Azazel (Asimov)

Short story collection

• "The Two-Centimeter Demon" – Written to introduce this collection, this story describes how the writer and George first met, and supplies information about Azazel. The tale is of George's goddaughter, in love with a mediocre basketball player. Azazel is asked to improve his game.
• "One Night of Song" – A man asks revenge on mistress who cruelly dumped him - by giving her one night performing with a perfect voice.
• "The Smile That Loses" – A woman asks George to capture her husband's radiantly happy smile in a photograph.
• "To the Victor" – A young man is unsuccessful with women, so Azazel boosts his pheromones.
• "The Dim Rumble" – A speleologist informs George that he has discovered a sound amplifier underground which, when disturbed, caused rumbles all over the world.
• "Saving Humanity" – A man wishes to be cured of being a jinx - but also wants, as compensation, to be able to save humanity.
• "A Matter of Principle" – An advertising man wants to write novels, but is unable to get past the first paragraph. George hopes to enrich himself with a share of the man's profit as a novelist.
• "The Evil Drink Does" – A beautiful but forceful girl wants to get close to a man but can't overcome her inhibitions, and is extremely sensitive to alcohol.
• "Writing Time" – An author is exasperated by the amount of time he must spend waiting everywhere he goes.
• "Dashing Through the Snow" – In order to stay at a friend's country retreat during the winter, George arranges for him to be able to fly over snow.
• "Logic Is Logic" – An idle rich man loves his snobbish club but makes no friends there, so Azazel gives him the ability to tell jokes.
• "He Travels the Fastest" – George's former lover marries a rich man, but he is miserly and will not take her abroad. Azazel gives him the urge to travel.
• "The Eye of the Beholder" – Two homely people fall in love and marry each other, but then the girl wishes she could be beautiful for him.
• "More Things in Heaven and Earth" – An economist wants to accept a new position, but each person in the post has survived a shorter time period.
• "The Mind's Construction" – A young detective believes any story a suspect tells him.
• "The Fights of Spring" – An old friend's son at college is actually studying instead of the usual youthful pursuits. George arranges for the 97-pound weakling to beat the college bully.
• "Galatea" – A young sculptress is in love with a male statue she has created.
• "Flight of Fancy" – A skeptic argues with believers about the Bible, but what he really wants is to fly like an angel.

  List of stories