Books: Poor Clem

THE TROUBLED AIR (418 pp.]—Irwin Shaw—Random House ($3.75).

The honest liberal stumbles on, carrying his heavy cross, in Irwin Shaw's new novel. This time the poor fellow is Clement Archer, radio director. He is really honest, really liberal: when a scandal-happy sheet accuses members of his troupe of being party-liners, he sets out to find the "facts."

Yes, admits the show's leading lady, she's a party member. No, says the leading man (and Clem Archer's best friend), he's nothing of the kind. After some more questions, Clem decides that the accusations have been, at best, wild and indiscriminate. He joins a public campaign...