BALLOONS ARE AVAILABLE

Everything's up in the air in this totally engaging first. Mr. Crittenden is one of the subtler humorists ever to drop a Punch line and nothing escapes his delicate cynicism. Hero Howard Ornsby lives a life of manic cliche: product of a broken home, high school drop-in, drop-out, love affairs with girls, women, the Army, self improvement and on, to executive vice-presidency and marriage. The humor is sheer helium; just take this moment: ""Well, how come the fancy tux?' the man said. ""I mean is that just to keep up a front, or what? ""Oh, this. No, this was for a banquet earlier this evening. I received a standing ovation.' The man looked at him a moment without speaking and then hit him in the nose. 'I think something broke,' Howard said. 'Nobody puts me on,' the man said."" And so goes the rise and fall of the hapless Howard. It's light and very, very bright. Make it available.