Marked by the skilled craftsmanship of good magazine fiction, many of the stories in this collection are just as enjoyable on second reading as on introduction. Each story here offers a sound concept, a challenging idea or basic emotional appeal. Several Christmas stories deal with children; some have an O. Henry like twist to the climax. There's poignancy and humorous understanding and a fresh approach to social problems. All in all, a collection that will fill many a demand for worthwhile reading without the use of shock techniques.