Lazar Lagin’s ‘The Old Genie Hottabych’ is a delightful story about Volka, a young Soviet boy who finds an ancient genie named Hottabych in an old jug. When Hottabych tries to fit into Volka’s world, his magic leads to all sorts of funny and crazy adventures. As the genie learns about modern life, Volka and Hottabych become good friends. The story is full of magic, friendship, and lots of laughs, making it a fun read for kids who love fantastical tales.

Translated from the Russian by Fainna Solasko
Illustrated and Designed by B. Markevich

You can get the book here and here

Contents

A Most Unusual Morning 9
The Strange Vessel 12
The Old Genie 15
The Geography Examination 37
Hottabych’s Second Service 40
An Unusual Event at the Movies 50
A Troubled Evening 59
A Chapter Which Is a Continuation of the Previous One 64
A Restless Night 67
The Unusual Events in Apartment 72
A No Less Troubled Morning 75
Why S. S. Pivoraki Became Less Talkative 83
An Interview with a Diver 86
Charting a Flight 90
The Flight 95
Zhenya Bogorad’s Adventures Far Away in the East 99
Tra-la-la, O ibn Alyosha! 104
Meet My Friend 107
Have Mercy on Us, O Mighty Ruler! 116
It’s So Embarrassing to Be an Illiterate Genie 121
Who’s the Richest? 127
A Camel in the Street 133
A Mysterious Happening in the Bank 139
Hottabych and Sidorelli 153
A Hospital Under the Bed 156
One in Which We Return to the Barking Boy 167
Hottabych and Mr. Moneybags 170
Hassan Abdurrakhman ibn Hottab’s Story of His Adventures After Leaving the Shop 173
The Same and Mr. Moneybags 181
Extra Tickets 183
Ice-Cream Again 185
How Many Footballs Do You Need? 188
Hottabych Enters the Game 192
The Situation Becomes More Tense 200
Reconciliation 202
Where Should They Look for Omar? 205
The Story Told by the Conductor of the Moscow-Odessa Express of What Happened on the Nara-Maly Yaroslavets Line 211
The Strange Sailing Ship 213
Aboard the “Sweet Omar” 220
The “VK-1” Magic-Carpet-Seaplane 224
Hottabych Is Lost and Found Again 231
The Vessel From the Pillars of Hercules 234
The Shortest Chapter of All 235
Dreaming of the “Ladoga” 243
A Commotion at the Central Excursion Bureau 247
Who Is Most Famous? 253
The Unexpected Encounter 260
What Interferes with Sleeping? 262
Shipwrecked? 267
Hottabych at His Best 274
“Salaam, Sweet Omar!” 284
Omar Asaf Bares His Claws 294
What Good Optical Instruments Can Lead To 300
Hottabych’s Fatal Passion 302
Hottabych’s New Year Visit 308
Epilogue 308