Classic Science Fiction Collections

A witty retelling of a well-known fairy tale features the adventures of two children who are abandoned in the forest and lured into the clutches of a witch by her confection cottage. By the creator of the George and Martha series.

Journey to the castle of the mad scientist and hear tales of imagination to both amaze and astound! In the grand traditions of the late night horror movie and 1950s scary comics comes an anthology for those who love Science Fiction. Hear unearthed classic tales from authors such as Fritz Leiber, Harry Harrison, and other masters of the genre. Your host may also let you poke around the lab a little. But be careful…those tanks contain beasties best left suspended in their animation!

In search of an ideal civilization, Socrates leads Glaucon, Polemarchus, Thrasymachus, and others in debates about various subjects, including justice, truth, class, and art. For without righteousness, tyranny and injustice give rise to oligarchy. The influential dialogues of The Republic helped shape all of Western literature and philosophical thought. It is as much a doctrine of ethics and politics now as it was for the ancient Greeks, and its dilemma remains: how to create a perfect society populated by very imperfect human beings.

The stars and constellations are among the few remaining objects that appear to us just as they appeared to our distant ancestors. From anywhere on Earth, a person may view the celestial panorama simply by stepping outside at night and gazing upward. This nonfiction narrative presents the tales of the 48 classical constellations, compiled from literature spanning a thousand years from Homer to Claudius Ptolemy. These age-old tales have captured the human imagination from ancient times to the present.

So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a white rabbit with pink eyes ran close to her. Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland books have delighted readers and listeners across the globe for more than 100 years. The Wonderland Collection presents three of Carroll's most famous works.

El señor Wonka, dueño de la magnífica fábrica de chocolate, ha escondido cinco billetes de oro en sus chocolatinas. Quienes los encuentren serán los elegidos para visitar la fábrica. Charlie tiene la fortuna de encontrar uno de esos billetes y, a partir de ese momento, su vida cambiará para siempre.

The Aeneid is one of the greatest works in all of world literature. It is filled with mythology, history, and archaeology; it is infused with patriotism, religious feeling, and pathos; it is rich in adventure and romance. As the story begins, a storm shipwrecks Aeneas and his Trojan followers near Carthage in North Africa. There, Aeneas falls in love with Dido, queen of Carthage. But the gods order him to leave for Italy. In despair, Dido commits suicide. Upon finally reaching Italy, Aeneas goes down into the lower world and learns about his future descendants, the Romans.

The Classic Collection of E.T.A. Hoffmann: presents two of the most enchanting and imaginative works by the renowned German author E.T.A. Hoffmann: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" and "The Golden Pot. In The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, readers are transported to a world of fantasy and wonder as they follow the adventures of Clara and her beloved Nutcracker. Hoffmann's captivating storytelling takes us on a magical journey filled with toy soldiers, a fierce battle with the Mouse King, and a visit to the Land of Sweets. This beloved tale has become a timeless classic and a holiday tradition, inspiring Tchaikovsky's famous ballet.

Some folk stories endure generation after generation because, although they are not literal, they resound in truths on a human scale. Folktales remind us of wisdom so elemental it is often lost in the rush of everyday life, so that "sometimes common sense makes no sense at all." The six wonder tales on this audiobook are gems of the genre. They have a "long ago and far away" quality.

One of the supreme masterpieces of world literature, the Homeric saga of the shipwrecks, wanderings, and homecoming of the master tactician Odysseus encompasses a virtual inventory of the themes and attitudes that have shaped Western culture. The tale of Odysseus' encounters with such obstacles as Calypso, Circe, Scylla and Charybdis, the Sirens, and the lotus-eaters, and his dramatic return to Ithaca and his patient wife, Penelope, forms a prototype for all subsequent Western epics.

Joseph Rudyard Kipling was an English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist. Kipling was one of the most popular writers in the British Empire, in both prose and verse, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is regarded as a major innovator in the art of the short story. This collection includes "The Man Who Would Be King", "The Mark of the Beast", "Rikki Tikki Tavi", and "Just So Stories".

This collection of 25 short stories is populated by every sort of magical and mysterious creature, from a grumpy wizard who is outwitted by an elf to a pixie who rides on a rabbit. Enid Blyton remains one of Britain's favourite children's authors and her Bumper Short Story Collections are perfect for introducing her to the latest generation of listeners.

Meditations is former US President Bill Clinton's favorite book. This audio consists of a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor AD 161-180, setting forth his ideas on Stoic philosophy.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, unique tales inspired by traditional literary forms appeared frequently in socialist-leaning British periodicals, such as the Clarion, Labour Leader, and Social Democrat. Based on familiar genres, these stories were meant to entertain readers of all ages - and some challenged the conventional values promoted in children’s literature for the middle class. Acclaimed critic and author Michael Rosen brings together more than 40 of the best and most enduring examples of these stories in one beautiful volume.

The HG Wells Collection includes 4 of Wells' most beloved novels: The Time Machine, The Island of Dr Moreau, The Invisible Man, and The War of the Worlds. All read by the new voice of H.G. Wells, Malk Williams, this collection is the perfect opportunity to delve into some of Wells' most formative and iconic writings.

H.G. Wells—long hailed as the Father of Science Fiction—was a pioneer in the exploration of thrilling, scientifically based stories—a sub-genre which he called his Scientific Romances. Here, we present four of these world-famous books.

The Gods of Pegana was the book that marked the transition from imaginary creatures in the real world to the gods of imaginary world. Lord Dunsany was the most influential writer in the genre that came to be known as fantasy, of which his stories set trends for that continue to this day.

Presented is a two-volume collection of Wells' most celebrated classics of science-fiction and horror: The Time Machine and The Island of Doctor Moreau. This audio-enhanced version - with sound effects and musical soundtrack - combines Wells' groundbreaking exploration of time travel with his "youthful blasphemy" tale of animal and human hybrids.

Twenty-five more timeless Christmas stories from Enid Blyton. The excitement of singing carols, exchanging gifts and a bit of her trademark mischief can all be found in this festive collection. Stories include 'The Pantomime Wolf', 'Christmas in the Toyshop' and 'The Extraordinary Christmas Tree'.

In The Invisible Man, an unexpected guest at the Coach and Horses in Iping arouses the local's interest with his short temper and his completely covered face. Griffin is seeking solitude and quiet, but is soon forced from the village and finds temporary shelter in the home of an old university friend, Kemp. In The Time Machine, a Victorian scientist travels into the far future and discovers the descendants of humanity, the Eloi, living in apparent peace. However, after his time machine goes missing, he discovers that humanity has in fact split into two distinct species.