Pegasus for Hire

SHORT STORIES

Pages: 116 Ratings: 5.0

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What is a writer willing to do to create a bestseller?

How to saddle a rebellious Pegasus?

How to deceive Death itself? Can a flea become a beloved pet?

Perhaps we underestimate our dogs?

Can cars be more humane than humans?

In front of you—a collection of short stories, each one like a reflection in a distorted mirror: familiar, but warped, a bit stranger, a bit more truthful than one would like.

The Ukrainian author observes the world with irony and an eye for detail—those very little things behind which the real meaning hides.

These are stories about us—just seen from an unusual angle.

Larysa Semykova is a Ukrainian-born writer currently residing in the UK. Trained as a biologist, she began writing alongside her professional work, carrying her love for literature from school years, where she won several literary competitions.

Her first book, a popular science work about Siamese cats, was published in 2004, followed by a second. Later, she turned to fiction, mainly in the genres of science fiction and urban fantasy, with numerous short stories featured in literary magazines.

In 2022, her long-held dream came true: her novel Rain Over Ramharu was published. Now she introduces her work to English-speaking readers.

Customer Reviews

5.0

1 reviews

Max Golov

Brilliant Book That Soars Beyond Imagination “Pegasus for Hire” is one of those rare books that stays with you long after you finish it. Larysa Semykova, a Ukrainian-born writer now based in the UK, offers a captivating collection of short stories that blend irony, philosophy, and quiet wonder into something truly special. Each story feels like a mirror turned slightly off-angle — familiar yet unexpected, touching on life’s most profound and fragile moments. Some tales are darkly humorous, others tender or deeply reflective, but all are united by a sharp intelligence and an extraordinary sense of empathy. From the haunting “Death of a Broiler” to the tender “My Lovely, Lovely Dog” and the imaginative “Pegasus for Hire,” Larysa explores what it means to be human — sometimes through animals, machines, or mythological symbols, but always through emotions we instantly recognise. Her writing moves gracefully between reality and fantasy, offering glimpses of humour even in life’s heaviest shadows.