Varied Settings

For The

Latest Novels

Novels with settings as far apart in place and time as modem Bhutan, ancient Rome and Sydney in the 1920’s are among the most recent offerings in the fiction field.

The Pulse Of Danger, By

Jon Cleary. This author has come a long way since his prize-winning, Kokoda-Trail novel The Climate of Courage. A long way metaphorically and actually. In selecting background for his books he’s like lightning: he never hits the same place twice. The 1965 novel, as we remember it, was set in Turkey. The current model in Bhutan, the small independent Himalayan kingdom squeezed in between China and India.

The plot revolves around a botanical expedition Australian Jack Marquis and his wealthy wife, an American couple and an English man—cut off when Chinese troops pross the Indian border. The action is packed into four days when they try to escape across the mountains. (Collins; $3.50).

A PILLAR OF IRON, by Taylor paldwell. This huge historical novel allows along in the same line of x>untry as the author’s Dear and jlorious Physician. It is, in fact, et in the same period—Rome, in he last century before the birth of iTirist. Its hero is Marcus Tullius -icero, idealistic lawyer, sharp ongued patriot, public figure, whose nemies were as numerous as his riends, and slightly more powerful.

The author evidently sees a parallel etween Rome as it was then and le United States as that country is Dday —trembling on the abyss and kely to take the whole world with into another Dark Age. She edicates the book to the memory f President John F. Kennedy nd to Senators Barry Goldwater Republican) and Thomas Dodd Democrat).

Kennedy is Cicero, the reader ill have a lot of fun reading Gold ater and Dodds into other of the oman characters. (Collins; $3.50).

Seven Poor Men Of Syd

HY, by Christina Stead. This author is had nine novels published in the mted Kingdom, including this one

(in 1934). This is, however, the first one published in Australia where she was born but which she left permanently in 1928. Perhaps it is published now because someone in the publishing business considers that Australia has grown up to it.

The novel exists on two levels— the realistic one of the city of Syd ney, Watson’s Bay, the North Shore, etc., at a period when virtually everyone was poor; and that of the higher realms of the mind—philo sophy, art, politics and sex. If this reprint does nothing else, it proves that Australia had intellectuals as far back as the 1920’5. (Angus and Robertson; $3.25).

Sprint From The Bell, By

Pat Booth. The author writes novels as an extra-curricular activity; he

earns his living as a journalist— currently assistant editor of the Auckland Star. His first novel. Long Night Among the Stars was an Otago Daily Times prizewinner. Its hero was Britain’s first astronaut, taking off into space from Woomera.

The hero of the present story is also a contemporary figure—a New Zealand Olympic runner who hopes to run a 3.50 mile. Booth portrays the New Zealand background well: A combination of earnestness, togetherness and sport. (Collins; $2.30).

The Doorbell Rang, By Rex

Stough, A Nero Wolfe thriller in which the hero takes on the whole FBI. A Crime Club Choice. (Collins; $2).