Thirty-three stories about stranded aliens, a horrifying cheesemaker, a boy with the power to make stars vanish, and other frightening things. Includes notes on how the author got his ideas for these stories.

Includes discussion questions.

Playing solo -- Gorgonzola -- Blowout -- Christmas carol -- Thresholds of pain -- Smart food -- The art of alchemy -- Magnifying the tragedy -- Sweet dreams -- Chipmunks off the old block -- Stuck up -- The snow globe -- The iron wizard goes a-courtin' -- Fortunate accidents -- Big bang -- Laps -- Bedbugs -- The valley of lost treasures -- Catfishing in America -- Poser -- Beware the ninja weenies -- Little Bread Riding Hood -- Gulp -- Spring behind, fall ahead -- The garden of gargoyles -- Alien biology -- Evil is in the eye of the beholder -- The dark side of brightness -- Day careless -- Rat slayers -- Frigid regulations -- Dog gone.