The Hero and the Crown

A flawless production brings to life the sweeping fantasy tale of the lonely and unhappy Aerin, daughter of King Arlbeth and the "witchwoman." Scorned and rejected, Aerin hopes to prove her worth by recovering the lost crown of Damar. Roslyn Alexander's vocal performance ably differentiates characters without intruding herself upon the action, allowing McKinley's words to do the storytelling. The number of cassettes may deter younger listeners, particularly since the story starts out slowly, but tension and excitement build with each cassette. Adolescents who are continuously plugged into their personal cassette players may be wooed back to a worthwhile library experience with this exceptional production. Ages 12-adult. S.G. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine