This book is in print as I write this, as part of the Fantasy Masterworks edition of _Time and the Gods_; it is a collection of 18 short stories.

"A Tale of London" - in a reversal of the usual pattern, a sultan has asked his seer to relate to him a vision of the fabulous city of London.

"Thirteen at Table" - The ghosts of twelve women wronged by old Sir Richard Arlen have had dinner with him every night for the last thirty years.

"The City on Mallington Moor" - A rumor is spreading of a strange city of white marble appearing out of the mist.

"Why the Milkman Shudders When He Perceives the Dawn" - this is a tale told in the Hall of the Ancient Company of Milkmen when all the craft are assembled.

"The Bad Old Woman in Black" - What to do in the face of an omen of evil?

"The Bird of the Difficult Eye" - a tale of the only thief employed by West End jewellers since the distressing tale of Thangobrind (see _The Book of Wonder_).

"The Long Porter's Tale" - Gerald Jones, suffering from melancholy, went to a magician in London and was diagnosed with flux of time, and was recommended to take a day at the Edge of the World as treatment.

"The Loot of Loma" - The raiders didn't know that a priest's written curse had been slipped into their loot.

"The Secret of the Sea" - What do ships worship, and what temple do they go to?

"How Ali Came to the Black Country" - Many people may say that technology and pollution are modern devils, but how many people are serious enough to take the traditional steps to imprison devils?

"The Bureau D'Echanges De Maux" - Mysterious shop offering strange goods.

"A Story of Land and Sea" - continuation of "The Loot of Bombasharna" from _The Book of Wonder_.

"A Narrow Escape" - A magician in a dank cavern below Belgrave Square and his preparations to destroy London.

"The Watch-Tower" - When a tower is built to guard forever against the Saracens, forever may be longer than you think.

"How Plash-Goo Came to the Land of None's Desire"

"The Three Sailors' Gambit" - Sometimes even the Devil can't win at the game of selling souls. A chess story.

"The Exiles' Club" - How are the mighty fallen; and even the fallen have to go somewhere.

"The Three Infernal Jokes" - Not so much selling a soul, as trading away an option.

A work of Proustian depth and elegance, these letters from John Joseph to Patricia Larsen mark and illuminate a friendship perhaps unique in 20th century America. Bound for the "classics" shelf.

John Moriarty has been able to put down on paper what a lot of people are afraid to admit to themselves -- It's hard to fix yourself when you are so broken, but it is not possible. This book made me understand that I am not alone. It made me realize that the feelings that I have felt while growing up, growing into myself, were not unique. I would recommend this book to every kid growing up - regardless of their preferences or problems. We all need to remember that it's okay to screw up, it's okay to forgive ourselves for screwing up and we must never stop trying to get better at finding ourselves.

The caption, "Harold Snedleigh was found beating a sick small animal to death with a rock when he was five years old," begins what truly, as the book cover states, is "...its author's most unpleasant ever." It is a truly disturbing book, on a horrible topic (the eponymous Harold Snedleigh and his almost-lover Mona Gritch murder children as "their life's work"). Clearly the work of a psychopathic and disturbed mind.

Or is it? Coming from Edward Gorey, we realize the satire immediately. But I pity those who have come across this treasure without ever having consumed a Gorey before, for it would be the rare individual indeed who would ever buy another of his works. This is a work for the true Goreyphile: aware that his dark streak has an outlet in brilliant satiric writing inextricably coupled to magnificent and meticulous pen-and-inks (darker than is typical of Gorey).

Some of the prose in this obscure little book is so memorable that it cannot be anything other than true genius. Ditto for the illustrations: poor little Eepie Carpetrod, the loathsome couple's first victim, in incredibly cute in that way that only Gorey can draw a child; as cute as Harold and Mona are repellent. "They spent the better part of the night murdering the child in various ways."

Lacking Gorey's talent, it will forever be a mystery to me how a mind that can create cute little Eepie can also create the horror that is the subject of this book. For it is a true horror book, despite the satire. It is also a repudiation that horror need be explicit, for it is as explicitly horrifying as Gorey's masterpiece The Curious Sofa is explicitly pornographic.

Looking for Friends by Edward E. Ross; Foreword by John S. Hilkevich, Ph.D. Baxter Publishing, CA. 1999. 250 pp. forms; resources; appendices; bibliography.

Taking a commonsense approach--one free of the heavy psychologizing and programmatic therapy customary with the self-help genre--Ross gives helpful advice relating to the subject of making friends in different familiar situations. Ross1s attention to certain problematic issues and also circumstances pertaining to the individual desiring to make friends--as opposed to simply spouting general attitudes or prescriptions--are what makes his handbook especially relevant and helpful. For example, Ross discusses how problems with addiction can interfere with trying to make friends, and then goes into how to overcome these problems. Problems posed by the personality trait of shyness is another topic Ross similarly treats. This author also recognizes the bearing that circumstances of one's life such as moving to a new location or just entering retirement have on making friends--and he gives sensible advise and offers resources on these sorts of considerations. Ross learned about the worth and meaning of friendship the hard way: by staying in a bad relationship for more than a decade. Imparting instructive anecdotes from his own experience as well as from the lives of others he's known, and also making use of lists of important points and brief questionnaires and forms for taking stock of oneself and one's situation, Ross provides a handbook that is at once empathetic and practical.

Henry Berry, Book Reviewer

Editor/Publisher, The Small Press Book Review

The ghost story is by & large ideally realized as a short story or at most novella -- the greatest masters, such as M. R. James, never even attempted the novel form; & those who did both short stories and novels, such as E. F. Benson, only the short stories are of outstanding merit. At novel length they tend to bog down considerably or else descend into tedious gothicisms & inessential asides. But Falkner's THE LOST STRADIVARIUS is a perfect gem of a novel, a timeless tale of weird & awe inspiring ghostliness, easily in the top ten of Victorian ghost novels, in an unfailingly elegant style.

-Jessica Amanda Salmonson, Violet Books

This parasitology textbook is the highlight of my second year in medical school. Most of my classmates do not rely on this book as their study tool, but to me, it is everything that will help me get through my parasitology course. The details regarding pathological symptoms, treatment and diagnostic methods are very clear and easy-to-read. A must for medical students taking parasitology!

My 2 year old son loves these books. We have the whole "Mooner" series and several other books by Frank Edwards. After just reading the books a few times, he could read it back almost word for word just by looking at the pictures. The books are repeatative, perfect for young children. I would recommend these books to anyone. They are great.

This 1978 book was made possible by support from the 'Reader's Digest'. It is about Oswald's relations with the intelligence services of 3 nations. The book starts with the defection of Nosenko (Jan 1964) who personally oversaw the KGB file on Oswald (p.7). Nosenko claimed that radar operator Oswald was never debriefed, and of no interest to the KGB (p.8); this story had problems (p.10). The CIA prepared 44 questions to clarify Nosenko's story, but the FBI refused to allow them (p.21). Marina's statements were accepted (p.24). Were her stories accepted because they told what the Govt. wanted to hear (p.42)? Pages 37-7 tell of Nosenko's deceptions, and failing a lie-detector test. But stress reactions measure other emotions besides lying; the Soviet Union did not use lie detectors, the CIA didn't rely on them (p.38). Nosenko's memory proved faulty. This didn't matter: the Warren Commission wanted a "lone gunman" verdict.

Chapter I tells of Oswald's youth. His favorite program was 'I Led Three Lives for the FBI", his ambition was to join the Marine Corps (p.59). He was elected president of his 8th grade class, his intelligence was above average. But schooling in NY city gave him Karl Marx as a hero (p.60)! Oswald joined the Marines, took the Radar Operator's course, and was sent to Atsugi where the CIA's U-2 was flown. Oswald minded his business and did his job well (p.68); he would travel to Tokyo on a 48-hour pass and keep it a secret (p.71). Oswald romanced a high-class hostess and brought her to the base. "There was nothing dumb about Oswald" (p.82). After he left the Marines he went to Moscow; someone there told him "the USSR is only great in literature" [fiction?] and he should go back home (p.106). Oswald was sent to Minsk, and again advised to go back home (p.108). Oswald learned more about "The New Class" and the reality behind the fiction. Pages 110-1 analyze Oswald's diary, and why it was fabricated. Page 137 wonders about Lee's marriage to Marina; but don't girls with an unhappy life at home marry the first chance they get? Oswald's changing statements when preparing his return are analyzed (p.153).

Book Three introduces George De Mohrenschildt, who made arrangements in October 1962 to move the Oswalds to Dallas from Fort Worth (p.189). (You wonder who was in control then?) Page 212 claims Oswald took a shot at General Walker, but presents no physical evidence. Oswald's' activities portrayed him as pro-Castro (p.229).

Other sources said Oswald had David Ferrie's library card in his possession; there is no mention in this book. Were other facts omitted? The 'Epilogue' says Nosenko was sent to deliver disinformation to the CIA, FBI, and Warren Commission (p.260); the latter wanted to believe this double-agent. Appendix D has a number of questions to clarify Oswald's life. Was this the last book to repeat the conclusions of the Warren Commission? You can find other books that offer more insight into the events of November 22-24 1963, and the aftermath. (The book "High Treason" goes into more detail on the JFK assassination and cover-up.)

I've read lots of book on the Kennedy assassination, and without question LEGEND ranks as the best, along with the other two books in THA ASSASSINATION CHRONICLES. LEGEND reads like a spy thriller, taking lots of twists and turns, studying the hidden agendas of all government agencies that had something to gain or lose by revealing Lee Harvey Oswald's real purpose in Russia. Through a careful analysis of the available evidence, Epstein points the finger at both the CIA and KGB for hiding and obscuring key facts about Oswald's life in Russia, and uncovers evidence that indicates Oswald was more than he appeared to be. Even handed and thouroughly documented, LEGEND is a must read in assassination lore.