September Publications

Moises Kaufman and his Tectonic Theater Project have written a play documenting the aftermath of the savage killing of Matthew Shepard, including the perspectives of both friends and strangers: The Laramie Project. This innovative theatrical composition, structured not in scenes, but in "moments," addresses the various issues relating to the tragedy of Shepard, a young gay man whose murder has since become a symbol for America's struggle against intolerance. Kaufman's approach is actor-based, as opposed to text-based; a side-effect of this actor-based approach is that in print form it seems as though something is missing. However, the play promises to move the reader with its authentic portrayal of a small town facing a terrifying event. (Vintage, $10 112p ISBN 0-375-72719-1)

British author Steve Aylett depicts a world devoid of morality and consequence in his latest futuristic novel, The Crime Studio. In the stark world of Beerlight, "crime is the last innovative art form," and a cast of characters with such comical names as "Bleach Pastiche" and "Harpoon Specter" practice crime as art, in a manner reminiscent of Burgess's A Clockwork Orange. Aylett injects his dreary vision of the future with biting sarcasm and eloquent wit. The influence of pop culture is strong, from the comic-book imagery to the introductory quote from Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Enjoyable and original, The Crime Studio will appeal to fans of graphic novels and science fiction. (Four Walls, $14.95 160p paper ISBN 1-56858-148-3)

Robin Beeman ably manipulates style and structure in her complex and suspenseful novella, The Lost Art of Desire, awarded the 2000 Texas Review Novella Prize. Set in a lush Mexican jungle (Beeman herself studied and taught in Mexico), the book chronicles the adventures of a pair of lovers on a vacation that turns into something more, elegantly combining introspective philosophical meditation with a fast-moving, entertaining plot. (Texas Review, 95p paper ISBN 1-881515-36-2)

Set in the French countryside, Linda Sole's romantic adventure novel The Rose Arch is the first installment in a new series. The novel follows the journey of young Jenny Heron from her idyllic country childhood in France to a surprise friendship in Paris, and finally through her overwhelming first love affair in the Loire Valley. Coming of age also figures as an important theme in Rosemary Aitken's Stormy Waters, another first novel in a series. Wilhelmina Nicholls and Denzil Vargo grow up in a small Cornish village, each plagued with family troubles. When they fall in love, it's only a matter of time until a fateful secret is revealed. Both novels include beautiful descriptions of the respective landscapes and cultures, as well as convincing depictions of standard characters. (Severn House, $25.99 each 224p each The Rose Arch ISBN 0-7278-5651-0; Stormy Waters -5728-2)

John Suchet, an award-winning television journalist and newscaster, sets himself a daunting challenge with this three-volume fictionalized biography of one of the world's greatest composers. In The Last Master, an homage to Ludwig van Beethoven, Suchet tenaciously adheres to fact while indulging his imagination, chronicling Beethoven's life from his days as a child prodigy to his tragic death. Along the way readers meet important figures in Beethoven's life, including his legendary "Eternal Beloved." This informed and moving work will please both musicians and historians, providing insight into Beethoven's compositions and thoroughly charting his decline as he copes with tragedy and sickness. (Warner, $35 1,504p 3-vol. paper slipcased edition ISBN 0-7515-3066-2)

Dreams and Thunder: Stories, Poems and the Sun Dance Opera by Zitkala-Sa (Gertrude Simmons Bonnin) is a collection of writings by one of the most prominent Native American activists and writers of the 20th century. The stories collected here are retellings of Sioux myths. In "The Sun Dance Opera," a performance of the sacred Sun Dance is inserted into the story of a love triangle involving a Sioux woman and her two suitors, one good and one evil. Editor P. Jane Hafen supplies much helpful autobiographical background. (Univ. of Nebraska, $22.95 160p ISBN 0-8032-4918-7)