[Philadelphia]: Prime Press, 1948. Octavo, cloth. First edition. Sturgeon's first book, preceded by a promotional pamphlet containing a single story from this book. A collection of thirteen stories with introduction by Ray Bradbury. Sturgeon is "one of modern SF's prime originator's of non-technologically oriented SF of superior literary merit. Outstanding stories include 'Bianca's Hands,' a tale of horror and love in which a young man becomes obsessed with the beautiful hands of an ugly imbecilic girl, and 'Microcosmic God,' in which a scientist creates a race of tiny, time-accelerated beings whom he tortures into developing fantastic inventions. Also noteworthy are 'Ether Breather,' the author's first published story, 'It,' and 'Shottle Bop.'" - Joe De Bolt and John Pfeiffer, "Outstanding SF Books, 1927-1979." Anatomy of Wonder (2004) II-1102. Barron (ed), Fantasy and Horror (1999) 4-148. Barron (ed), Horror Literature 3-192. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction 1558.