Level 33: "You have an excellent feeling"

Another dark chamber, a horrible radiation eye sleeping nearby. Detect Evil reveals a couple of ghosts, a couple of minor zombies and skeletons, and three young dragons each of different kind. No great peril to go with great treasure, perhaps?

Graveyard Shift by James M. Reasoner

Originally published November 1978 in Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine as by M. R. James; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

M

Not recommended for persons under 15 years of age, but no legal restrictions

(D, L, V, T)

Drug References {PG} {alcohol, tobacco}

The Saturday Night Deaths by Michael Kerr

Originally published July 1976 in Mystery Monthly; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

MA15+

Considered unsuitable for persons under 15 years of age; legally restricted

(D, V, T)

Drug References {PG} {alcohol}

Strong Violence {MA15+}

Themes {MA15+} {crime, corruption, suicide, death}

Level 32: "You are unsure about this place"

A dark chamber of unknown size. Just to the south of her, a sleeping manticore, a creature she has yet to measure herself against. Nervously, Marash detects evil. There is none about, except the manticore itself which has now awoken.

She protects herself from evil, then blesses herself as it approaches.

The Old Pro by H. A. Derosso

Originally published December 1960 in Manhunt; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

MA15+

Considered unsuitable for persons under 15 years of age; legally restricted

(S, D, V, L)

Mild Sexual Activity {PG}

Drug Use {PG} {alcohol, tobacco}

Violence {MA15+}

Coarse Language {PG}

Forever After by Jim Thompson

Originally published May 1960 in Shock Magazine; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

PG

Parental Guidance recommended for audiences under 15 years of age

(V)

Violence {PG}

Representations

Gender:

Level 31: "You are unsure about this place"

Hope it's not anything like the last one. Looks like a few dragons around, of a more handleable sort than the last. Looks like another moated room to the west too, but nothing evil in there so her senses can't get a grip. The unknown is a worry.

The Merry, Merry Christmas by Evan Hunter

Originally published 1957 in Manhunt; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

M

Not recommended for persons under 15 years of age, but no legal restrictions

(D, L, V)

Drug Use {PG} {alcohol}

Coarse Language {M} {homophobic and misogynistic slurs used as calculated taunts}

Violence {M}

A Piece of Ground by Helen Nielsen

Originally published 1957 in Manhunt; this edition 1995

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Collected in: Hard-Boiled: An Anthology of American Crime Stories (ed. Bill Pronzini & Jack Adrian)

M (not recommended 15 years and under, no legal restriction)

(D, V)

Drug Use {G} {alcohol}

Violence {M}

Representations

Gender:

Level 29: "You feel a little lucky"

Calmer? Not so busy be this area. Only a hill giant and a human druid for evil in the area.

The giant is downed easily, even with a giant spider at her back. The druid however, insists on fighting Marash among the columns of a large hall, summoning animals to eir aid.

She does her best to force a path to the druid direct, focusing on the major threat here.

Druid beaten down, focus shifted to the next-greatest threat - the giant tick that smokes and burns with heat in its attack.