Wantlist Stories

by | Jan 22, 2012 | Wantlist Stories

These stories are from book ‘want lists’ mailed to subscribers mostly in the late 1980s and 1990s. Books had always been an integral part of my father’s life, and shortly after returning to the U.S. from WWII, he became a used-book seller. Amongst...

‘Tis the Season

by | Jan 22, 2012 | Wantlist Stories

(unknown wantlist/date) ‘Tis the season for depression — tra la la la la — tra la la la. When I was younger — in my early teens perhaps — and just learning about things like depression — I thought that the Holidays made me feel depressed. I was wrong about that....

Sam’s Bookstore – Part 2

by | Jan 22, 2012 | Wantlist Stories

(Wantlist #17, [early 1987?]) In the old days, when one Gypsy wanted to put a curse on another Gypsy, one perhaps who had stole his horse or who had been seduced by his daughter, he didn’t say “Drop Dead!” or “Break a leg!” or “I...

Fire

by | Jan 22, 2012 | Wantlist Stories

(Unknown wantlist/date) “Those who oppose nuclear energy are the same people who would have opposed the automobile.” These words of Isaac Asimov continue to haunt me. They haunt me because I am one who would have opposed the automobile, at least I hope I...

The Satyr

by | Jan 22, 2012 | Wantlist Stories

(Unknown wantlist/date) Another holiday, another mild fit of depression — not like it used to be but then holidays aren’t like they used to be either. For a nine-to-fiver, a holiday is a day to get paid without working, and who can fail to rejoice at that, but...