1904: ‘Sold To Satan’ by Mark Twain

Hertzsrpung-Russell rating: M10^-3

Available in: The Complete Short Stories Of Mark Twain

Synopsis: A man tries to sell his soul to the Devil (the Devil is a sucker; you should lease a soul, not buy it) and discovers that the Devil is made of pure radium, but has been keeping it a secret from humankind. Like the old expression goes, ‘The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled is convincing people he’s not made of pure radium.’ How often does a great story about the elemental table come along? Periodically, I’d say.