I bought this fair-condition '61 paperback (fair for a 50-year-old book!) at the Humane Society for Greater Nashua annual fund-raising yard sale. I was attracted by the title story, which was the basis for the cheesy-but-fun 1961 William Castle film, and the fact that there are other stories as well was a plus.

The title story is perhaps my favorite, as it has plenty of drama, ghoulishness, romance, and tragedy - I always felt a bit sorry for Mr. S, even though he brought his doom down on his own head from the beginning.

There are some very, very short tales here, such as "The Actor", an amusing nod to changes in theatre. Other stories center on be-careful-what-you-wish-for plots, and while one might be able to guess that things won't go as planned, the way they actually work out can be surprising.

Among the stories I liked best:

"The Cage" has a cruel noblewoman who's intrigued by the handsome - and perhaps slightly demonic - overseer, with some interesting twists.

"The Pleasure was Ours" opens with the editor of a men's magazine receiving some very hot photos indeed from a strange visitor. (I should perhaps have mentioned that Russell often wrote for "Playboy" - which I sometimes read, for the stories of course!)

"I Am Returning" has the main character stranded on a primitive planet by his treacherous enemy, with the two of them waging a bitter duel via the local lifeforms - a different look at an ancient story.

"Last Will and Testament" is just that, a rather bitter and snide testament whose meaning doesn't fully appear until you find out whose will it is.

"Ounce of Prevention" has a powerful spaceship deftly depopulating a planet to save the universe from the contagion of its violent inhabitants - but the burnt-out captain isn't quite as cheerful about all this as his enthusiastic officer is.

Old-fashioned, perhaps, but I think these stories still have some zing in them!

This book's going into my Based on the Book bookbox, with this book serving as the bookbox journal. The box will be on the way to the first participant soon. Enjoy!

Part of the "Based on the Book" bookbox that is travelling around the States.

To be released as part of the "Based on the Book" bookbox. Sending it off!

I took this from the "Based on the Book" bookbox, read it, and put it back. Some of
these I had read before, many I hadn't. A lot with nice twists, sort of like O. Henry.

Okay, I admit that I sneaked this out of the box for a quick read, just like DrSlump. For me, it was a trip in the way-back machine, to the days (or nights) when as a teenage babysitter I was sopping up all the late night horror films I could. At the time this one struck me as pleasantly cheesy, although according to IMDb, it's standing the test of time fairly well. Here's the link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055200/

BTW, I agree with Gory that "The Cage" is quite good. Very neat and elegant!

Kept in Gory Details' Based on the Book bookbox

This book enjoyed a brief stop in San Jose, CA before continuing its travels in the based on the Book bookbox!

Taken from GoryDetails's Based on the Book box with thanks: sounds like the sort of short story I enjoy.