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A chilling exploration of Soviet society and the artist's role within it. Never before translated into English, Lame Fate tells of author Felix Sorokin, asked to submit a writing sample to a machine evaluating literary merit. Should he risk sharing his unpublished masterpiece? Sorokin’s work is Ugly Swans, presented here in a new translation. It follows Victor Banev, who returns to his hometown to find it haunted by the supernatural “clammies.” They terrify adults but enthrall teens, including Banev’s daughter.

These intertwining stories delve into political progress, honor, courage, and art's value. As the Soviet era wanes, can individuals maintain integrity against oppression and decay? For readers of science fiction, literary fiction, and Russian history, this collection offers a thought-provoking journey into a world of moral compromise and the search for meaning.