In this classic tale, a king and his sons are disturbed by a thief who steals their magical apples, then disappears without a trace. The first two sons fail to catch him, but the third does, but in the process he enters a strange and magical world of shapeshifters and magical creatures, where every action can lead to wealth and prosperity, or his own sudden death. In the analysis section, fantasy author and Orthodox deacon Nicholas Kotar explains why, according to Russian philosopher Ivan Ilyin, fairy tales are indispensable for not only personal growth, but spiritual development as well.