Quinn's Book

The scene is still Albany and environs, but the time is the decade or so preceding the Civil War, the tone ``high fantastical.'' Daniel Quinn is a self-reliant orphan; plucky, ambitious and in love. ``Narrative is not the essence here,'' commented PW of this ``richly packed'' novel. ``It is Quinn' s endless, apparently effortless invention that dazzles, like a virtuoso musician improvising.'' 75,000 first printing; $65,000 ad/promo. (May)