Excerpt: The Incendiary Naga Jolokia

The hottest pepper on the planet when it was revealed in 1999.

"The chile glowed vividly red, its outside wrinkled, blistered as if the fruit was suffering from the heat it was forced to bear. The skin had a slick shine to it, and the possessed body twisted in tortured growth. It was mean, angry, menacing, like the face of a Naga warrior, daring you to eat it or die. Or die eating it."