Elvis Up Close: In the Words of Those Who Knew Him Best

To be published on Elvis's 60th birthday (Jan. 8), this comprehensive biography is narrated by some 150 of the King's family, friends and fans. Freelance journalist Clayton and Heard, Southern producer of Entertainment Tonight, prove to be masterful editors, transforming their vast collection of interviews into a thematically coherent account of Presley's life from early childhood to death. Not a juicy ``tell all''-little revealed here will be news to Elvis fans, and the editors have obviously striven to construct a flattering portrait of their subject-the text is nevertheless full of thoughtful commentary, paying affectionate tribute to one of America's great performers, who is summed up by one fan here as ``just a great big, beautiful hunk of forbidden fruit.'' Photos. (Jan.)