Meyer's follow-up to the lively, engaging "Tournament of Shadows," his account of the 19th-century tussle between Great Britain and Russia over control of the region. Here the veteran journalist brings the story of politics and struggle in the Central Asian Republics up to date, covering too the Caucasus, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Russia. Meyer artfully interweaves travels with interviews, history and analysis.  (CAS96, $15.00)