St. Vincent Halfhyde, recently separated from Her Majesty's Royal Navy, becomes the owner/master of the steamer TARONGA PARK, the first commercial vessel in the Halfhyde Line. In Victorian time, when coal-burning tramp steamers had replaced sleek clipper ships, Halfhyde's maiden voyage from Australia to Ireland was far from routine. Severe storms and other dangers were commonplace as pre-Panama Canal sailors rounded Cape Horn. But when his cargo of machine parts turns out to be guns for the rebels in the West of Ireland, and the gun-running cargo owner boards in the Pacific and takes over the TARONGA PARK, only Halfhyde's grim determination to prevail carries the day. Reader Christopher Scott's fluid presentation and very British narration lend an appropriate atmosphere to this story. His comfortable pace and crisp vocal characterizations top off an all-around fine job. The writer, reader, and subject blend into a stimulating listening experience.
Pub Date: 2001
Duration: 7 hrs
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books /Soundings
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In this fascinating coming-of-age portrait, Thomas Black Bull's journey from the child, Bear's Brother, to the fearsome rodeo rider, Killer Tom Black, is painted with compassion and insight. Forced to learn the White Man's ways, Tom reaches adulthood consumed by rage. Read with great vigor by Norman Dietz, the recording bursts with the energy of rodeo circuit and transports the listener to the southwest. The accurate portrayal of Tom's Ute ancestry and way of life, the sorrow and frustration of losing his heritage, and his angry retaliation at the world make this an excellent listening choice for adults and teenagers. It would also be a wonderful addition to high school units on the Native American experience.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
George S. Irving adopts Patrick McManus's characters with gusto. Sit back and listen to yarn after yarn. Irving relishes each story, whether it's fishing stories, such as "Claw of the Sea-Puss" or "To Filet or Not to Filet," or the escapades with McManus's wary but vulnerable neighbors. Irving has the jocular chuckle down pat, and the low comedy satire comes off without a hitch. Listeners can imagine Irving tipping back a chair at the country store swapping lies with cronies and entertaining any comers with these hilarious tales. His repertoire of more than eight collections of McManus stories encourages this kind of ownership!
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: DH Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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