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First published between 1870 and 1893, Émile Zola’s 20-book cycle chronicling four generations of the Rougon-Macquarts was a shocking exposé of the decadence, degradation and moral decay of 19th-century France. It included some of his greatest novels, among them his masterpiece, Germinal. These innovative, ambitious dramas, first broadcast on Radio 4 over 24 hours in 2015-16, are a radical reimagining of Zola’s classic series, introducing us to 104-year-old matriarch, Dide, imprisoned in an asylum in southern France. 

Humanity has reached a critical moment. Our world is unsettled and rapidly changing, and we face existential risks over the next century. Various outcomes - good and bad - are possible. Yet our approach to the future is characterized by short-term thinking, polarizing debates, alarmist rhetoric, and pessimism. In this short, exhilarating book, renowned scientist and best-selling author Martin Rees argues that humanity’s prospects depend on our taking a very different approach to planning for tomorrow.

An acclaimed novelist, short story writer and critic, Leslie Poles Hartley is best known for his 1953 novel The Go-Between, which won the W. H. Heinemann Award and was adapted as a BAFTA-winning film starring Julie Christie and Alan Bates. Included here is a radio dramatisation of that classic tale, alongside adaptations of three further novels and five short stories.

Shakespeare's classic play explores the eternal themes of love and hate, mercy and justice, with parallel stories centred on the moneylender, Shylock, and the lovers, Portia and Bassanio. Shylock's angry insistence on the repayment of his debt from Bassanio ends in the Venetian courts, where he demands his pound of flesh. Portia meanwhile, a wealthy young Venetian woman, must marry one of her many suitors. Her late father's will has set the challenge by means of three caskets: one gold, one silver and one lead. 

Everyone understands about the no-go districts - areas of the city so overrun with gang violence even the police stay away. In this book, the first in a new series, DI Hero Nelson sets out to combat the issue. When Saskia Hartley and her nine-year-old son are run down outside a restaurant, DI Nelson knows it is no ordinary hit-and-run incident. He's looking at a homicide case...and the evidence points to the brutal Krull Gang.

Before DI Hero Nelson has the chance to get used to his new role as a father to brand-new twins, a murder investigation steals his attention. When a second victim is discovered on his patch, Hero has his eye on a single perpetrator for both murders - but the suspect has a solid alibi for both crimes.

The ship is speeding for Norway; Alisa’s decision to free Calvina has turned for the worse. Alisa is to appear before the Elders to be held accountable for her actions. Nicu has to prove he can lead an army of Redmasks to serve Dracula. When they arrive in Norway, Lars hurries to the Noaidi. There they find that Alisa is the only one who can help Baron Magnus fight the silver in his body.

Alisa doesn’t agree with the Elders, who want to sentence Calvina for being Dracula’s Shadow and the danger she might become. Back in Italy, Dracula finds Nicu and offers to turn his mother back to normal if he helps him with his evil quest.

In the cave Alisa and the Heirs have to face the five dangerous tests of humanity. But the closer Alisa gets to finding the Knot, the more of her friends she needs to leave behind. Will she be able to get them back and who will stop Dracula from untying the Knot first?

On the Elisabetha Tonka wants to snatch the Nosferas ruby from the Contessa’s neck. When Alisa gets back from town, she finds her friends in danger. She wants Tonka to take her instead of her friends. The Contessa promised Alisa’s mother to keep the Spark safe and tries to protect her and the other heirs. The Redmasks are coming. Alisa tells Lars she knows and trusts him.

Tonka informs Dracula about Alisa and her friends. Excited about her new powers Alisa tries them out, much to the amusement of Lars and Ivy. Hindrik isn’t excited at all. Lars is spending more time with Alisa and Ivy and Malcolm feels neglected. Alisa feels she is a danger to everybody around her and wants to be out of their way. She sees no other way than to lock herself in a cage.

Overflown with emotions Alisa has to confide in Lars and Ivy about what is going on with her. Inspired by the openness of Alisa, Ivy tells her about how she and her brother Seymour ended up on the ship. They know Tonka is on a mission to steal the rubies. Hindrik sends Raphaëla to check if the rubies are safe. They’re not. Raphaëla gets into a fight with Tonka.

Alisa, Lars and Ivy succeed in getting the book on Dracula’s history. They find out more information about Dracula’s long-lost love Elisabetha and what happened to her and Dracula. Dracula is on his way together, with his shadow vampire, to the Belov ruby of Russia. Tonka, who has an angry Dracula to please, tries to compel little Tammo in stealing a ruby from the Contessa’s neck.

Dracula turns the Innkeeper into his shadow vampire, so he must obey his every wish. Alisa is struggling in school as her special power - love - is made fun of in class. On her own she remembers her mother who loved her very much but who left her for an important cause. Hindrik urges Alisa to keep the Spark a secret and try to fit in. A strange girl and a wolf sneak onto the ship.

The Conte and Contessa do not want to believe Dracula is alive. He has been captured. Since Dracula and Alisa are connected by the Spark Alisa gets trapped into a coma. Lars is the only one who has the power to help Alisa. As Alisa awakes, she feels that most of the special powers have left her body. But she is alive, thanks to Lars.

The Elders leave the heirs in the care of the Nosferas clan. Malcolm and Lars don’t really feel like going to school at all and sneak off. Making friends isn’t so easy for Alisa in vampire-school, and she keeps getting visions that make no sense to her. Dracula sees Alisa for the first time as the Spark connects them.

Alisa needs both Nicu and Lars to get to know the Redmasks’ plans. The other heirs train to form a strong front. It takes the clan leaders some time to get used to this new status quo on the ship. It takes the support of the Conte to convince the other clan leaders to do it their way. Nicu has to come face to face with his greatest nightmare. The race to the Knot is on.

Lars af Dracas overhears the Noaidi predict the future of all vampires; if the clans don’t reunite, they will go extinct. His father sends out a message to the other four remaining clans to join forces. On the mystical ship the Elisabetha, the other vampire clans come to an understanding. At the market Alisa’s fangs accidentally pop out and humans panic because she’s a vampire.

On the ship the Elisabetha the vampires set sail for Hamburg, to save the Vamalias from the Redmasks. Alisa is discovered by a Redmask but manages to escape through the roof in the attic. In the street she is stopped by Hindrik, who came back to save her. Alisa meets the other Heirs when they arrive on the ship. The Heirs hear that they’re on the ship to start vampire school.

Calvina wants Nicu to join her to a Redmask meeting. Reading her mother’s words Alisa’s world changes; she’s warned never to trust a Dracas. Lars wants to prove he can be trusted even if he’s a Dracas, but Alisa needs some distance and goes into town. The clan leaders find out that Dracula is alive. While Malcolm teaches the class about his power - controlling the weather - things turn into chaos.