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At first glance, it really doesn't seem right that college professor Charles Bauman has ended up serving a term in the state penitentiary. He has been convicted of vehicular homicide, a charge that he feels is unfair. After all, he only had two martinis (OK, three), and they weren't even doubles. Surely, it was the 14-year-old girl's fault for dashing out into the street without paying attention. Be that as it may, Bauman is going to be locked up for a few years. STONE CITY is the story of life in state prison ('State'), a study of a self-contained society that hopefully none of us will ever inhabit. At least initially, Bauman's life isn't too hard to handle. He likes his cellmate, Scooter, and hangs out with a group of other inmates who get along reasonably well. He has a lot of mobility. He teaches other convicts how to read and write and also serves as an assistant to the boxing coach. The population within State is very segmented; just as in any other large city, people tend to hang out with those who are like themselves. Each segmented group, whether it be the lifers, the bikers, the blacks, the Hispanics, and so on., are organized and have their own leaders. Some of the groups, such as the lifers, have more power within the system than others. In addition to the political structure, there is a familial framework as well. Many of the convicts are living as 'husband and wife' and are viewed by the other inmates as partners in this way. These relationships are readily accepted; to a lifer or a convict with a long term, this may be the only opportunity for love that they will ever have. The more time that passes by and the more that Bauman is exposed to the various workings of the prison, the harder he becomes. The first impression of Bauman is that he is just an average man, a basically law-abiding guy just like you and me; however, as time goes by, there are glimpses of something else, a person that who is not as in control and civilized as he first appears. Life unravels for Bauman when he is targeted by both the prison authorities and several of the gang leaders to be a snitch. A few men have been killed, and no one has been able to determine who the villain is. The law enforcement people feel that it may be one of the guards; the convicts themselves don't have a handle on who is pulling off these murders, a serial killer from whom no one is safe. Bauman is given pretty much a free pass to try to investigate. He is aided by a femme inmate named Lee Cousins who despite his feminine tendencies has a strong grasp on the reality of life at State. STONE CITY was an intense reading experience for me. Smith pulls the reader into the book and forces them to live life at State right alongside Bauman. When he jostled another inmate or spoke thoughtlessly, I felt great anxiety. In particular, Bauman's stay in Segregation was a nightmare experience. His primary means of dealing with the harsh reality of daily life was to escape into fantasies. There were a lot of sexual situations within the book; obviously, men in this environment are likely to be somewhat obsessed with this activity. Bauman as narrator had an educated person's way of looking at things; I did find that at times the language used obfuscated the meaning of some of the passages. In spite of the overall dark tone of the book, there were many illuminating moments and several characters who had a certain sweetness to them. In many respects, State is hell; in many others, it's a place where there are noble people and loyalties are strong and lasting. STONE CITY is a deeply involving work, menacing, disturbing and spectacularly well done. The book is a brilliant tour de force, and I don't think that I'll ever forget it.
Reviewed by Maddy Van Hertbruggen, December 2006
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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