What would happen if Satan came to earth in human form in order to lure helpless innocents to do his bidding—and found himself outdone at every turn by the inherent greed and depravity of humankind? That's the deliciously dark premise at the heart of Russian writer Leonid Andreyev's brilliant satire Satan's Diary. It's an engaging and surprisingly thought-provoking read that's well worth your time.

British author and educator Arthur Christopher Benson was no stranger to tragedy, but throughout his many collections of thoughtful essays, he seemed to have found solace in philosophical and spiritual views of suffering. He addresses this question via the framework of fantasy fiction in the stunning novel The Child of the Dawn, which posits a unique and fascinating view of what transpires after one's mortal life has come to an end.