Quick Silver

Intense, deeply haunting and enlivened by charismatic fictitious and real-life characters, this saga about Nevada's silver mining and gambling industries covers the period from 1919 to 1953. Following World War I, a trio of ex-MarinesMike Donovan, Jim Delavane and Buck O'Crottyencounters sensuous Ruby Surrett. She and Jim have an affair, despite his recent marriage. When their torrid relationship inevitably ends, Ruby weds Mike while she is carrying Jim's child. Their destinies irrevocably meshed, they all settle in Virginia City, where Jim amasses wealth as a swaggering mine owner; Buck, a man of formidable integrity, is the mine workers' union representative; and Tony, Ruby and Jim's boy, is taken in by Buck after a fire kills the Donovans. Unaware of his real paternity, Tony courts Francie Delavane, Jim's daughter, but their misbegotten passion falters when Francie learns about Tony's background. Tony becomes an executive at the Flamingo, ""Bugsy'' Siegel's opulent hotel casino in Las Vegas. Now a sophisticated businessman and a protege of mobster Meyer Lansky, Tony has two obsessions: finding Francie and identifying Buck's murderer. Turbulent emotions and confrontations fill this spellbinding tale that pits highly principled characters against wanton, amoral ones. To maintain the suspense, Howard (Dirt Rich) deftly shifts from past to present. He is a superlative storyteller. (February 18)