Beasts and Super-Beasts

"Beasts and Super-Beasts" by Saki is a gathering of short stories filled with imaginative and mocking situations, dealing with topics like the wild, the strange, and human silliness by using Saki's well-known sarcastic humor and smart storytelling. Important characters, like Leonard Bilsiter, who tries out mysterious powers, and Mary Hampton get involved with imaginative talks about change and the hidden powers around them. The book begins by showing us Leonard Bilsiter, who finds it hard to get people interested in his talk about special abilities. When Leonard visits a party, funny conversations start about his supposed powers, especially when he is asked to change Mary Hampton into a "she-wolf". As the story goes on, the mood changes from happy chatter to disorder when a real wolf suddenly shows up where Mary was, making the party guests panic. This smart mix of strangeness and suspense shows Saki's view of the uncertain parts of life and errors of human thinking, making a fascinating start to the selection of stories.