Emmanuel’s Reviews > The Playboy Book of Horror and the Supernatural > Status Update

Comet Wine by Ray Russell
Something about a Russian composer.
Three stars.

The Life Work of Juan Diaz by Ray Bradbury
A poor widow who can't pay for her husband's burial tries to retrieve the mummified corpse from the gravedigger.
Three stars.

Weird Show by Herbert Gold
Story about a love-starved assistant in a travelling horror show.
Three stars.

The Traveling Salesman by Robert Bloch
It's short, about a travelling salesman, and it's not horror.
Two stars.

Virginia by Calvin Tomkins
The horror of a crazy, fat broad who screams.
Three stars.

No Such Thing as a Vampire by Richard Matheson
RM is consistently good with his stories and engaging with his writing. This vampire mystery has a great plot and twist ending.
Four stars.

The Taste of Fear by Hugh G. Foster
Not sure what happened here; a lot of old-timey slang and confusing plot. It could be good, but I have no idea.
One star.

Double Exposure by John Reese
A photojournalist in a poor neighbourhood is propositioned by a pretty, but prepubescent girl to take photos of her naked in exchange for a few dollars. He is almost tempted but refuses the girl's offer; she then leaves the area towards a building that will explode in a few minutes, killing her. He realises she would have lived had he done the wrong thing. Haunting.
Four stars.

I'm Yours by Charles Schafhauser
The tale of a gorgeous, young succubus—nice. I really don't think Playboy published any horror story that was actually horrific or scary, like they knew impressionable young lads were their main audience.
Three stars.

For the Rich They Sing—Sometimes Ken W. Purdy
A nice, full story about the advantages and disadvantages of a girlfriend with precognition.
Three stars.