If there were a Neville Wran anywhere in Australian Labor politics today, you can bet he would be on a fast, sealed train to Canberra. Nifty was no also-ran, and, on the 30th anniversary of his coming, this collection of essays, reminiscences and reflections celebrates the decade that belonged to the master of razzle dazzle . It's almost worth buying just to read Graham Freudenberg's astute and evocative assessment of Wran's key attribute - that he was the voice of Sydney. As other commentators point out, including editor Troy Bramston, Wran was also the one who kept the flag of Labor flying in the darkest days after the Whitlam sacking when even some insiders thought the party might not survive. Divided into four sections - style, management, policy and assessment - it brings together a list of commentators that includes Laurie Brereton, Pat O'Shane, Dennis Shanahan, Andrew Clark and others. - Steven Carroll, The Age, 20 May 2006