Denis Lukyanov is a writer and journalist, a host of podcasts, a blogger, and a specialist in the book industry, working for literary editorial teams. In this novel, published by the “Polyn” publishing house, the author appears as a translator. Of course, how much of the book comes from manuscripts of an ancient Arabic poet still unknown to this day—and how much comes from Denis himself—only the translator knows.
At the heart of the story is ancient Carthage on the eve of its end. Baalatone the merchant dreams of becoming a seller of mythical creatures, and in his search for the Dragon Stone he catches a strange illness that reveals itself only after he returns home. In the hero’s mind, snake-like voices can be heard, and he begins to become covered in scales. What is to blame—an ancient curse, or a beautiful savage woman Baalatone brought back from his travels, or some unknown kind of disease? All attempts to deal with it fail. Meanwhile, an ominous aura begins to enclose the ancient city of Carthage, foretelling monstrous upheavals. Listen for the details of this gripping tale!