Books: In Saki's Steps

Kiss Kiss (308 pp.)—Roald Dahl—Knopf ($3.95).

Author Dahl's gallery of females includes a warmhearted landlady of Bath with gentle blue eyes and an enviable talent in taxidermy. Tiny Mrs. Foster, on the other hand, has a soft and rather silly look and shows agitation only when fearing she may miss a train or plane. Hearty Miss Roach is grand fun at country weekends, and her skill at games is evidenced by her large pink face, broad shoulders and bulging calves.

Lovely ladies, indeed, but heaven help the poor man who falls into their clutches. His fate may well be death—or worse than death....