Chabon’s first novel is an exception to the rule Courtesy of William Morrow and Co. By William Rudolph Stalf Reviewer Michael Chabon, “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” (William Morrow I and Co.) First novels always have to over come a tricky obstacle. They must not only introduce an author to the world,^ but also establish the author’s first work as something apart from the other masses of books littering the store display. Debut novels usually come across as an odd mixture of roughness and substance while the author tries to Find his or her voice. Michael Chabon’s first novel, “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh” (Morrow, $16.95), is the exception to the rule. From the moment the novel opens, Chabon, a recent graduate of the universities of Pitts burgh and California at Irvine, catches the reader in a consistently smooth web of words that seem ingly flows on and on while control ling all unnecessary details. Chabon’s narrator is Art Bcch stein, just-graduated economics major at the University of Pitts burgh and son of an educated mob ster. He’s at the end of both his undergraduate career and a year long affair with his eccentric girl See MYSTERIES on 10 Veteran cast can't save dull plot BAD DREAMS from Page 8 intense performance like his past work in “Re-Animator” as Dr. Alex Karman, a young shrink with a heart that belongs to Cynthia. The mem bers of the tnerapy group are also great: E.G. Daily (Pee Wee’s girl friend in “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” and the blonde bimbo from “Valley Girl”) plays Lana, the noncommuni ‘Bad Dreams’ winds up coming across as more of a cross between ‘Re-Animator’ and ‘Trapper John, M.D.’ A£i»-*.' . '« *. ” " ■ .. w