White Fang

Eerie music sets the scene of the Alaskan wilderness. Hagon's rendition of London's anthropomorphic story of a wolf/dog is geared toward a younger audience. His voice contains that sense of intimacy and emphasis that characterizes the act of reading to the young. The reading is smooth and clear although there are times when regional accents (some overdone) get a little mixed up. The abridgment makes a good introduction to the author, and the well-chosen musical interludes throughout don't interfere with the story. S.B.S. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

White Fang is a powerful story of courage and loyalty in the untamed Yukon. The sense of immediacy that comes with oral storytelling makes it a perfect choice for audio. Norman Dietz's narration shows the range of effects that can be achieved through audio. Dietz's smooth, calm voice emphasizes London's underlying themes, making the work more thoughtful and intense. However, the sense of danger and adventure that makes London's literature appealing to a broad audience is lost with Dietz's straight, risk-free style. For adult listeners, Dietz's performance makes White Fang a haunting and multi-dimensional experience. However, for young adults, this rendition is too tame and slow-paced. J.S.G. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine