Rod Serling's Twilight Zone Revisited is an uneven anthology of nine stories penned by Walter B. Gibson. Four of the better stories, as expected, are adaptations of episodes of the Twilight Zone television series: "The Purple Testament", "Beyond the Rim", "The Man in the Bottle", and "The Mirror Image". "Two Live Ghosts" is a bit of an oddity in that it is a lackluster reworking of another rather good TZ episode, "The 7th is Made up of Phantoms", each involving Custer's Last Stand. "The Ghost of the Dixie Belle" is an intriguing tale of hauntings on a Mississippi riverboat and justice delivered in ghostly fashion. But the three remaining stories, "The Ghost Train", "The Ghost of Jolly Roger", and "The Man Who Dropped By" are simply tepid exercises in silliness. ( )

In this anthology of nine tales that extend the eerie and wondrous universe known as the Twilight Zone, it was challenging for me to choose a favorite. I enjoyed every one of them.

Of the nine, seven were ghost stories, one a time travel tale called "Beyond the Rim," that was produced for the TV series as "100 Yards Beyond the Rim", and another about a genie in a bottle (called, appropriately, "Man in a Bottle"). The latter was also an episode of the show, but one that leaned close enough toward cliché as to be predictable. "The Purple Testament" and "The Mirror Image" were also memorable episodes of the series. The best of the stories from the book are summarized below.

In "Two Live Ghosts", Jeff Tupper and Hank Merchand are a pair of adventurous prospectors mining the Black Mountains after the Civil War. They soon find themselves caught up in a battle between the U.S. Calvary and the Sioux and Cheyenne tribes, but not before witnessing a bizarre and mystical ritual of a medicine man who beckons the spirits of ancient warriors…

“Silent” John Moreland is one of the best riverboat pilots on the Mississippi. He seems to have an uncanny ability to sense what’s happening miles ahead on the great river. One thing Silent John doesn’t tolerate on board the Dixie Belle is gambling. Shortly after ordering a renowned card sharp off of the boat, the Dixie Belle collides with another vessel and Moreland is found dead in the pilothouse. At the same time, Moreland’s brother and sister each have a vision of their late brother in which "The Ghost of the Dixie Belle" tries to convey a message…

In "The Purple Testament", Lieutenant Hugh Fitzgerald is among US forces fighting the Japanese on the Philippine Islands. During one particularly grueling battle, Fitzgerald manifests the ability to predict which of the men will die next…

Traveling to upstate New York during a fierce snowstorm, sports reporter Peter Dunning and photographer Bert Carey encounter an obsolete steam locomotive, painted white, and a strange young woman who pleads for help in getting home to her sick father, only to disappear into the storm after Pete drops her off. Determined to capture evidence, Pete sets off alone with a camera during the next snowstorm to find the truth about "The Ghost Train"…

In the autumn of 1847, pioneer Christopher Horn leads several families, including his own, across the country to California only to run out of water in the New Mexico desert. Worse, Horn’s son is ill with fever. Many in his caravan are growing restive and threaten to turn back until Horn decides to travel alone to the rim of the desert in search of water. What Horn finds "Beyond the Rim" is more than he can handle…

During WWII, U.N. forces occupy Fort Defiance in Cape Regal overlooking Hangman’s Bay, once governed by reformed pirate Roger Crisp in the 1600s. A ruthless executioner of pirates, Crisp had come to be known as Jolly Roger for his gaunt appearance and demonic grin. Now, U.N. soldiers report unusual experiences and apparitions in the Fort leading to speculation as to the existence of "The Ghost of Jolly Roger".

It’s late night in a city bus terminal when Millicent Barnes, while waiting for the last bus to Cortland, begins experiencing episodes of confusion and possible hallucinations. Her luggage seems to move about on its own and she sees a doppelganger behind her in reflective surfaces. Is it possible that Millicent is being taunted by "The Mirror Image"?

In the old Abington Arms apartment complex, Wilfred Laraby is everyone’s friend, always willing to lend whatever help is needed, financial or otherwise. He enjoys randomly visiting his neighbors living on the floors below his penthouse suite—to the chagrin of stamp collector and master counterfeiter Milton Casper who tries to elude Wilfred only to find himself in an awkward confrontation with "The Man Who Dropped By". ( )