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A flu epidemic leads to a protein mutation that causes humans to grow pelts ... a seller of "genuine Indian souvenirs" suddenly finds himself confronted by 8 genuine Indian spirits -- these are just two glimpses into the provocative world (make that universe) of L. Sprague de Camp. As Poul Anderson says in his introduction to this vastly entertaining volume:

De Camp belongs to that generation of writers whom John Campbell inspired to create the gold age of science fiction and fantasy, beginning about 1937 when he took the helm of what was then called Astounding Stories ... when people such as Isaac Asimov, Lester del Rey, Robert A. Heinlein (Ed. note: The list goes on and on.) ... either appeared for the first time or, for the first time, really showed what they could do. De Camp stood tall in that race of giants....

Now, get set for The Best of L. Sprague de Camp -- 15 unforgettable, truly astounding stories like:
Nothing in the Rules -- Not many spectators turn out for a meet between two women's swimming clubs; some sports just don't attract much attention. But Herb Laird, coach of the Knickerbockers, had an idea that was bound to create more than a little excitement and publicity -- and knock rival coach Louie Connaught back on his ear. Because nothing in the rules said a coach couldn't have a mermaid on his team.
The Gnarly Man -- Anthropologist Matilda Saddler first saw the gnarly man at Coney Island. There was a lurid banner next to the shooting gallery urging thrill-seekers to come see Ungo Bungo: "A ferocious ape-man, captured in the Congo at a cost of 27 lives!"
Convinced the ape-man would turn out to be an ordinary guy with lots of false hair, Dr. Saddler still couldn't resist going inside ... and that's how she stumbled upon the anthropological find of all time. For Ungo Bungo was a bona fide Neanderthal man, born (as near as he could recall) in the year 50,000 B.C.!
A Gun for Dinosaur -- The firm of Rivers and Aiyar provided a unique service. Since all the world's game animals were extinct, they guided hunting parties into the past. The only problem was that every once in a while they'd run into some wealthy, arrogant, pigheaded tenderfoot like Courtney James, who insisted on going after BIG game (like tyrannosaurs) ... but just never got the knack of handling the kind of big gun needed to bag a dinosaur.