Ray Russell – Sardonicus And Other Stories

Ray Russell – Sardonicus And Other Stories (Ballantine, 1961)

Sardonicus, The Actor, The Cage, The Exploits Of Argo, The Swod Of Laertes, Montage, Booked Solid,Take A Deep Breath, The Pleasure Was Ours, The Room, I Am Returning, Incommunicado, His Father’s House, Last Will And Testament, The Rosebud, London Calling, Once Of Prevention.

Sir Robert Cargrave, Harley Street specialist, receives an invite from old flame Maud Randall to visit she and her husband at Castle Sardonicus in Bohemia. When he arrives, he finds his former sweetheart much changed, the once carefee and vivacious girl now sad and distant. One look at her pale-to-the-point-of-translucense husband explains the situation: he is disfigured with “Ricus Sardonicus”, his lips permanently pulled apart to display his teeth in perpetual ghastly smile. The affliction was brought on when, as a young man, he dug up his father’s body to attain the winning lottery ticket that was buried with him(!).

Sardonicus first tries to bribe the doctor by promising him a night of passion with Maud if he’ll operate, then threatens to rape her when the disgusted Cargrave refuses. Reluctantly, our hero complies with the madman’s wishes …

Nice to have for it’s beautiful cover, but horror buffs may be disappointed that it’s given over to equal parts terror, science fiction and fantasy. In which case, you’re better off tracking down a copy of Unholy Trinity . Also includes two stories of eternal personal Hell’s, The Exploits Of Argo – a galactic vampire endures never-ending agony – and the black magic classic, The Cage. The Countess is about to begin an affair with her husband’s right-hand man, who many suspect is the Devil Incarnate. Worried at her husband’s penchant for torture, she demands her fiendish suitor grants her wish: “Make this beauty never fade. Make it withstand the onslaught of time and violence. Make me – no matter what may befall – live forever.”
When the Count discovers her infidelity, true to form, he locks her in his favourite contraption for the night, just as her treacherous lover is advising the enemy army how best to take the castle …

Vic Crume – The Partridge Family #5: Terror By Night

Vic Crume – The Partridge Family #5: Terror By Night (Curtis, 1971)

“The Partridge Family is all set for a great vacation.

But fun soon turns to fear when night comes to their lonely beach house on the New England coast.

Somebody or some thing is out to get them … and when Keith tries to find out why, the rock star’s vacation becomes a nightmare …”

Despite the undeniable promise of what’s on offer here, the blurb is as far as I’ve ever got with it, I’m sorry to say. I keep meaning to read it, then I see the cover and kind of … lose the will to live.

But just to own a book by somebody called Vic Crume is a joy to me, I don’t mind telling you that.

Damn. I’m gonna give him his own tag.

Roald Dahl – Tales Of The Unexpected

Roald Dahl – Tales Of The Unexpected (Penguin, 1979, 1984)

Taste
Lamb To The Slaughter
Man From The South
My Lady Love, My Dove
Dip In The Pool
Galloping Foxley
Skin
Neck
Nunc Diminittis
The Landlady
William And Mary
The Way Up To Heaven
Parson’s Pleasure
Mrs. Bixby And The Colonel’s Coat
Royal Jelly
Edward The Conquerer

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. #6: The Vampire Affair

David McDaniel – The Man From U.N.C.L.E. #6: The Vampire Affair (Ace, 1966)

In a remote area of the transylvanian Alps, an U.N.C.L.E. agent had been killed in mysterious circumstances. The man’s footprints in the snow led up to the base of the tree where he had been killed, but there were no pursuing tracks, no clue at all as to what doom had overtaken him.

There were only the two small holes in the neck, and a complete absence of blood.

Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin didn’t believe in vampires – but as they investigated their fellow-agent’s death they were forced again and again to wonder if perhaps the old terrors of the region had more reality than the world would like to think …