The Queen of Spades
by Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 1 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
"The Queen of Spades" is decidedly one of Pushkin's gloomier tales, which inspired several movie adaptations and a magnificent opera by Tchaikovsky. Its determined but misguided protagonist stakes his life on a very old secret that might or might not even exist - with dire consequences.
Count Cagliostro
by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 2 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
When a young man goes from the demands and rigors of the army to a luxurious and serene country living, his mind is bound to wander where it should not. Such is the fate of Alexei Alexeyevich Fedyashev, who becomes so absorbed in his newfound idleness that he falls in love with an old portrait.
When the famous conjurer and medium Count Cagliostro accidentally ends up at Fedyashev's estate, the young man begs him to bring his dream to reality. "Be careful what you wish for," is the lesson young Alexei has yet to learn - and how!
Moonlight
by Alexander Grin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 3 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
Strange, strange things appear to a man who ventures alone into the nighttime woods.
May Night or the Drowned Maiden
by Nikolai Gogol
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 4 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
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.
The Wooden Guest
by Vladimir Odoyevsky
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 5 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
"The wooden guest" is an odd little tale by Prince Vladimir Odoyevsky. It starts off as a kind of fairy tale for grownups and develops into a brief lesson in philosophy, with frightening implications when it comes to human nature.
The Wooden Guest
by Vladimir Odoyevsky
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 5 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
The Wooden Guest is an odd little tale by Prince Vladimir Odoyevsky. It starts off as a kind of fairy tale for grownups and develops into a brief lesson in philosophy, with frightening implications when it comes to human nature.
The Sinner from Toledo
by Anton Chekhov
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 6 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
In the time of paranoia and religious fanaticism, one young woman's life falls into the hands of two very misguided men.
The Sinner From Toledo
by Anton Chekhov
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 6 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
In the time of paranoia and religious fanaticism, one young woman's life falls into the hands of two very misguided men.
The Eve of Ivan Kupala
by Nikolai Gogol
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 7 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
Another strange and frightening tale by Nikolai Gogol with roots in Ukrainian lore. When a poor peasant falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy farmer, a dark power interferes, promising him the fulfillment of his wishes but neglecting to mention the terrible price.
The Silver Wolf
by Alexander Kuprin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 8 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
A peasant's son leaves his family after being drafted into the army and returns far more different than anyone ever expected.
The Chickadee
by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 9 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
When a town is left defenseless and is attacked by the enemy, one woman calls on the powers that be to help her protect her people and save her son's life.
The Chickadee
by Alexei Tolstoy
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 9 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
When a town is left defenseless and is attacked by the enemy, one woman calls on the powers that be to help her protect her people and save her son's life.
Magical Mischief
by Alexander Grin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 10 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
One day, a courier who deems himself quite the romantic hero, decides to follow a beautiful stranger... only to be plunged into a nightmare vortex in space and time.
Magical Mischief
by Alexander Grin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 10 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
One day, a courier who deems himself quite the romantic hero, decides to follow a beautiful stranger... only to be plunged into a nightmare vortex in space and time.
The Witches' Castle
by Alexander Belyaev
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 11 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
Alexander Belyaev's rare foray into a bit of mysticism, The Witches' Castle is a reminder how careful must be wandering around the woods, especially when mysterious strangers and spooky buildings might be involved.
The Witches' Castle
by Alexander Belyaev
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 11 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
Alexander Belyaev's rare foray into a bit of mysticism, "The Witches' Castle" is a reminder how careful must be wandering around the woods, especially when mysterious strangers and spooky buildings might be involved.
Kharitonov's Gold
by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 12 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
A reminder from Alexei Nikolayevich Tolstoy that one might take great caution when pursuing hidden treasure.
A Mysterious Incident at the Mental Institution
by Nikolai Leskov
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 13 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
A spooky, chilling tale from Nikolai Leskov, based on a true incident.
Terrible Revenge
by Nikolai Gogol
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 14 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
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.
The Ghost of the Engineering Castle
by Nikolai Leskov
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 15 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
The Engineering Castle is a real building that still exists. It remains one of the most sought-after landmarks in St. Petersburg, and it is steeped in legend, ghost stories, and lore every bit as much as Nikolai Leskov makes it sound.
Viy
by Nikolai Gogol
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 16 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
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.
The Copper Mountain Double Feature
by Pavel P. Bazhov
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 17 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
These two fascinating pieces about the Mistress of the Copper Mountain come from Pavel Petrovich Bazhov's much larger collection of stories collected over many years and based on the lore of the Ural Mountains.
The Copper Mountain double feature
by Pavel Bazhov
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 17 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
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.
The Gray Automobile
by Alexander Grin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 18 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
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.
The Gray Automobile
by Alexander Grin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 18 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
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.
Ghosts
by Ivan Turgenev
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 19 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
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 a decidedly chilling feel of a true ghost story.
The Lost Conscience
by Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 20 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
While somewhat outdated and steeped in the prejudice of the day, 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 (not in a good way).
The Lost Conscience
by Mikhail Saltykov Shchedrin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 20 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
While somewhat outdated and steeped in the prejudice of the day, 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 (not in a good way).
A Funny Man's Dream
by Fyodor M. Dostoevsky
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 21 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
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.
The Black Monk and Other Stories
by Anton Chekhov
read by Ralph Cosham
Part 22 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
Chekhov can characterize with a single well-selected detail. He sums up relationships among a group of people, or the beliefs held by an entire country, by finding those key objects that crystallize his characters' strongest emotions. These four stories dramatize an array of obsessions that are at once purely Russian and deeply universal. Ralph Cosham's voice is so clear and unaccented as he reads these tales that he is a bit surprising, the complex Russian names stand out, jolting the listeners. But that's the only shock here, as Cosham fits his delivery to Chekhov's style, surging to pile description on description, then pausing, to give entire scenes a unified feel and pace.
The Black Monk and Other Stories
by Anton Chekhov
read by George Guidall
Part 22 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
Chekhov, noted author, playwright and physician, is one of the most accessible and enjoyable of the Russian writers. He writes about life's routines in a way that encompasses the heights and depths of human emotion all in the span of a day, or even a meal. This recording includes four of his most acclaimed short stories, including: The Black Monk, The House with the Mezzanine, The Peasants, and Gooseberries.
The Black Monk
by Anton Chekhov
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 22 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
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.
An Incident at the Apartment of Madam Cerize
by Alexander Grin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 23 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
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.
Judgment Day
by Vladimir Korolenko
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 24 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
A brilliant and acerbic piece of satire by journalist, writer, and human rights activist Vladimir Korolenko, in the unusual form of a spooky story.
Horror
by Alexander Kuprin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 25 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
A reminder from the master storyteller Alexander Kuprin - sometimes, there are but a few steps between your own front door and unimaginable horror.
Improviser
by Vladimir Odoyevsky
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 26 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
Prince Vladimir Odoyevsky's beautifully written and powerful take on the age-old question "What would happen if you received exactly what you wanted?"
Gatchina Ghost
by Alexander Kuprin
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 27 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
While making rounds in an old palace, a devout, dyed-in-the-wool supporter of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution meets an unexpected visitor and gets to hear his thoughts on the latest events and allocation of power.
The Terrible Prophecy
by Alexender Bestuzhev-Marlinsky
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 29 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
Best known for his poetry and historic novels in the style of Sir Walter Scott, Alexender Bestuzhev-Marlinsky takes a turn down a different path with A Terrible Prophecy and delivers classic spooky tale on the dangers of having one's wishes fulfilled to the letter.
A Vampire's Family
by Alexei Tolstoy
read by Fred Wolinsky
Part 30 of the Moonlit Tales of the Macabre - Small Bites series
Not all vampires walk the land alone - sometimes they bring their relatives. So discovers a lonely traveler when he carelessly visits a haunted village.
