STORY REVIEW: The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall
Tim MatassaA Dutch man tries to outrun his creditors by flying a hot air balloon to the moon. Plus, bulging eyeballs and ugly aliens—but is it all a hoax?
Edgar Allan Poe
STORY REVIEW: The Assignation
A baby falls in a canal, and only one man can save the day. Plus, a goddess adored by all of Venice, a sinister husband, and a lovers’ pact for the ages.
STORY REVIEW: MS. Found in a Bottle
Here there be ghosts? Maybe… Plus, not one but TWO ships go down, and an unfortunate sailor journals about how no one pays attention to him.
STORY REVIEW: Four Beasts in One
A mad king dresses up as a bizarre creation called the Cameleopard. Plus, where’s the debauchery? And never assume you can domesticate big cats.
STORY REVIEW: Bon-Bon
A rotund philosopher gets an unexpected visit from the devil. Plus, too many drinks, a bargain lost, and Epicurus tastes like chicken.
STORY REVIEW: Loss of Breath
Karma comes calling for a terrible husband. Plus, organ removal, experimental electrocution, hanging—this story sounds like it should be much better than it is.
STORY REVIEW: A Tale of Jerusalem
A Poe story only biblical scholars could love. Plus, never trust a besieging army, a Pharisee, or anything that costs 30 pieces of silver.
STORY REVIEW: The Duc De L’Omelette
A duke goes to Hell and plays cards with the Devil to win back his soul.
Plus, Poe goes overboard with the French, and I’m officially worried about this early stretch of his stories.
STORY REVIEW: Metzengerstein
Poe’s first story, about a boy and his horse. Except the boy is a sociopath, the horse is possessed, and there’s some real unhealthy obsession going on.