Book excerpt: If you've picked up this volume, you may already be familiar with Achmed Abdullah's work from the first volume, "The Achmed Abdullah Megapack." If not, no harm done; both Megapacks contain short stories which can be read in any order. The only real difference is that Volume 1 contains quite a few supernatural stories, while Volume 2 focuses more on "contemporary" (early 1900s) life in exotic locales, like the Middle East, China, and New York City (primarily in Chinatown). Crime is frequently touched upon; many of these stories qualify as mysteries. Included: THE EVENING RICE THE HATCHETMAN FEUD REPRISAL THE HOME-COMING THE DANCE ON THE HILL THE RIVER OF HATE THE SOUL OF A TURK MORITURI THE JESTER THE STRENGTH OF THE LITTLE THIN THREAD GRAFTER AND MASTER GRAFTER THE LOGICAL TALE OF THE FOUR CAMELS THE TWO-HANDED SWORD BLACK POPPIES THE PERFECT WAY TAO A note for the sensitive: Some of these stories are not "politically correct" by today’s standards. Please keep in mind that Abdullah was writing in a different age, with different standards of propriety. The world has changed a lot in the last 100 years. And if you enjoy this Megapack, please take a look at the many others available...search this ebook store for "Wildside Megapack" to see the list -- mysteries, adventure, horror, science fiction, westerns, humor, and many more subjects and authors are available. (And always at a bargain price!)