The Golden Mean: In Which the Extraordinary Correspondence of Griffin & Sabine Concludes

Bantock's bewitching trilogy, begun with Griffin & Sabine and Sabine's Notebook , ends with this characteristically curious installment. Once again, Bantock employs his singular brand of visual sorcery to create postcards, stamps and letters that ostensibly travel between two artists--Griffin, a Londoner who has just completed an around-the-world journey, and South Pacific islander Sabine, who insists she awaited his return in London, yet left no sign of her presence. As Griffin wonders whether he and his elusive soul mate occupy ``parallel universes,'' Sabine worries that her telepathic connection to him grows ``murky.'' Desperate to resolve their situation, they seek neutral ground on which to meet. Meanwhile, other questions arise about the nature of their bond. Griffin mentions the death of a woman he loved and receives two threatening postcards from a scientist investigating the ``liaison.'' Bantock's imagery maintains its exoticism, with tantalizing allusions to his previous books, Jungian psychology, mythical ceremonies and the Tarot. If the fictional events here seem more melodramatic and slightly less profound than in earlier volumes, it's because readers know (almost) what to expect. This fantastical and peerless tale--whose conclusion was not revealed to PW --is a must-have for Bantock's collectors. 300,000 first printing. (Sept.)