This book was fun. Ostensibly a collection of mysterious artifacts that will lead the intrepid explorer Count E. Vilc Droffig (the author Clive Gifford spelled backwards) around the world trying to piece together a curse that will destroy The Book of Bad Things. The pages are richly covered with illustrations, with little pockets and attached notes, hidden lift-flaps and tools of cryptology. Crammed with little notes of trivia concerning ancient books, lost heads, hoaxes, days of doom, mysterious places not on maps, lost cities, etc., etc. A totally enjoyable hour of my time. ( )