No Strings Attached

Henry Aimsworth has reached the end of his rope. His wife Emma speaks only in tired clichés, and he's desperate enough to do something drastic. He finds an old book of spells and summons Alféar, a demon with an unusually friendly demeanor who grants wishes with a simple promise: no strings attached. Henry wants his wife dead. Alféar agrees with a smile. But as Henry discovers, some deals come with invisible knots that tighten when you least expect them. This 1954 gem from Lester Del Rey operates on multiple levels: it's a sharply funny portrait of domestic misery, a pointed satire on the frustrations of married life, and a genuinely unsettling tale of consequences. The demon's cheerful assurance becomes increasingly sinister as the strings reveal themselves. Del Rey delivers his dark moral with a wink, making this short story as entertaining as it is ominous. Perfect for readers who enjoy their cautionary tales with wit and a chill.