Betrayed by her jealous sisters, a Tsarina and her infant son are marooned on a barren island until a magical swan helps them regain their rightful heritage.

Dead of night (1945): An architect is caught up in an endless series of recurring dreams, during which he is told other people's supernatural experiences. He finally murders the psychiatrist who is trying to help him. ; Queen of spades (1949): Herman tries to learn the secret to winning money so he can afford to court Lisa. He fails tragically, and Herman, Lisa, and her mysterious grandmother all die.

Tatiana falls in love with Onegin who urges her to forget him. Onegin kills a man in a duel and travels abroad. Six years later he meets Tatiana again, but she is married.

The founder of the literary journal "Fairy Tale Review" collects stories inspired by classic fairy tales and written by such authors as Joyce Carol Oates, John Updike, Francine Prose, Kevin Brockmeier, and Shelley Jackson.