PATRICK HENRY AND THE FRIGATE'S KEEL

A collection of short stories, with some historical, period and regional flavor and -- for the most part -- a high level of readability. The stores vary considerably, -- the title piece has a juvenile flavor and is, perhaps, the least successful of the lot. I enjoyed most the stories dealing with the frontier spirit, realistically rather than romantically handled, against a background of the flickering fire of liberty which broke into flame with the impact of Revolution. Good factual feel -- authenticity -- but no particular distinction nor originality. I think Fast needs the scope of the longer book to develop his particular quality of writing.