Zen Fiction

Nineteen sparkling stories that weave between the lands of the living and the lands of the dead. Spirits Abroad is an expanded edition of Zen Cho’s Crawford Award winning debut collection with nine added stories including Hugo Award winner “If at First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again”. A Datin recalls her romance with an orang bunian. A teenage pontianak struggles to balance homework, bossy aunties, first love, and eating people.

Susan, a 24 year old widow and single mother, was facing a big financial problem. She had been on her own since her husband lost his life five years ago, only months after her father died. Susan had spent her whole life in the Canadian bush but the local saw mill had closed. The saw mill's closing caused the local school to close for lack of students. That meant Susan would lose custody of her daughter Lilly if they didn't move to somewhere Lilly could attend school.

A corporate jet, or even her own private jet, would have been within easy reach for her. However, Sally McPhearson always flew commercial; it was sort of her trademark. When she boarded the small commuter plane that day to travel to a business meeting in Toronto, she had no idea that her life was about to abruptly change. Sally was about to depart on a journey that would result in months full of pain, suffering, hunger, desperation, and fear. She certainly would have not been able to comprehend that the experiences she was about to endure would forever change her life for the better.

More than anything, struggling tech support specialist Bradley Evans wants an alpha male lover. He thinks he's found his perfect match, but when his domineering stockbroker boyfriend goes too far, Bradley wonders if his flexible, mindful neighbor might be just what he needs. Ward Linden teaches autistic middle schoolers and is sexy and kind; but he isn't quite the alpha Bradley's been looking for. Do nice guys always have to finish last? Bradley explores what it means to be alpha male in this steamy, humor-laced gay romance.

A seductive tale of lust and revenge, The Climax charts the entangled lives of two women - Terelle and Kai - who have both suffered irrecoverable losses in their pursuit of Marquise, who is believed to be dead. Kai is in prison, and Terelle suffered from a mental breakdown after losing her fiance. After two years of catatonia, Terelle is awakened by a sweet and mysterious kiss, and the voice of her lost love. As Terelle recovers, she clings to the idea that Marquise (who is the father of her child) is still alive and out there, waiting to reunite with her.

High school senior Ember Goodwin never had a sister, but after her mom’s remarriage, she now has two. The eldest is no stranger to her—Ivy is a witty girl in her grade who’s almost never spoken to the shy bookworm before—but she’s surprised to find the popular girl quite amiable. Their burgeoning friendship is tested, however, when Dean Horne, a pale, besuited charmer, shows interest in them both and plans to reveal his appetite for blood to the one who’ll stand by his side.

Ivy Sheppard never wanted the ability to turn into a mermaid—though her wicked ice powers are nothing to sneeze at. Now her step-sister is her enemy, the fairy she once trusted may not be the ally she hoped for, and her new boyfriend wants her to transfer schools to avoid the vampires taking over Union High. Between dodging parents’ concerns, pretending she can stand to even look at the step-sister who sided with the bloodsuckers, and still aiming to end it all without violence, Ivy is in over her head.

Newborns Oriana and Pasha Barão are developed in preparation for the Harpoons, while Champion Gwendolyn Horvearth campaigns for Antosha Zereoue's bid to oversee Project Reassortment. Meanwhile, Jeremiah Selendia teaches his youngest son, Connor, more about his heritage and telepathic abilities, and a renewed accord leads the Beimeni Polemon to a city long forgotten. Will Oriana and Pasha earn a bid during the Harpoon Auction? Is Connor ready to confront the Liberation Front's deadliest foe? Can Gwen accept her new role at Antosha's side?

When sisters Muna and Sakti wake up on the peaceful beach of the island of Janda Baik, they can’t remember anything, except that they are bound as only sisters can be. They have been cursed by an unknown enchanter, and slowly Sakti starts to fade away. The only hope of saving her is to go to distant Britain, where the Sorceress Royal has established an academy to train women in magic. If Muna is to save her sister, she must learn to navigate high society and trick the English magicians into believing she is a magical prodigy.

Jeremy Linden's a PhD student researching an HIV vaccine. He's always short of money, and when biotech startup PharmaTek reduces funding for his fellowship, he's tempted to take a job at a men's dining club as a serving boy. The uniforms are skimpy, and he's expected to remove an item of clothing after each course. He can handle that, but he soon discovers there's more on the menu here than fine cuisine. How far will he go to pay his tuition, and will money get in the way when he realizes he's interested in more from one of his gentlemen?

Former RDD scientist Antosha Zereoue has returned to Beimeni from the Lower Level, while Captain Broden Barão is challenged by the Liberation Front. As the commonwealth prepares to honor 200 years of Chancellor Atticus Massimovian's rule, disparate sides will reconcile differences and form an accord with consequences that shake the underground.

Sandra and Molly were two typical office workers enjoying their lives, which consisted primarily of going to work, shopping and looking for cute guys. Then their world came to a disastrous end brought about by a fast-acting, airborne virus that decimated the world's population. Now the girls live in the abandoned office building in which they once worked surrounded by a new and dangerous landscape.

【解説】 デンマークの世界的童話作家アンデルセンの珠玉の名作。数々の童話の翻訳で知られる山室静氏の名訳で全文（全33夜）を朗読。 『「絵のない絵本」は連作短編小説、あるいは散文詩集というべきもので、屋根裏に住む貧しい画家に、幼なじみの月が、夜々訪れてきて、自分の見たことを語ったのを、画家が書きとめた形式になっていますが、これは彼の実際の経験から思いついたものだそうです。 少年時代のアンデルセンは、遅ればせながらにラテン語学校の給費生になりましたが、卒業を前にして、いろいろの悩みでひどい神経衰弱になり、退学してしまいます。そしてコペンハーゲンに帰って屋根裏に下宿して大学の入試にそなえながら、彼の最も苦しい時期を送ります。このときに一夜、窓の外に幼なじみの月を見出してなぐさめられたのだそうです。 題材は、「旅することは生きること！旅の生活は私にとって最上の学校だった」と言い、生涯を旅から旅に過ごしたアンデルセンらしく、インドやグリーンランドやパリやローマ、さてはサハラ砂漠と、世界各地から拾い集めてあります。主調をなすものは、無邪気なもの、若わかしいものの賛美と、寂しく生きて死んでゆく無名の人々への深い同情でしょうか。これは、彼の童話に通じる心情でしょう。 いずれも、手の中に入りそうな短編ですが、誰かが「クルミの殻の中のホメロス」と評したように、すぐれた人生の断面をさりげなく描

【解説】「永日小品」は、漱石の日常生活を描いた随筆風のもの、あるいは青少年時代の追憶や英国留学時代の回想など、多彩な25の作品群から成っている。いずれの小品も、自由な語り口で、深い情感を湛えている。 【朗読】wis ※透明感と落ち着きのある声で親しまれている女性朗読家です。

【解説】 大阪道修町の裕福な商家の娘、春琴は、美貌ながら9歳のとき眼病で失明する。そ れからは、検校の下で琴や三味線の稽古に励み、自らも師匠となって人に教えるようになった。一方、身の回りの世話をする丁稚の佐助は彼女に思慕の情を持ち、自分でも夜中に密かに三味線を練習し始める。それが主人と春琴の耳に入り、以降、春琴の弟子となって琴を習うようになった 。 春琴は佐助との結婚を親に勧められるのを拒絶するが、やがて身ごもる。周囲の思惑に二人は強く関係を否定し、我が子を里子に出してしまうのだが、それでも、同居し師弟の関係は続けるのだった。佐助は年下の春琴をいつまでもお師匠様と呼び、献身的に仕えた。そんなある日、稽古がひときわ厳しい春琴は人の恨みを買い、顔に熱湯をかけられ大火傷を負う。春琴が頭巾をかぶって人目を避けようとするのをみて、佐助は誰よりも胸を痛め悩んだ。そして、自ら針で目を刺し、失明することを選ぶのであった―。 谷崎潤一郎の耽美主義文学の名作で、数度にわたり映画化もされている。マゾヒ ズムを超越した春琴と佐助との師弟関係を描いている。 【朗読】wis ※ 透明感と落ち着きのある声で親しまれている女性朗読家です。

You Are Wanted and Loved Because You're You is a rhythmical celebration of self love for both young and old. This Zen Gem Whole Family Tale will lift the hearts of young and old and boost the self acceptance of the listeners. An entertaining and creative way to address and celebrate individuality and self worth among children, teens and adults, this book by a veteran teacher is one you'll embrace listening to again and again as it affirms your priceless worth

In 1979, 24-year-old Maura O'Halloran moved to Japan and became the first woman ever admitted to Toshoji Temple. Soshin-san (O'Halloran's monastic name) labored through three intense years of work and study in preparation for becoming a dharma teacher. Her life ended abruptly during a trip to Thailand, and today Soshin-san is revered as a Buddhist saint. The material in this program is from her private and heartfelt journals and letters.

Princess Lillian, an adventurous modern-day princess, faces many changes when her father becomes king. An ancient spell cast centuries before by a set of grand wizards has left Princess Lillian with a riddle and destiny of monumental proportions. As a young princess, her life was always planned by others. However, now she must embark on a journey where all of her choices and their consequences will be her responsibility. The outcome of her decisions could make her life even more complicated.

Lo Zen non si può descrivere con le parole, lo zen si può solo vivere. Le storie zen sono un mezzo per cogliere, da un'ombra proiettata su un muro, qualcosa del fiore dello zen. Queste 54 storie sono state tradotte dalla collezione che John Suler ha fatto di storie zen o taoiste già pubblicate o che gli sono state raccontate o inviate sul suo sito "Zen Stories to tell your neighbors".

Im Job, in der Liebe, im Alltag: Glück ist eine Frage der Lebenskunst. Hundert Geschichten des chinesischen Zen-Meisters aus New York, die zeigen, worauf es ankommt. Was man sich merken und was man am besten vergessen sollte. Worüber man lachen, was man loslassen und wie man weitermachen kann: die Anleitung zum Glücklichsein.