Cuts

Bradbury (Eating People Is Wrong) may have been inspired by the TV adaptation of his novel The History of Man to create this succinct satire set in the Thatcherite England of cuts (in spending, nuclear stockpiles, production, pensions, wages, services) and divisions (between North and South, rich and poor, black and white, young and old). Lord Mellow, of Eldorado Television, eager to guarantee the renewal of his franchise, wants to make a blockbuster of a TV series that will out-sell Brideshead and Jewel of the Crown. His minions have settled on an historical personnage, to be played by a Big Starbut Sir Luke, one of England's theatrical knights, turns down the deal, declaiming, ""Gladstone's not my bag.'' The search is on for a famous author willing to provide the raw material for Eldorado's pot of gold. Enter mild Henry Babbacombe, little-known post-modernist novelist and university lecturer. Henry is swept into the Eldorado maelstrom, loses and finds his feet, cuts, edits, rewrites, and worries until, to his relief, production of the series, Serious Damage, is axed. Cuts is outrageously funny; but, be warned: anyone who can't take a pun won't think so. This is a satisfying entry in the Harper Short Novel series. Illustrations not seen by PW. (October)