Modern Short Stories

Each of the best-selling writers represented in these selections from Legends II returns to the fantasy universe he or she made famous throughout the world. Whether set before or after events already recounted elsewhere, whether featuring beloved characters or compelling new creations, these masterful short novels are both mesmerizing standalones - perfect introductions to the work of their authors - and indispensable additions to the epics on which they are based.

Let yourself be swept away by these classic tales of hope and courage!!

- Classic tales (short stories and poems) of hope and courage from the 19th and 20th centuries

Annotated for modern listeners

The third entry in the Classic Tales series, joining "Classic Tales of Horror" and "Classic Tales of Christmas"

For adventure fans of all ages, these stories are guaranteed to intrigue, delight, and sometimes take you by surprise!

Do you ever wonder if there is a gnome living in the hole at the bottom of the old tree in the park? Have you ever felt like you weren't alone while in the woods? Did you know that elves are responsible for many of our day-to-day occurrences? If your mind ever fills with these kinds of questions, then these modern fairy tales are for you!

Don't bend; don't water it down; don't try to make it logical; don't edit your soul according to fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly. - Franz Kafka. Franz Kafka wrote, I am free that is why I'm lost. Assume, you wake up and the entire world is against you. You want to follow yourself but the people are dominant on you to do what they want. We don't feel chains until we move. Franz Kafka was not a body to be defined but a soul and heart to be felt. When you zoom out on his life, you will find only a miserable life and a soul that was stubborn to his writings and ...

Some guardians protect with armor. I protect with chains around my heart. I've spent years building an empire while keeping my promises to the man who saved me—including protecting his granddaughter, Natalie. But living under the same roof with her is pure torture. She's no longer the kid I once knew; she's a fiery, ambitious woman who challenges my authority at every turn. And God help me, I want her. After one passionate night together, I did what I do best—I ran. But when a suspicious accident brings me racing back to her side, I'm forced to face the secrets of my past and the depths...

Hannah Smith has it all—an incredible career, a loving husband, and a close-knit group of friends. But despite their picture-perfect life, Hannah and James are hiding a painful secret: they’re struggling with infertility. As Hannah watches her colleagues and friends celebrate pregnancies, her hope slowly fades. Even her once rock-solid marriage begins to crack under the weight of unfulfilled dreams. In the midst of her heartache, Hannah turns to her faith, making a desperate promise—if blessed with a child, she will dedicate their life to serving others. Just when she least expects it...

Many of O. Henry’s stories describe cultural issues of the day, and many incorporate themes relevant to our modern times. This anthology was specially selected for this purpose. It includes the story performances and introduces the telling of each story by describing its relevance and explaining some of the references that might not be familiar to modern-day audiences.

After the sudden loss of her husband, Ruth is left with nothing but her mother-in-law Naomi and a broken heart. With no future in the city they once called home, Naomi decides to return to her small hometown, hoping to find solace in familiar faces. Ruth, refusing to leave the only family she has left, makes a bold choice: she will leave everything behind to follow Naomi and start anew. As Ruth struggles to rebuild her life in a tight-knit community, she crosses paths with Boaz, a successful and respected business owner. Ruth is drawn to his quiet strength, while Boaz can’t help but ...

Every life is a theatrical play and has its own intriguing story. But there are some lives that don’t dovetail into plays or stories. Their lives exceeded the dimensions of one particular story or play, transforming into a chain of stories and plays. While I was constructing the story of their strange life, I found myself on stage in a play. Nobody told me to act in it. I’m a volunteer actor in this play. The theater is where this play, in which I’m an actor, opens its curtains while you’re snoozing away in your warm, comfy bed. Sometimes after a one-act play is played, it closes ...

Inspired by classic books like The Little Prince, these delightful fables follow a variety of charming animal characters as they embark on fantastical yet profoundly relatable quests.

We never forget the stories we were told as children. Even when they are not on the top of our mind, they lurk like palm prints on the drying cement foundations of our understanding of the world. We absorb the pluck of children in the face of adult perfidy, cheering the heroism of Hansel and Gretel or Beauty and the Beast. Counterpoised by the wickedness and cruelty of parents, stepmothers, and wolves in sheep's clothing, children's wiliness usually leaves them unharmed, if not heroic. As adults, we keep returning to them again and again in film, in theater, and in books.

In a bustling modern metropolis ruled by power and ambition, Esther Rodriguez never expected to be thrust into the limelight. Working as a mid-level executive, she’s used to flying under the radar—until a city-wide competition for the position of mayoral spokesperson catapults her into a high-stakes political arena. But as Esther navigates the city's elite, she uncovers a dangerous conspiracy orchestrated by Gabriel Collins, a ruthless executive with a vendetta against her community. When Esther discovers Gabriel’s plan to exploit the most vulnerable citizens and frame her in the ...

Do you believe in fairy tales? It was almost as if the red dress found Sandra when she needed it most. It was almost as if the red dress knew what she needed - to feel more confident, to look more radiant, to appear stronger than she was. It was almost as if the red dress knew that the one thing that was missing in her life was her soul mate? It was almost as if the red dress was magical. Sandra didn't believe in magic. She believed in being strong and being able to take care of herself. In a time when it wasn't popular for women to not get married early, Sandra was focused on her career. ...

The red dress did it's magic for Sandra and now it was time to do the same for Tracy. Tracy didn't know where her life was headed but the red dress showed up in her life and suddenly, things were happening for her. The red dress gave her confidence and strength and her life started changing - for the better. Did the red dress know that what she needed most in her life was to find her soul mate? It was almost as if the red dress was magical. Tracy just wanted to get her degree and be happy. But the red dress had bigger plans for her. The Red Dress is a sweet romance that is clean and ...

Dark Matter is an anthology of estranged tales that were written for the fans of all things weird and bizarre. Some of the stories are recounted rumors of a forgotten past, while others are fortunes told of a distant and horrific future. All of the legends within this collection share a single common element: madness.

These are short stories of one of the greatest writers in the world, Anton Chekhov. For more than 100 years, his humor and philosophy have surprised readers by their depth and brightness. These stories are for Russia and Russians, as much today as they were 100 years ago.

Versailles, 1682: a city of the rich, a living fairy-tale, Louis XIV's fever dream. It's a place of opulence, beauty, and power. But strip back the lavish exterior of polite society, and you'll find a dark undercurrent of sexual intrigue and vicious gossip. Nobody is safe here - no matter how highly born they are. No one knows this better than Madame Marie d'Aulnoy. Each week, a rogue group of intellectuals gather at her Parisian home to debate, flirt and perform Contes de Fées - fairy tales - that challenge the status quo, at a salon that will change the course of literature forever.

One Night. One Chance. One moment that changes everything. You know that saying... Every girl wanted him, and every guy wanted to be him. That's Hunter Collins, our small town's Allstar Quarterback, the most popular guy in school. And me... No boy wanted me. Yet Hunter Collins chose me as his partner during our freshman-year English project... A moment I never forgot. It's senior year, and while Hunter Collins may not think of me, I have wet dreams about him every night. Graduation is just around the corner. I've let high school pass by and it's time to step out of the dark and take a ...

With Grant Stanley dead, dragon omega Aiden Hunt is ready to settle down with his two alphas and raise their daughter Emma. He's finally found the love and family he's always wanted. But when vampires attack their secluded home, Aiden realizes Grant wasn't acting alone. Aiden's father is an asshole with lawyers. He sold Aiden's first heat to the highest bidder, and now he's trying to take Emma from her fathers--at any cost. Jordan, one of Aiden's alphas, is ready to spill some blood in retribution, but Zach Knight has the best lawyers in the city to fight back. Aiden knows a legal battle ...

Step into a world where the extraordinary becomes reality in "Tales of Imagination: Adventures Beyond the Ordinary." This collection of seven captivating stories takes you on an unforgettable journey through realms of whimsy, intrigue, and wonder: Fisc, the Fish who Wanted to Live in Dry Land Garry the Goat who Wanted to Marry a Cow Futuristic Food Battle: Exotic Culinary Competition The Ultimate Heist in a High-Tech World The Book of Shadows The Lost City of Nereus The Weather WhispererEach story in this collection offers a unique adventure, blending the magical with the mundane, the ...