The Fan by Peter Abrahams (Warner, £5.99 in UK)

This tale of a middle aged knife salesman (yes, knife salesman) and his obsession with a young black baseball player is a deeply unpleasant business, and the fact that it is shortly to be made into a major motion picture starring Robert De Niro and Wesley Snipes is no excuse. Of course, if cardboard characters, a storyline which mistakes nasty for sinister and a Hollywood happy ending are your favourite things, you'll love it. To add insult to injury the publishers, mindful of the fact that for most readers this side of the Atlantic baseball is an incomprehensible American madness, have added an idiot's guide to the game as a glossary. "There are nine players on a side Oh, boy.