Showing results by narrator "Fred Wolinsky" in All Categories

A true horror classic of Ukrainian literature, Nikolai Gogol's Terrible Revenge raises the notions of terror, betrayal, and revenge to an entirely new level.

In Babbling Brook Society, an old-timer reminds us that our future is linked with the past. A handful of Polar Caves Park staffers learn how climate change, pollution, and friendship influence hidden societies of tiny, ancient residents. Our relationship with the world and biodiversity go hand in hand with good manners and friendship. The Earth is our home, and how we treat it has far-reaching impact.

This lovely and nevertheless rather spooky tale by Nikolai Gogol is rooted in Ukrainian lore. It starts quite ordinary - a young man is in love with a beautiful young girl, but other people and unforeseen circumstances stand in the way of their happiness. Quite unexpectedly, our young hero receives an offer of help from a very unlikely source.

Meet Branimir Baran, the slave destined to save the world. Bran is a Kras, a race enslaved by the Highborn for generations. He witnesses the forging of the forbidden dagger, kaelandur, created to execute Nedezhda, a Highborn found guilty of practicing death magic. But Nedezhda rises again with a horde of demons, leaving Branimir and his companions to seek out the Tree of Life with hopes of stopping them from destroying it. Over a thousand years, the looming threat grows to extend across all lands.

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov is considered a very "real life" writer, his feet solidly on the ground at all times. The Black Monk is his foray into madness and mysticism to rival the likes of Dostoyevsky, Saltykov-Shchedrin, and Kuprin.

Year 2076. The colonization of the solar system has begun. Engineer Jeff Baker and exobiologist Nicole Price find themselves on an exploratory mission. Destination: the Jovian moon of Callisto. As the two are about to land, however, their ship is compromised by a malfunction of its electrical system. Having reached the surface without serious damage, they are startled by the sight of an unknown spacecraft. It appears to have crashed.

A brilliant and acerbic piece of satire by journalist, writer, and human rights activist Vladimir Korolenko, in the unusual form of a spooky story.

It is difficult to combine mysticism with humor, but Alexander Grin takes on the challenge and comes out with flying colors. For all its mystical and mythical references, An Incident at the Apartment of Madam Cerize, is quite a heartwarming story, giving all of us some hope that, sometimes, powers that be do care.

Dostoyevsky was never shy to play with the issues of human mind in his work. A Funny Man's Dream is one of his shorter pieces that, nevertheless, lacks none of the profundity or the mind-bending power of his larger works.

While somewhat outdated and steeped in the prejudice of the day, the Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin fable The Lost Conscience is nevertheless a worthy tale to ponder and a great study of a mind seeking to discard its inhibitions (and not in a good way).

Audie is in trouble, and Finn must return to Nesteryia to save her. When Finn and Audie get back to Nesteryia, nothing is the same. The magic is dwindling and they must figure out how to save the land before they can help Audie. They hear of an enchanted isle…where an ancient evil resides. Will they find the answers they so desperately need? Will Finn be able to save Audie in time?

Ivan Turgenev's Ghosts is a rare venture into the supernatural for this writer, and all the more precious for it. The story has all the beauty of Turgenev's language, all the power of his description, and the decidedly chilling feel of a true ghost story.

Vampires Éduard and Larthia just want to live the good life in West Hollywood. When the Halloween street festival turns into a feast for zombies, they try to find a way to return civilization to normal. With their friends Lazarko the Russian werewolf and Gary the Gay Ghost, they travel through an apocalyptic Los Angeles, meeting trolls, fairies, pixies, a famous movie director, and an angry god or two. Can they unite the supernatural creatures of LA against the undead horde?

Alexander Grin is known for his strange and chilling tales, and this one is certainly one of the oddest of them all. The author would like us to consider what would happen if a creation not only outsmarted its creator but became truly dangerous.

These two fascinating pieces about the Mistress of the Copper Mountain come from Pavel Patrovich Bazhov's much larger collection of stories collected over many years and based on the lore of the Ural Mountains.

Khoma Brut had no idea the trouble he would be in when he asked for shelter at a lonely hut, belonging to an old woman. Enjoy this quirky and spooky tale by Nikolai Gogol.

When the world was known as Avalyne, humans and magical beings lived in harmony. But over time, the elves retreated behind the Veil that separates the modern world from the magical realm. In present day New York, psychiatrist Doctor Dan Ellis finds himself treating an elderly homeless man, brought in for vandalizing the imposing Malcolm Industries building. The old man insists on calling Dan "War Dragon", but can recall nothing of his own past or identity.

A Mysterious Incident at the Mental Institution is a spooky, chilling tale from Nikolai Leskov based on a true incident.

A reminder from Alexei Nikolayevich Tolstoy that one might take great caution when pursuing hidden treasure.

Finn returns to Nesteryia...only to find an ancient evil threatens his friends. What will Finn do when faced with the Wraith King? A computer geek at school, Finn must learn how to harness his magic and unite the holders of the ancient artifacts before the entire world of Nesteryia is destroyed. Saving the world is hard, trying to do it together is even harder. Will Finn be up to the challenge? In a race against time, Finn and Audie must band together with friends both new and old to defeat the Wraith King.