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The prizes in Erich Segal's new novel are Nobel awards in physics and medicine. Segal develops simultaneously distinct stories of the lives of several scientists determined to be winners. By the time they get to Stockholm, their personal lives, as well as their careers, have fused. One winner's research cures another's fatally ill parent while other winners have exchanged spouses. Abridged skillfully, the story is easy to follow. Ken Howard handles all the European voices well but is particularly adroit with dialogue between Russian scientists. His whirlwind pace lets the listener gloss over research methodology while remaining clear on who's with whom when the lab closes. D.W.K. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT 95]