Short Stories Fairy Tales

Railway tunnels, the lanes and hills of the Peak District, family homes, old stones, shreds fluttering on barbed wire, night drawing in, something that might be an animal shifting on the other side of a hedge: Tom has drawn on his lifelong love of weird fiction, folklore and nature's unregarded corners, to write a collection of stories that will delight fans, old and new, and leave them very uneasy about turning the lamp off.

These delightful stories capture the very essence of India. These stories are set in both the rustic setting of laid back villages, where time has almost stopped, and the modern settings of cities, where everyone is in a hurry to reach somewhere, yesterday. Simple stories, simple ideas, and simple thoughts reminds one of the simple life that once existed and is now more and more getting lost as we are drawn inexorably into the speedy web of things.

The four previous volumes in Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling's anthology series of fairly-tales retold with a distinctively modern edge have been hailded by reviewers as "brilliant", "provocative", and "disturbing". In this triumphant new collection of original fiction, 21 of today's leading writers spin the cherished fables of childhood into glittering gold - offering magical tales for adults, as seductive as they are sophisticated.

Watch out for cats in boots, three bears who live in the woods and strange unicorns in this magical collection of short stories by Enid Blyton. From lost slippers and fairy curses to imps without names and a dragon called Mr Wumble, there's fairy magic brewing. Who will live happily ever after? These traditional tales are ideal for younger children and for new listeners. Each story stands alone and is the perfect length for listening at bedtime or in the classroom.

Ben Loory returns with a second collection of timeless tales, inviting us to enter his worlds of whimsical fantasy, deep empathy, and playful humor, in the signature voice that drew listeners to his highly praised first collection. In stories that eschew literary realism, Loory's characters demonstrate richly imagined and surprising perspectives, whether they be dragons or swordsmen, star-crossed lovers or long-lost twins, restaurateurs dreaming of Paris or cephalopods fixated on space travel.

Fairy Story Shorts offer beautiful retellings of traditional tales, and are especially suitable for telling to children at bedtime! This tale is taken from the collection Fairy Stories & Fairy Stories, Traditional Tales for Children, Contemporary Tales for Adults by Clive Johnson, also published by Labyrinthe Press and available as an Audible audiobook.

Thirteen tales are unspun from the deeply familiar and woven anew into a collection of fairy tales that wind back through time. Emma Donoghue reveals heroines young and old in unexpected alliances--sometimes treacherous, sometimes erotic, but always courageous. Told with luminous voices that shimmer with sensuality and truth, these age-old characters shed their antiquated cloaks to travel a seductive new landscape, radiantly transformed.

You thought you knew the story of Cinderella...You were wrong. The kingdom needs an heir and Princess Charmaine is quite aware that the job rests solely upon her shoulders... As a servant in the castle kitchens, Cynder knows his place beneath the royals...When the two meet, sparks fly...and not just the magical kind.

Hello, everyone. Please enjoy the book. Have a great time listening.

From Daniel Mallory Ortberg comes a collection of darkly mischievous stories based on classic fairy tales. Adapted from his beloved Children's Stories Made Horrific series, The Merry Spinster takes up the trademark wit that endeared Ortberg to listeners of both The Toast and his best-selling debut Texts from Jane Eyre. Sinister and inviting, familiar and alien all at the same time, The Merry Spinster updates traditional children's stories and fairy tales with elements of psychological horror, emotional clarity, and a keen sense of feminist mischief.

From Roger Zelansky's delightful tale of Death's disobedient godson to Peter Straub's blood-chilling examination of a gargantuan Cinderella and her terrible twisted "art," here are stories strange and miraculous - remarkable modern storytelling that remold our most cherished childhood fables into things sexier, more sinister - and more appealing to grown-up tastes and sensibilities.

Evil lurks in the shadows and waits to pull a young dreamer into a nightmare... Keo spends her evenings watching the stars traverse the sky above and dreams about the world being different than it is. She gets her wish as an ancient enemy emerges from the darkness to pull her into a nightmare. Before the evening ends she is thrust into an adventure that may be told as a legend for ages to come. Eyes in the Darkness is a standalone horror fantasy action adventure short story in the world of Isiir set thousands of years in the past from the novels Within the Ice, Out of the Ice, and Eryn's Tale.

Long-listed in the Fish International Short Story Competition 2013/2014. Peter is a humble shoemaker who works very hard to provide for his family. They live in an old house in a remote village, where the winters are harsh and food is in short supply. One night, Peter was working late, as usual, when a strange visitor suddenly appeared on the walls of his workshop. It was a visitor unlike any other...

For those who prefer a not-so-happily ever after . . . This short collection of horrible fairy tales from the twisted mind of Andrew Buckley features educational and slightly gruesome tales that teach important lessons about the persuasive powers of mermaids, the secret hobby of the yeti, and the deepest desires of your average ogre.

A fourth anthology from the editors of Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears presents contemporary retellings of traditional fairy tales in Gregory Frost's "Sparks", "The Dog Rose" by Sten Westgard, and other works by Jane Yolen, Joyce Carol Oates, Nancy Kress, and John Crowley.

In this debut collection from C. S. E. Cooney, a swan princess hunted for her bones, a broken musician and his silver pipe, and a rat named Maurice bring justice to a town under fell enchantment. A gang of courageous kids confront both a plague-destroyed world and an afterlife infested with clowns but robbed of laughter. In an island city, the murder of a child unites two lovers, but vengeance will part them. Only human sacrifice will save a city trapped in ice and darkness.

Award-winning, number-one international best-selling author Kevin J. Anderson has published nearly 150 books, which have appeared in 30 languages worldwide, in genres ranging from science fiction, epic fantasy, humorous horror, gritty suspense, steampunk, and mystery. He has published over half a million words of short fiction, the best of which are gathered in this multi-volume series.

Classic fables take on new meaning as five of today’s most original bestselling authors serve up some deliciously modern twists. New reflections on evil queens, charmless princes, and star-crossed lovers branch out in provocative and enchanting directions. Follow the path and see where it leads...

So you think you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood, the girl with the unfortunate name and the inability to tell the difference between her grandmother and a member of a different species? Well, then, try your hand at answering these questions: Which character (not including Little Red herself) is the most fashion challenged? Who (not including the wolf) is the scariest? Who (not including Granny) is the most easily scared? Who is the strangest? (Notice we’re not "not including" anyone, because they’re all a little off.) Who (no fair saying "the author") has stuffing for brains?

Travel to a world of wild imagination and playful curiosity with Just So Stories, the complete collection of Rudyard Kipling's timeless animal tales, specially presented for young children at bedtime. In these delightful and whimsical stories, you'll discover how the elephant got its trunk, why the camel has a hump, and how the leopard got its spots—each tale bursting with charm, gentle humour, and wonder. Told in Kipling's beautifully rhythmic and poetic style, these stories spark imagination while offering soothing, thoughtful storytelling perfect for winding down at the end of the day.