n 1942, he published his only short story collection while serving in the war, "Get a Load of This." It contains fourteen different yarns. Most have an unexpected twist. Many are hardboiled, violent, often leaving the reader uneasy. They are all told in an easygoing, storytelling voice.

And what do you have here? A story about an "all-metal blonde with a buildup that does things to you, and a figure that weakens your resistance." It's a story about a nightclub, a blonde, and a gunshot. Never heard the phrase "all-metal blonde" before, but it's worth pondering and it's an example of why Chase was so good to read. You also have stories about surviving a hurricane with hitchhikers, one of whom was a honey, beautifully curved and blonde, and one who was six inches taller and almost mannish in her charms, stories about Latin American rebellions,a story about a man named Hemingway-- George Hemingway -- who was the center of attention at every gathering, who thrived on deep sea fishing, who owned oil wells, and drove race cars for a living , a story about a young assassin in Cuba and how he evades capture, a war story about a battle against overwhelming odds and a wonderful artillery piece, and a story about what happens when two hoods go for a walk in the park. ( )