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"Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love and Tragedy at the Circus" by Dean Jensen; Crown (336 pages, $26)
-"The 9th Girl" by Tami Hoag; Dutton (406 pages, $26.95)
In Neil Gaiman's passport case, on a scrap of paper beside his green card, are two verses of an unfinished work called "Pirate Stew."