The Physical Media High Council Awards

William Barrett's 'Lilies of the Field' tells the story of Homer Smith, an African American handyman who stumbles upon a group of East German nuns in the Arizona desert. The nuns, led by the determined Mother Maria, believe that Smith has been sent by God to help them build a chapel. Despite initial reluctance, Smith agrees to help, and the story unfolds as they work together, overcoming cultural and linguistic barriers. The novel explores themes of faith, cultural exchange, and the power of human connection. Smith's selfless act transforms not only the physical landscape but also the lives and spirits of those involved, culminating in the construction of the chapel.

Bang the Drum Slowly is a novel by Mark Harris, published in 1956, which follows Henry Wiggen, a star pitcher for the fictional New York Mammoths, as he befriends a slow-talking catcher named Bruce Pearson who is terminally ill with Hodgkin's disease. The novel explores themes of camaraderie, mortality, and the human condition, set against the backdrop of a baseball season. It is the second in a series of four baseball novels by Harris and has been adapted into both a television play and a film.