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This collection of short fiction from Joe R. Lansdale will satisfy many different readers with its plethora of stories ranging from the humorous ("Bob the Dinosaur Goes to Disneyland") to the truly frightening ("God of the Razor"). A fascinating collection which showcases the versatility of Mr. Lansdale, I found myself running through a gauntlet of emotions from disgust in the pit of my stomach ("My Dead Dog Bobby") to being touched in the depths of my heart ("Not From Detroit"). And for those interested in the unexpected, such gems as "Chompers" and "The Shaggy House" deliver. The final tale "The Events Concerning a Nude Fold-Out Found in a Harlequin Romance" contains the flavor of Mr. Lansdale's more recent work and will please the readers of the Hap and Leonard books (as well as "Cold in July"). My personal favorite is the title tale as it provides a wickedly sarcastic, yet comical explanation behind the success of bestselling authors. In addition, the author provides introductions to each of his stories that are both inspiring and amusing (especially when he refers to his "popcorn dreams"--don't ask!) Scour the used bookstores and find this collection!

Joe Lansdale is one of the few writers who is truly a master of both the short story and novel, and this collection does a fine job of showcasing both his talent and range. If you are not familiar with Lansdale, this collection is a good place to start -- but don't trust the cover artwork; there's not a dragon or elf to be found in this hard-edged anthology