THE DEMON IN THE FREEZER

Although intended to satisfy the recent mania for information about terrorism, Preston's audiobook abounds with eclectic facts about smallpox (the demon) and other viruses that will interest readers with scientific curiosity. Paul Boehmer seizes the emotion of the moment as a scientist jabs a scissors blade through her protective glove into a finger right after he has told us that a single virus particle in her bloodstream would be fatal. His technical pronunciation is accurate and natural, although he repeatedly mispronounces smallpox's only enemy, vaccinia, the live virus used for vaccination. Preston has a knack for telling stories, and Boehmer turns them into a performance that captivates. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 03]