and songs and aches." A story of human courage and commitment. Some descriptions of sex. 1995.

The Party at Jack's RC 42780
by Thomas Wolfe
read by James DeLotel
2 cassettes
Written in 1937. Wealthy stockbroker Fritz Jack and his Broadway-designer wife host a party for "the arty crowd" in their Park Avenue penthouse. When a fire breaks out, characters of disparate social levels are brought together, contrasting the worlds of the privileged and the depression have-nots. 1995.

Home Fires RC 42782
by Luanne Rice
read by Carole Jordan Stewart
2 cassettes
After the death of her small daughter and the discovery of her husband's infidelity, Anne Davis returns to her family home on a New England island. When the house catches fire, Anne is rescued by a fireman who understands completely the pain she's experiencing. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.

Ghostlight RC 42783
by Marion Zimmer Bradley
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
Truth Jourdemayne lost her parents in 1969. Her mother died in an occult experiment, conducted by her father, which went wrong. Her father disappeared. Now, thirty years later, Truth is writing a book about him and wants to uncover the truth. She must also prevent a group from repeating the experiment. Some strong language. 1995.

Lily White RC 42799
by Susan Isaacs
read by Barbara Pinolini
4 cassettes
Attorney Lily White (known as Lee) is defending a charming con man who moves from town to town seducing middle-aged women out of their money, and who is now accused of murdering his latest mark. In alternate passages, Lee reviews the shabby treatment in her own personal life. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

Caliban's Hour RC 42818
by Tad Williams
read by David Hartley-Margolin
1 cassette
Driven by a lust for revenge, Caliban has escaped his island and come to Naples to slay Prospero, the duke of Milan. But Prospero is dead, and only his daughter, Miranda, lives to feel the brunt of Caliban's rage. He steals into her bedroom late at night, but before killing her, he will take an hour to tell her the story of his suffering and enslavement. A fantasy tale based on Shakespeare's The Tempest. 1994.

Eye of the Storm RC 42819
by Marcia Muller
read by Pam Ward
2 cassettes
Private investigator Sharon McCone's sister Patsy is involved in fixing up a bed-and-breakfast on an island in the Sacramento delta. The construction is hampered by odd pranks, and Patsy wants Sharon to determine if they are related to a supposed curse on the island. Soon after Sharon meets Patsy's partners and staff, a murder occurs. During a raging storm on the island, Sharon must determine who is the killer. Strong language. 1988.

Daring to Dream RC 42829
by Nora Roberts
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
Laura Templeton, Kate Powell, and Margo Sullivan are raised as sisters. Laura and her brother Josh are heirs of the Templeton Hotel family. Kate is an orphaned cousin. Margo, the daughter of the housekeeper, becomes a world-famous model until her dreams are shattered. Prequel to Holding the Dream (RC 44156). Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

Hard Christmas: A Cat Marsala Mystery RC 42834
by Barbara D'Amato
read by Mary Woods
2 cassettes
Researching a feature story on the Christmas-tree industry, Cat spends Thanksgiving with the DeGraaf family near Holland, Michigan. The beauty of the rural landscape and the clan's warm welcome mask growing tensions until someone puts a young farm worker through the tree baler. Some strong language and some violence. 1995.

Passage to Dawn RC 42835
by R.A. Salvatore
read by Erik Sandvold
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Siege of Darkness (RC 40730), Drizzt and Cattie-brie alter their ship's course to rescue a friend who has been captured by Errtu, master of treachery. Since Drizzt banished Errtu to the Abyss, the evil one has longed for vengeance and freedom. Now, with the trap set, Errtu's dream is within reach. Bestseller 1996.

Tales of Burning Love RC 42836
by Louise Erdrich
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
3 cassettes
Jack Mauser, a passionate man, is the connection among four North Dakota women trapped in a blizzard. Four of his ex-wives share their unique tales of life with the lovable Jack. Characters from Erdrich's earlier works reappear in this wry novel. Strong language and explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

Champagne for One: A Nero Wolfe Mystery RC 42840
by Rex Stout
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes (Reissue)
A murderer poisons only one of many glasses of champagne, and Nero Wolfe is called in to determine how. Some strong language. 1958.

The Member-Guest RC 42841
by Clint McCown
read by David Hartley-Margolin
2 cassettes
Ten interrelated stories by a two-time American Fiction Award winner. Tales are linked to a second-rate country club, where a member-guest tournament sets the stage for characters whose lives are marked with a sense of frustration. Rod, the pro golfer turned manager, considers romance and a return to competition. Bev, the snack bar operator, cheats on her golf-cart-stealing husband. Some strong language. 1995.

The Secret of Two Brothers RC 42846
by Irene Beltrán Hernández
read by Jim Zeiger
1 cassette
At twenty-one, Beaver Torres, in prison for a crime he didn't commit, is paroled. His parole officer points out that Beaver now has two strikes against him: his prison background and his abusive father. Beaver has no intention of returning to prison. Besides his overriding goal of shielding his little brother from the life Beaver led, he dreams of turning his prison-taught cooking skills into a career. For junior and senior high readers. 1995.

Doctors and Lawyers and Such RC 42847
by Susan Rogers Cooper
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
Newly elected Oklahoma sheriff Milt Kovak of Other People's Houses (RC 34383) sees a rash of suicides in his usually quiet county. He is also investigating the murder of a celebrity and helping his wife, a polio survivor, cope with her pregnancy. Some strong language. 1995.

King of Spades RC 42855
by Frederick Manfred
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes (Reissue)
Young Earl Ransom is found on the prairie with no memory of how he got there or who he is. Years later on the Dakota frontier, Earl confronts his identity and the conflicts of his past. A family saga set in the mid-nineteenth-century American West. Descriptions of sex. 1966.

The Big Ballad Jamboree RC 42856
by Donald Davidson
read by Jim Zeiger
3 cassettes
In 1940s North Carolina, country music singer Danny MacGregor hopes to wed his childhood sweetheart, Cissy Timberlake. But Cissy goes to college to study folk music, and soon the two must contend with a thieving professor, bootleggers, and conflicts between their folk heritage and music as a business. 1996.

I Will Fear No Evil RC 42857
by Robert A. Heinlein
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
4 cassettes (Reissue)
Aged Johann Sebastian Bach Smith has his brain transplanted into a new body. The operation is a huge success, but he is no longer Sebastian. He is now fused with the very vocal personality of his beautiful secretary Eunice. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1970.

Tracks of the Hunter RC 42859
by John Callahan
read by Bob Askey
1 cassette
John Garrett's son sits in a Mexican jail waiting for a firing squad. Formerly part of an outlaw band, he faces charges including murder. But the Mexicans want the band's ringleaders and offer Garrett his son's life in exchange for the seven vicious killers. 1968.

The Death of Bernadette Lefthand RC 42860
by Ron Querry
read by Gabriella Cavallero
2 cassettes
After performing native dances for a loving crowd, wearing a white deerskin dress she had carefully made, Bernadette is brutally murdered. Gracie, her younger sister, and Starr, a white model who employed Bernadette, reveal terrible events that have occurred in the Navajo and Jacarillo communities. Bernadette represents good in the struggle against the evils of alcohol and witchcraft. Strong language and violence. 1993.

The Year the Horses Came: Earthsong Trilogy, Volume 1 RC 42879
by Mary Mackey
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
In prehistoric Brittany, the earth goddess reigns over a people who honor women and the life-giving force. Young Marrah is shocked when Stavan, a stranger from an approaching tribe, tells of his warlike culture. They journey to warn others of invaders on horseback. Prequel to The Horses at the Gate (RC 42880). Violence, strong language, and explicit descriptions of sex. 1993.

The Rose without a Thorn RC 42904
by Jean Plaidy
read by Margaret Strom
2 cassettes
Young Katherine Howard, though impoverished, has noble connections that lead her to the sumptuous court of Henry VIII. As Henry tires of Anne of Cleves, the pretty Katherine is chosen as his fifth queen, a deadly proposition. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1993.

Marling Hall: A Barsetshire Novel RC 42906
by Angela Thirkell
read by Anne Flosnik
2 cassettes
Mr. Marling, of Marling Hall, realizes he will probably never be able to hold onto his wonderful old estate and to pass it down to his children. World War II is bringing an end to so many things, but in the months prior to Pearl Harbor, the Marlings carry on as best they can in the face of rationing and changed living conditions. 1942.

In a Glass House RC 42929
by Nino Ricci
read by Peter Gil
2 cassettes
In this sequel to The Book of Saints (RC 33390), Victor comes from Italy to live with his father and illegitimate sister in Canada. Victor's father hates the girl, and Victor becomes her protector. Amid family tensions, Victor struggles between the ways of the Old World and the New. Strong language. 1993.

Louisa May Alcott's Fairy Tales and Fantasy Stories RC 42939
by Louisa May Alcott
read by Annie Wauters
4 cassettes
Thirty-nine didactic tales spanning Alcott's entire literary career, including "The Frost King," "Ripple, the Water Spirit," "Little Gulliver," "A Strange Island," "Fairy Pinafores," "The Candy Country," "Cockyloo," and "Mermaids." First collection to include all of Alcott's fairy tales and fantasy stories from 1845-1888. 1992.

A Fate Totally Worse than Death RC 42945
by Paul Fleischman
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
The Huns are a group of very rich students at Cliffside High School. Earlier, three Hun girls arranged the death of an outsider who tried to date a Hun. Now Helga, a new girl, is showing interest in a Hun boy. But as the girls make their plans for Helga, their bodies start aging rapidly. For junior and senior high readers. 1995.

Thirteen Stories and Thirteen Epitaphs RC 42949
by William T. Vollmann
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
These short stories exploring the underside of American life are unified, in part, by the main character's recurring involvement with peculiar people in unusual situations. Prostitutes, pimps, parlor girls, and vagabonds pepper these "epitaphs." Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 1991.

Saying Grace RC 42954
by Beth Gutcheon
read by Faith Potts
2 cassettes
The Country School in Seven Springs, California, is run by headmistress Rue Shaw. Rue's daughter, who is heading to Juilliard, is a shining example of Rue's success. But troubled children and teachers disrupt the school, and Rue's own life begins to unravel. 1995.

The Riders RC 42995
by Tim Winton
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
After years of wandering around Europe, Australian Fred Scully, his wife, and their daughter decide to settle in rural Ireland. While Fred works on the house there, the others return to Australia to settle affairs. When his daughter comes back alone, Fred sets out on a desperate search for his wife. Strong language. 1994.

Irene's Last Waltz RC 42996
by Carole Nelson Douglas
read by Barbara Caruso
3 cassettes
Irene Adler, who has matched wits with Sherlock Holmes before, meets him again as she probes sinister phenomena around the Bohemian court: an unconsummated royal marriage and the reappearance of the legendary monster Golem in the Prague ghetto. 1994.

Dreams of Dead Women's Handbags: Collected Stories RC 42998
by Shena Mackay
read by Patricia Kilgarriff
3 cassettes
Thirty-one short stories written since 1974 by this British author who often tells of bizarre circumstances in the seemingly normal lives of her characters. In "The Most Beautiful Dress in the World," a weary housewife murders a meter reader after a morning of nonstop irritations. 1994.

A Book That Was Lost and Other Stories RC 43007
by S.Y. Agnon
read by Robert Blumenfeld
3 cassettes
Twenty-five short stories of modern Hebrew literature, some first-time English translations, from the Nobel Prize-winning author. Agnon chronicles the "lost world" of East European Jewry as well as traditional Jewish life in Poland and modern life in Israel in such pieces as "Buczacz," a mythical account of the founding of Agnon's hometown. 1995.

Elizabeth and Her German Garden RC 43013
by Elizabeth von Arnim
read by Yolande Bavan
1 cassette
Elizabeth first sees her German garden when she and her husband leave Berlin and move to their family estate in the 1890s. There Elizabeth finds contentment and escape from her children and husband, the "Man of Wrath," as she watches the changing seasons in her beloved garden. Prequel to The Solitary Summer (RC 43014). 1898.

The Solitary Summer RC 43014
by Elizabeth von Arnim
read by Yolande Bavan
1 cassette
In this sequel to Elizabeth and Her German Garden (RC 43013), Elizabeth discusses the summer she spent in near solitude enjoying her garden. She did occasionally have to contend with her husband, the "Man of Wrath," and her children. 1899.

Blood Sympathy: A Joe Sixsmith Novel RC 43015
by Reginald Hill
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
Joe Sixsmith, a black, balding, middle-aged, laid-off lathe operator, believes Luton, England, needs a private investigator. He has just set up shop with his feline partner when he is confronted by several clients: a man who claims to have killed his family, a woman whose husband is being held on suspicion of drug smuggling, and a neighbor whose shop is being visited by petty thieves. Some strong language. 1993.

The Bad Samaritan: A Novel of Suspense Featuring Charlie Peace RC 43021
by Robert Barnard
read by George Holmes
2 cassettes
When vicar's wife Rosemary Sheffield realizes she has lost her faith, she takes a trip to the seashore to think it over. There she befriends a young Bosnian man, who follows her back home to the vicarage. Gossip that they are having an affair takes a back seat to a more serious charge. The Bosnian is suspected of killing an unlikable church member, and detective Charlie Peace is on the case. 1995.

The Body in the Bog: A Faith Fairchild Mystery RC 43024
by Katherine Hall Page
read by Barbara Caruso
2 cassettes
When a developer proposes to build a housing subdivision on a New England bog, environmentalists are outraged. After verbal threats escalate to vandalism, arson, and murder, Faith Fairchild investigates and becomes a stalker's target. 1996.

GoldenEye RC 43033
by John Gardner
read by Graeme Malcolm
1 cassette
James Bond faces Janus, a ruthless Russian gang that has transcended ideology in favor of money and power. Now that Janus has acquired GoldenEye, a high-tech space system that can destroy the West's financial markets, its nefarious goal is within reach unless 007 can outwit it. Violence and descriptions of sex. 1995.

The Dharma Bums RC 43036
by Jack Kerouac
read by Ed Blake
2 cassettes
In 1955 two young men search for Truth the Zen way in their dissolute wanderings on America's West Coast. A story that celebrates the freedom of those who have opted out of conventional society. 1958.

Penrod and Sam RC 43040
by Booth Tarkington
read by Jack Fox
2 cassettes
Penrod and his buddy Sam get involved in numerous childhood pranks. In the best of military traditions, they take "bonded pris'ners" in their battles. Penrod has a special tonic he sells at his "drug store." They refuse to dance with the girls at Amy Rennsdale's birthday party. And they buy a "stolen" horn. For high school and older readers. 1916.

A Crown of Swords: The Wheel of Time, Book 7 RC 43043
by Robert Jordan
read by Roy Avers
5 cassettes
In this sequel to Lord of Chaos (RC 39661), Elayne, Aviendha, and Mat attempt to disrupt the world's unending heatwave and restore natural weather through the use of ter'angreal. Meanwhile, Rand al'Thor--the Dragon Reborn--has a showdown with the fearsome Forsaken Sammael at Shadar Logoth, as Mashadar, the predatory mist, lurks nearby. Some violence. 1996.

Himmelfarb RC 43047
by Michael Krüger
read by Andy Chappell
1 cassette
In 1942, Richard, a German social scientist, travels to the Amazon with his assistant, Leo, to study its people. Richard disdains the natives, while Leo embraces their culture. When Leo falls ill, he leaves a brilliant manuscript to Richard, who returns home alone to publish it as his own. After fifty years Leo reappears to settle the score. 1994.

Chief Joseph: War Chiefs RC 43051
by Bill Dugan
read by John Polk
2 cassettes
Fictionalized account of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce War in 1877. When gold is discovered in the Columbia Basin, settlers are allowed by corrupt officials to encroach in the Nez Perce reservation. As Chief Joseph tries to flee to Canada and freedom, he confronts the U.S. Army aiming to stop his flight. A tragic war ensues. 1992.

The Snake River: Rivers West RC 43054
by Win Blevins
read by Roy Avers
2 cassettes
Pacific Northwest, 1830s. Flare O'Flaherty is a trapper who seems down on his luck when Dr. Samuel Full asks him to lead a group of Christians to a mission on the Pacific Coast. Full doesn't like O'Flaherty's terms, but Miss Jewel, a missionary, convinces him. Along the way O'Flaherty faces many challenges, but the greatest are Miss Jewel and Sima, a young brave who is searching for his white father. Some strong language and some violence. 1992.

Signals of Distress RC 43074
by Jim Crace
read by David Palmer
2 cassettes
In 1837 two ships arrive at remote Wherrytown on the English coast. One ship brings Aymer Smith with news that stands to devastate the local economy. The second is an American emigration ship run aground. The confluence of these visitors and the residents leads to conflicts over slavery, technology, religion, and culture. Explicit descriptions of sex. 1995.

Whistling in the Dark: True Stories and Other Fables RC 43081
by George Garrett
read by Andy Chappell
2 cassettes
A mix of personal stories and anecdotes that relate to life experiences of the author. While most concern events from his academic career and World War II, Garrett also offers some irreverent comments on his forbears from Civil War times. 1992.

Who Brings Forth the Wind RC 43099
by Lori Wick
read by Jill Ferris
3 cassettes
Having grown up in the country, Stacy Daniels is hesitant to go to London. But at her family's urging, Stacy goes and is quickly caught up in the social season of 1853. A chance meeting with Lord Tanner Richardson soon brings happiness and then turmoil into her life. Sequel to Wings of the Morning (RC 39528). 1994.

Dove and Sword: A Novel of Joan of Arc RC 43108
by Nancy Garden
read by Gerry Kasarda
2 cassettes
Gabrielle, who grew up with Jeannette d'Arc, tells of Jeannette's going to war to help the French recover their throne from the English. Gabrielle studied healing with her mother and is well prepared to serve as an army medic. But she is not prepared to see her friend burned at the stake. For junior and senior high readers. 1995.

How I Changed My Life RC 43121
by Todd Strasser
read by Gregory Gorton
1 cassette
In alternating chapters, high school students Bo and Kyle discuss a period of change in their lives. At loose ends after a knee injury, former football captain Kyle tries out for the school play. This displeases his girlfriend, Chloe, but delights Bo, the stage manager, who develops a crush on Kyle. For junior and senior high readers. 1995.

An Island like You: Stories of the Barrio RC 43132
by Judith Ortiz Cofer
read by Gabriella Cavallero
1 cassette
Stories about teens who blend two cultures in a Puerto Rican barrio in New Jersey. In "Bad Influence," Rita disobeys and is shipped to Puerto Rico to spend the summer with her rather odd grandparents. In "Arturo's Flight," after being teased about liking poetry, Arturo plans to run away. Some strong language. For junior and senior high readers. 1995.

The Book of Knowledge RC 43140
by Doris Grumbach
read by Martha Harmon Pardee
2 cassettes
An idyllic summer leads four children to an anguished sexual awakening at a New York seaside resort in 1929. Their later lives are shattered by the depression, World War II, and personal tragedies. Yet, it is their stifled sexual needs that lead to their ultimate undoing. Descriptions of sex. 1995.

The Doors Open RC 43146
by Michael Gilbert
read by Jim Zeiger
2 cassettes
Life before World War II had been good to Paddy Yeatman-Carter. And during the war, he commanded the finest regiment in the British army. But his peacetime life as a clerk is a dull one--until he happens to intervene in an attempted suicide. That single altruistic act plunges Paddy into a world of intrigue and peril. 1962.

The Pumpkin Rollers RC 43160
by Elmer Kelton
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
With the Civil War over, young Trey McLean believes the time has come to head west and fulfill his dream of becoming a cattleman. Known at first as a pumpkin roller (a green farmboy with no knowledge of ranching), Trey soon learns, but not without some problems--and a little romance--along the way. Some strong language. 1996.

The Third Twin RC 43176
by Ken Follett
read by Madelyn Buzzard
3 cassettes
A young woman scientist happens upon a genetic research project to produce the ideal soldier. She locates and becomes involved with one of the cloned men, who stands accused of a rape committed by his twin. Her research uncovers a vast conspiracy to genetically alter all of society. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

The Notebook RC 43180
by Nicholas Sparks
read by Robert Sams
1 cassette
An elderly man reads from a notebook to his wife, who has Alzheimer's disease. Gradually he unfolds the story of a couple who fell in love the summer after high school and were reunited by a fluke fourteen years later. But will his wife recognize her own story? Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

An Acceptable Time RC 43198
by Madeleine L'Engle
read by Nona Pipes
2 cassettes
In this companion to A House like a Lotus (RC 23837), sixteen-year-old Polly O'Keefe visits her grandparents' farm in Connecticut and discovers a "time gate" that takes her back three thousand years. There she meets Anaral, a Native American girl; Karralys, a druid expelled from Britain; and Tav, a warrior who has accompanied Karralys. For junior and senior high readers. 1989.

A High Wind in Jamaica RC 43203
by Richard Hughes
read by Tom Martin
2 cassettes (Reissue)
An adventure fantasy first published in 1929. A hurricane razes the Thornton home in the West Indies and the children are sent to England. Word reaches the parents that the children have been captured by pirates. Some violence. 1928.

As the Wolf Loves Winter RC 43216
by David Poyer
read by Christopher Walker
3 cassettes
In this sequel to Winter in the Heart (RC 39035), the petroleum resources of Hemlock County are nearly depleted. When hunter "Racks" Halvorsen witnesses a murder in the woods, he follows the culprits to a field of illegal gas wells, where a kidnapped girl is held. Racks attempts to rescue the girl and escape through the icy forest. Violence and strong language. 1996.

Ugly Ways RC 43218
by Tina McElroy Ansa
read by Camille McCurty Ali
2 cassettes
Three grown sisters return home for the funeral of their mother, Mudear. As the sisters reminisce, they discuss their own lives and fears, realizing how deeply they were affected by their mother's remoteness. In the process, each daughter comes to grips with her relationship to Mudear. Strong language. 1993.

Moonlight Becomes You RC 43231
by Mary Higgins Clark
read by Sharon Murray
2 cassettes
In a terrifying opening scene, fashion photographer Maggie Holloway finds herself buried alive in a satin-lined coffin. The tale flashes back to Maggie's recent reunion with her long-ago stepmother, Nuala Moore. After Nuala is violently killed, Maggie links her death and others to a single person--who has the same designs on Maggie. Bestseller 1996.

Married at Midnight RC 43232
by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss and others
read by Mitzi Friedlander
2 cassettes
In this sequel to Three Weddings and a Kiss (RC 41314), Woodiwiss and three different authors recount the stories of four more brides. In each account a young woman unexpectedly finds herself becoming a bride surprised by unforeseen love. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. Bestseller 1996.

Out of Sight RC 43239
by Elmore Leonard
read by Ray Foushee
2 cassettes
While on a prison visit, deputy marshal Karen Sisco becomes locked in a car trunk with escaping felon Jack Foley. Later, as Foley is about to score a multimillion-dollar heist, he becomes romantically connected with Sisco, who is part of a federal stakeout. Strong language and violence. Bestseller 1996.

The Burning Man RC 43243
by Phillip Margolin
read by David Palmer
2 cassettes
After botching a major case at his father's law firm, Peter Hall hopes to redeem himself as a small town's public defender. When he agrees to defend a retarded man in a murder case, Hale is forced to confront his own limitations and accept an awesome responsibility. Strong language, violence, and descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

Gods and Generals RC 43292
by Jeff Shaara
read by Christopher Hurt
4 cassettes
Shaara depicts the onset of the Civil War right up to the Battle of Gettysburg in this prequel to his father's The Killer Angels (RC 8688). The story is told primarily through the lives of Stonewall Jackson, Winfield Scott Hancock, Joshua Chamberlain, and Robert E. Lee. Describes significant battles fought at Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. Bestseller 1996.

To the Hilt RC 43293
by Dick Francis
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
Alexander Kinloch would rather be in Scotland painting, but he is called home to London. His stepfather has had a heart attack after learning that large sums of money have been stolen from the family brewery. It is now up to Alexander to save the business, and his only hope seems to be a horse named Golden Malt. Some strong language. Bestseller 1996.

Promises RC 43294
by Belva Plain
read by Barbara Caruso
3 cassettes
Adam Crane almost didn't marry Margaret, even though they had been engaged for some time. There was another woman, Randi, in his life. But they did marry, their lives have been happy, and they have raised three lovely children and Margaret's cousin, Nina. Then on a trip to New York, they run into Randi. Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

Heartstone RC 43295
by Phillip Margolin
read by L.J. Ganser
2 cassettes
Richie Walters and Elaine Murray are high school students when they begin dating. The night they drive up to Lookout Park, Richie plans to ask Elaine to go steady with him. But someone else shows up, and suddenly Richie is dead and Elaine is missing. Now, years later, Willie Heartstone knows he is dying, and he wants to tell the truth about what happened that night. Violence, strong language, and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1978.

Servant of the Bones RC 43298
by Anne Rice
read by Ken Kliban
3 cassettes
Azriel is an educated and wealthy young man living as a captive Hebrew in ancient Babylon. Saved from death by evil priests and sorcerers, he is transformed into a supernatural spirit in human form to carry out their bidding. Azriel battles the dark forces as he embarks on a journey through time and ends up in 1990s Manhattan. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

The Fallen Man RC 43319
by Tony Hillerman
read by Bob Askey
2 cassettes
Retired Navajo policeman Joe Leaphorn joins his former partner Jim Chee in investigating the skeleton of a man found on a mountain ledge. Chee, who is also tracking cattle rustlers, follows a trail that sheds light on the fallen man and helps the two sleuths uncover the story of his tragic death. Bestseller 1996.

Tarnished Gold RC 43327
by V.C. Andrews
read by Mary Woods
2 cassettes
Gabriel lives in the Louisiana swamp with her Cajun parents. Just before graduating from high school, she is raped by wealthy, married Octavious Tate. Pregnant, Gabriel reluctantly agrees to give the baby to the Tates. Later when Gabriel falls in love with an unhappily married man, she gets pregnant again. Prequel to Hidden Jewel (RC 43329). Some strong language and some descriptions of sex. Bestseller 1996.

The Killing Floor RC 43353
by Peter Turnbull
read by Graeme Malcolm
2 cassettes
The grisly discovery of a headless, handless corpse sets the Glasgow police on a trail of clues and conspiracies involving murder, blackmail, and corruption. The investigation uncovers a thirty-year-old fraud that could shake the city to its foundations. A story that uses descriptions of police and forensic procedures. 1994.

Tularosa RC 43385
by Michael McGarrity
read by Gregory Gorton
2 cassettes
Retired Santa Fe detective Kevin Kerney goes back into action when his former partner's soldier-son disappears. Kerney joins forces with comely army investigator Sara Brannon in the search and makes a tragic discovery that sets them on a perilous trail of smuggling, treason, and murder. Strong language and violence. 1996.

The Christmas Tree RC 43548
by Julie Salamon
read by Brian Conn
1 cassette
Inspired by the New Jersey nuns who in 1995 donated a large Norway spruce to Rockefeller Center for its official Christmas tree. The Center's chief gardener tells this tale of his yearly search for the perfect Christmas tree and of what happens when the one he wants is the best friend of an elderly nun. Bestseller 1996.

The Last Thing He Wanted RC 43551
by Joan Didion
read by Madelyn Buzzard
1 cassette
Washington Post reporter Elena McMahon receives a distress call from her father, a dealer in illegal weapons. His dying request is that she deliver a shipment of arms to the contras in Costa Rica. Soon Elena discovers that she is the dupe in an intrigue plotted by her own government. She must take extreme measures to survive. Strong language. 1996.

The Christmas Box RC 43556
by Richard Paul Evans
read by Barry Bernson
1 cassette
Richard and Keri Evans and their four-year-old daughter, Jenna, are living in a cramped one-room apartment when a unique opportunity arises. MaryAnne Parkin, an elderly woman with a large home, is looking for a live-in couple who can cook and do light housekeeping. And children are welcome. As the four become a family, Richard, who is starting his own business, learns a valuable lesson from MaryAnne and her Christmas box. Bestseller 1993.

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