THE BATTLE BEGINS

[Editor's note: The following is a combined review with THE KILLING WEDGE.]--The Defender series depicts life in an America where anarchy reigns due to a small group of Marxist-leaning terrorists using inner-city gangs and a weak and incompetent federal response to them. Groups of citizens, known as Patriots, band together for protection and take the war to opposing terrorists. A small-college history professor and former Navy SEAL, Dr. David Holden, leads a group of Patriots in an unidentified area known as the Metro, which somehow reminded this reviewer of Atlanta. These productions are full of stereotypical characters and action. Zimmerman's reading begins slowly, as does the plot. However, considering what he has to work with, he does pretty well. As the plot and action warm up, Zimmerman hits a stride of sorts. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]