Summer reading 2026 starts on May 1st. But, I've never been good at waiting, so I decided that the best way to entertain myself would be to pick up a temporary read to bridge the gap until Ahmed and Kilbronson brought me my books. Enter one of my favorite short stories of all time: "The Devil and Daniel Webster," by Stephen Vincent Benet.
This chilling tale tells of Jabez Stone, a farmer plagued by luck so rotten that in a moment of desperation, he makes a deal with the devil in return for seven years of prosperity. He gets what he asked for, but of course, soon enough, Old Scratch comes to claim what is his. So, Stone does the only thing that he can think of: he hires the best lawyer in the country to save his soul.
This story is endlessly entertaining, the high stakes keep a strong thread of tension throughout the story, and Benet's writing crafts scenes that are atmospheric and utterly chilling. While there are plenty of horror stories out there that can scare and disgust, this is one of the few stories that I can read again and again and it still makes my blood run cold in my veins in a way that no other tales seem to capture.
Of course, "Daniel Webster" makes for a great appetizer to this year's Summer Reading Challenge, as Webster is presented as a good old American hero, with "eyes like burning anthracite". Just sample this quote from early in the story:
They said, when he stood up to speak, stars and stripes came right out in the sky, and once he spoke against a river and made it sink into the ground. They said, when he walked the woods with his fishing rod, Killall, the trout would jump out of the streams right into his pockets, for they knew it was no use putting up a fight against him; and, when he argued a case, he could turn on the harps of the blessed and the shaking of the earth underground. That was the kind of man he was...
In reality, Webster's legacy ended up somewhat tarnished by the end, but I would argue that everything he said and did was out of a deep love for his country.
Now, the copy of the book that I read also included two other stories: "By the Waters of Babylon" and "Johnny Pye and the Fool Killer." The first is about a young man from a tribal culture who goes to the "Place of the Gods" even though it is forbidden, in order to seek knowledge. And "Johnny Pye" is the story of a young man who is on the run from an imagined threat called The Fool Killer, who he believes is coming for him. The story is bittersweet and surprisingly poignant, sitting with you long after you finish reading. While I'd consider "Babylon" the weakest story in the set, I'd also argue that all three are worth checking out.
Finally, I decided to wrap up this pre-summer reading session with a little-known "Daniel Webster" sequel: "Daniel Webster and the Sea Serpent". It's okay if you think I'm making this up. I thought it was made-up when I first heard about it, too. But, this story is a silly tale of a fateful fishing trip where Webster hooks a sea monster. Definitely not nearly as serious as the first tale, but a fun one if you enjoy Benet's writing.
I think we'll wrap up our post here. Below, you'll find links to all four stories. And I hope you'll join me for the Summer Reading adventures in Road Trip Americana!
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