- Playing
- Stone Fox
- From
- Vermont Public Radio
Bill Harley introduces an excerpt from STONE FOX by John Reynolds Gardiner.
Little Willy's Grandfather is sick, so it's up to him to save the family farm from tax collectors. Willy's plan is to win the National Dogsled Race and claim the $500 prize. But first, he'll have to beat Stone Fox, who's never lost a race in his life.
Each episode of Camel's Hump Radio features a compelling excerpt from a book, read by a professional actor and accented with original music. Our goal is to air an excerpt that hooks the listener into the story and ends with a finish that leaves them wanting to read the rest of the book. A companion website allows listeners to learn more about the featured books, authors and provides additional related material.
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Piece Description
Bill Harley introduces an excerpt from STONE FOX by John Reynolds Gardiner. Little Willy's Grandfather is sick, so it's up to him to save the family farm from tax collectors. Willy's plan is to win the National Dogsled Race and claim the $500 prize. But first, he'll have to beat Stone Fox, who's never lost a race in his life. Each episode of Camel's Hump Radio features a compelling excerpt from a book, read by a professional actor and accented with original music. Our goal is to air an excerpt that hooks the listener into the story and ends with a finish that leaves them wanting to read the rest of the book. A companion website allows listeners to learn more about the featured books, authors and provides additional related material.
Broadcast History
One of thirteen episodes featured in Season 5 of Camel's Hump Radio, produced by Vermont Public Radio.
Timing and Cues
TRT: 28:50
In: CHR Theme Music
Out: (theme music out)
Musical Works
Original music composed by Peter Engisch, copyright 2004 Vermont Public Radio.
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Geo Beach
Posted on July 07, 2005 at 12:42 PM | Permalink
Review of Stone Fox
Bill Harley seems a perfect voice and personality to introduce the stories of Camel's Hump Radio. He has a respect for childhood and brings a sense of wonder into adulthood, just right for these stories for 9-13 year olds (whose parents will want to listen in).
Here with "Stone Fox" we hear what one young reviewer tells Bill is, "the best book I ever read." Hartley ticks off the ingredients -- "suspense, great characters, and a dog." That's a time-tested recipe.
Little Willie has to earn $500 dollars to pay off the back taxes on his grandfather's farm. But how? Serendipitously, there's a race with a $500 prize – the National Dogsled Race in Jackson, Wyoming. And Little Willie has just the friend to help save the day – his dog Searchlight. But first, they'll have to face off against the wordless and seemingly invincible giant Shoshone named Stone Fox and his team of five gleaming white Samoyeds.
Want to find out how the story ends as Little Willie and Stone Fox race down Main Street to the finish line? Sorry, after half an hour, you're sent off to the library to look for the conclusion. That's a dessert no ten year old could swallow on a Sunday afternoon.
Camel's Hump's intention is to "air an excerpt that hooks the listener into the story and ends with a finish that leaves them wanting to read the rest of the book", and certainly reading the written word is an admirable undertaking. Perhaps if one knew the title in advance and had the book itself right there to dive in to, the conceit would work. But here is seems something of a cruel trick.
Actor David Townsend presents an enthused reading, though for my style perhaps a bit too theatrical – there's a difference between theater, which employs props, and reading aloud, which asks for some costumes and set design from the listener's mind.
The production and web build-out are first class. But without the last act, we can never really get over the hump.
[Note to the author: As we say in Alaska, "Sleds don't race." It's the dogs that do, as in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.]