Epiphany

In 1982, when he was 58, Georgia physician Sams published his first novel, Run with the Horsemen, to critical acclaim. Six books later, here's a collection of three long, rather philosophical stories that, although by no means flawless, exhibit the same wisdom and command of language as his earlier works. On the surface, the title story is an engaging tale about a quixotic old doctor battling the harassment of a pompous young medical bureaucrat while trying to treat the blood pressure of a simple working man too proud to ask help from anyone. A deepening relationship between doctor and patient evolves, allowing for the unfolding of a complex secondary story about injustice and racism. Ultimately, the perspectives of both men are profoundly changed. The middle story, ``Harmony Ain't Easy,'' examines the mettle-and enduring resources-of a 40-year marriage against the background of a wildflower-hunting expedition in the remote Georgia mountains that suddenly takes a harrowing turn. In the concluding story, ``Relative & Absolute,'' a trio of high-school seniors, for a class project, interview the town's oldest citizen about the not-so-good old days. While each tale is more than a bit preachy and burdened by long stretches of dialogue, all three are filled with warm insights and piquant questions about our inhumanity to one another. The homespun result is both satisfying and provoking-and well worth the read. (Oct.)