Marco Polo, If You Can

It's 1960, and American agent Blackford Oakes faces a Moscow court, charged with flying a spy plane in Soviet air space. Geoffrey Blaisdell narrates the convoluted story of how Oakes has ended up on trial with an erudite voice that echoes Buckley's own. As Blaisdell emphasizes the wry humor in Oakes's account, listeners may forget that Buckley himself isn't actually narrating. Blaisdell also delights in the portrayals of the real-life figures, especially the tense, needling relationship between President Eisenhower and Soviet Premier Nikita Kruschchev. Blaisdell's strong reading emphasizes nostalgia and character more than the thrills of a spy mission, but it's an entertaining take on Buckley's novel. J.A.S. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine