Your Daily Poe (Or Edgar Allan If You're Nasty)

As it's officially October (BOO!), I will on every day be reading one short story written by the Master of the Macabre himself, and briefly commenting on it. Enjoy!

Day 17, Part 1: The Imp of the Perverse

Thoughts: Strangely arranged in that is seems to start out sort of as a lecture before the final part being the "story". Also somewhat reminiscent of my super-slice Crime and Punishment in wondering if one can get away with the crime of murder. Poe uses a bad economy of words here, as the whole thing could've been brought in under a page; however, as slight as it feels upon a first reading it does stick to the ribs a little bit, both in the question of what one can get away with and the duality of bad and good within all of us. Also definitely breaks whatever the world record is for using the word "phrenology" in a story.

Memorable Line: "No one who trustingly consults and thoroughly questions his own soul, will be disposed to deny the entire radicalness of the propensity in question.

Score from 1-10: 7. Not one of his best "horror/suspense" stories but as I said sticks with you a little bit.