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.

"A Tom Doherty Associates book." 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.