Turbulence.

John H. Nance. 2002. Read by the author. 8 tapes. 12 hrs. Brilliance. 1-58788817-3. $8725. Vinyl; plot, author notes. SA

This thriller goes beyond exciting to pulse pounding, with more twists and turns than a corkscrew. Meridian Flight 6 is scheduled to fly from Chicago to Capetown, South Africa, with a stopover in London. On the first leg, the crew and the pilot are rude and obnoxious and the lead flight attendant insults a U.S. Senator. Between London and Capetown, events deteriorate further. After a series of errors and misinterpretations, the passengers riot and attempt to take over the plane. Meanwhile, the U.S. government is exploring the possibility that international terrorists could use "passenger rage" as a diversion for terrorist acts, F-14 fighters have their rockets locked on to the huge jet ready if necessary to shoot down the plane.

The author provides a fully voiced presentation that gives each character, male or female, a distinct personality. The idea that someone is reading fades into the distance and the characters become real people. Prof. John E. Boyd, Jenkintown, PA