December

In December 1980, a rock band whose members are all psychics, records an album amidst the ancient ruins of an abbey in Wales. The result is tragic; but 14 tormented years later, the band members are lured to a reunion by inescapable forces. Together, they try to stem the evil emanating from the abbey. Though long, this novel rarely drags. But neither does it terrify. A surfeit of plot may be the explanation; it's hard to work up a good scare when moving so quickly and shifting focus so often. The idea of an all-psychic band--a real stretch--suffers here from overkill: the talents of these four men and women include precognition, teleportation and much more. And the novel's whirlwind ending, however entertaining, does not sufficiently resolve all of the preceding conflicts. December remains a good editing's distance away from the caliber of Rickman's (Curfew) best. Less would have been more. (July)