Demon State

by Jake Page

The Albuquerque Demons are the worst team in the National Basketball Associaton until they come under the influence of Kendall Lea, motivational hypnotist and world-class beauty. Narrated by the Demons' assistant coach and Kendall's eventual lover, this offbeat tale recounts the team's Cinderella season that results in a playoff berth and the death of a star player. ``Demon state,'' the hypnotic condition of reliving the best moments in your life, proves too much for cocaine-addicted point guard Isaiah Jones. Moderate doses of basketball lore and character development, plus a slippery combination of both dark and gentle humor, are the key elements in this highly readable fable-like novel. By the author of Shoot the Moon.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1985

About the author

Jake Page was a celebrated editor, science writer, and novelist who made complex topics accessible through wit and clarity. Though he never studied science formally, his role editing Natural History Books at Doubleday sparked a lifelong passion for explaining science to general readers. As science editor and columnist at Smithsonian magazine, he wrote with elegance and humor on a wide range of subjects, from aspirin to Zane Grey. Page authored dozens of books, including works on birds, earthquakes, and Native American history. His fascination with the American Southwest led to a mystery series featuring a blind sculptor-detective. Collaborating with his wife, photographer Susanne Anderson, he produced detailed cultural studies like Hopi and Navajo. His major nonfiction achievement, In the Hands of the Great Spirit, traces 20,000 years of American Indian history. Whether exploring anthropology or writing fiction, Page championed curiosity, clarity, and the belief that science was too important to remain only in expert hands.