Purple Pterodacytls

Fifteen tales of the "occult" (supernatural), this book differs from many similar plots in that the author treats the events as if they are everyday and as such not some great melodramatic event. The main character (Woodrow Wilson Newberry) is a happily married, rather every-day-banker type who gets into various little pickles due to odd things that happen to him. The setting is modern day, from the USA to France to the South Seas and back; de Camp writes many science fiction and fantasy books, but these tales are more of the haunted house spook type. Without the crashing lightning and eerie gloom that stereotypes the genre.Through "Balsamo's Mirror" the narrator travels back to the romantic 18th century to find the romance lacking. "The Lamp" shows that a god that sank the continent of Atlantis isn't one to irritate while on a private little island. "Algy" is a home grown Loch Ness monster that falls prey to a strange incident. "The Menhir"s spirit can exact a revenge on true barbarians. "Darius" shows how a mean, crooked man might be better humored when reincarnated as a horse and broken to saddle, but still fail to win others over. "United Imp" is a tale of labor unions and how even the perfect non-union labor may not be perfect. "Tiki" is a south sea idol not to be defaced when a vat of huge dead spider crabs is around. "Far Babylon" witnesses the dream of a ghost for a ghost city. "Yellow Man" pits voodoo drums and black magic against a stubborn nature. "A Sending of Serpents" is the clash of cults, wherein revenge does not come in the form of death. If you happen to be the leader of a biker gang called "The Huns", you may not really want to become leader of the Master race. In the title story "The Purple Pterodactyls" a Jinn in a ring can be worse when it succeeds for you. Here you find Wilson's spirit encapsulated: he keeps trying no matter what the odds to get what he wants. Even if his goal is more the idea than the thing. Pirates may bury something other than gold in a "Dead Man's Chest". Another idol, "The Figurine", shows that a godlet can have a mind of it's own. And finally, "Priapus" is the age old tale of bad Latin turning a love rite into something else entirely.de Camp writes in a staid fashion, eliminating gloomy drama for the realism of everyday commonness. His stories attempt to explore various facets of human nature (while not getting too lofty). His people rarely save the world from ultimate doom, and as such can be believable. In fact, you might feel more sympathy for the bad guys than the good guys because the bad guys are just human, after all. One thing I look for in a book is conversation, interaction between characters without a gross outlay of introverted mumbling. A book has to have by plenty of quote marks to attract me and de Camp's stories typically have these in plenty. If you like his other stories, try this collection.

A collection of chronologically-ordered stories from the life of a single de Camp character, Willie Newbury, banker and unwilling focus of occult forces. This reads like a cross between 'Ripley's Believe It or Not' and O Henry, as perhaps edited by Rube Goldberg. Quite a lot of fun. Rated 'G.' Suitable for all ages. Some of the humour is a little sophisticated, but that doesn't detract from the fun, IMHO.