[5][6] The Canadian landscape figures prominently in much of Zelenyj's work, specifically his home city of Windsor, Ontario and its surrounding environs.

[7] More generally, the city is often portrayed as a sinister place, and is frequently juxtaposed against the natural peace and beauty of rustic settings.

[5] A historical element recurs throughout his fiction, with a focus on war and its effects on those serving in the military as well as the family members of soldiers.

[9] The dark quality inherent in much of Zelenyj's work gives it an apocalyptic tone even in those stories not dealing explicitly with end of the world scenarios.

[10] Zelenyj's short story collections are known for their massive length, their merging of an eclectic variety of literary genres and styles, their often dark and melancholy subject matter, and for their thematic cohesion and inter-story links.