PARADISE DANCE

Lee makes an impressive debut in this collection, following in the stylistic footsteps of Andre Dubus and Raymond Carver, as he explores the fictional Boston suburb of Albright. He pays homage to his mentors early on, particularly in the opening story, "Glory," in which a man goes to a bar with his father and ends up in an arm-wrestling match, the implications of which go beyond the beating of his opponent. Military themes also surface early, as in the complex "Koza Nights," which outlines the postwar fate of a soldier who killed a prostitute in Vietnam and finds himself being blackmailed by a down-and-out fellow Marine. "Secrets of Cooperstown" follows a couple to a military reunion, where the wife is confronted with a disturbing revelation about her husband. Lee's lighter side surfaces in "The Albright Kid," a charming yarn about a boy who encounters Ted Williams at a baseball camp, and also in "Another Wonder of the World," a humorous tale about some bar buddies who try to start an X-rated miniature golf course. Things turn serious in the title story, which delves into the experience of a teacher who instructs residents of the local rest home in the art of memoir writing. Lee offers a heady blend of compassion, razor-sharp wit and well-honed storytelling skills. His unpublished work has been enjoyed by a select crowd for almost two decades, but this collection is a bid for more general recognition. Agent, Jean Naggar.(Aug.)

Forecast:Lee boasts impressive blurbs (including one from Norman Mailer), and he'll get plenty of attention in his native New England, but without national reviews, this small press offering may not capture the wider audience it deserves.