02636cam a22003853u 4500 73703 UtSlPG 20260610134714.0 m cr n 260607r20241957utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Costello, P. F. The devil downstairs Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2024 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from the January 1958 issue of Fantastic magazine. Release date is 2024-05-26 Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "The Devil Downstairs" by P. F. Costello is a humorous fantasy novel written during the mid-20th century. The book explores the intersection of the supernatural and everyday life through the story of Joe Emerald, a private detective who unexpectedly becomes entangled with the Devil, who takes refuge in Joe's basement while planning a new crime wave. The narrative blends elements of comedy, supernatural intrigue, and moral questions about good and evil, making it an engaging read. The story begins with Joe's peaceful life being disrupted when he encounters the Devil hiding in his basement. Initially dismissive of the situation, Joe soon finds himself in a humorous battle of wits with the creature, who attempts to possess Joe and utilize his skills for nefarious purposes. After a series of comical events involving Joe's wife, Pearl, and their children, the Devil is ultimately trapped and bound, resulting in a period of peace in their town as crime mysteriously diminishes. However, after the Devil escapes by switching bodies with a mouse, chaos ensues again, leading to a comedic yet profound exploration of the nature of evil and human susceptibility. The climax reveals unexpected twists involving amnesia and identity, leaving readers to ponder whether the Devil can truly be put away forever. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Originally published: New York, NY: Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, 1957 Fantasy fiction United States -- Fiction Families -- Fiction Devil -- Fiction Detectives -- Fiction Finlay, Virgil, 1914-1971 Produced from the January 1958 issue of Fantastic magazine. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/73703 114428 114428