The October Country is Ray Bradbury's own netherworld of the soul, inhabited by the horrors and demons that lurk within all of us. Renowned for his multi-million-copy bestseller, Fahrenheit 451, and hailed by Harper's magazine as "the finest living writer of fantastic fiction," Ray Bradbury proves here that he is America's master of the short story. This classic collection features: The Emissary: The faithful dog was the sick boy's only connection with the world outside--and beyond . . . The Small Assassin: A fine, healthy baby boy was the new mother's dream come true - or her worst nightmare . . . The Scythe: Just when his luck had run out, Drew Erickson inherited a farm from a stranger; and with the bequest came deadly responsibilities . . . The Jar: A chilling story that combines love, death . . . and a matter of identity in a bottle of fear.