In this rollicking first novel, a small town its thrown into an uproar when several of its teenage citizens claim to have been impregnated by spacemen. Are they "spinning" tales? A crushed cow found lying in the center of a scorched, perfect circle in a nearby field suggests they're not--and the rumor mill goes into overdrive with the arrival of Phillip, the new librarian. He falls for Delia and is soon caught up in the irresistible drama of uncovering the town's darkest secrets. What he finds shakes the community far more than a flying saucer ever could.

For the contestants, this publicity gimmick represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a fresh start, a chance to break records, and to prove themselves in an unlikely test of endurance. It pits the patience of an elderly night watchman against the...