Escape from Kathmandu

Publishers Weekly,Robinson ( The Wild Shore ) has expanded a previously published novelette into the title story of this enjoyable collection, and added three sequels. All four tales are about mountain climbers George Fergusson and George ``Freds'' Fredericks, and their supernormal encounters in the mountains of Nepal and the capital city of Kathmandu. The title story is a delightful romp in which they rescue a yeti from the scientific team which kidnapped him; the chase scene is classic, the red herring perfect, and the yeti supplies a few surprises of his own. In ``Mother Goddess of the World'' George and Freds scale Mount Everest to help a llama, while trying to evade a video nut who wants to record their illegal trespass into Tibet. In ``The True Nature of Shangri-La'' the writing turns dark as Robinson vividly depicts the endemic poverty and illness affecting much of Tibetan society. ``The Kingdom Underground'' is lacking in both plot and resolution, but redeemed through its descriptions of starkly beautiful scenery and exotic, appealing people. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved