Fantasy inspired by fairy tales... not really fairy tales. I found them negative and often creepy (eew, rather than Aaaa!).
For "adult" interpretations of fairy tales, I'd recommend Robin McKinley, Patricia McKilip, Mercedes Lackey, and Orson Scott Card.
For "adult" interpretations of fairy tales, I'd recommend Robin McKinley, Patricia McKilip, Mercedes Lackey, and Orson Scott Card.
Althea M. (althea) reviewed Black Swan, White Raven (Fairy Tale Anthologies, No 4) on + 774 more book reviews
Another volume in their series of re-told fairy tales.
Contents:
6 The Flounders Kiss Michael Cadnum
A rather disturbing tale of a fisherman who hates fish, his wife who doesnt think much of him, and what happens when a fish willing to grant wishes is caught
14 The Black Fairys Curse Karen Joy Fowler
Short and simple what if Sleeping Beauty didnt particularly feel like being woken up?
20 Snow in Dirt Michael Blumlein
A very odd, science-fiction style story of a man who finds a beautiful woman buried, alive but seemingly comatose, in his backyardOnce she is resuscitated, he of course marries her, and she goes on to a career as a famous fashion model but as usual, not everything works out perfectly when mysterious and possibly magical elements are involved
56 Riding the Red Nalo Hopkinson
The story of Little Red Riding Hood is used here as a metaphor for young womens sexuality and the threat(?) posed by sexually voracious men.
61 No Bigger Than My Thumb Esther M. Friesner
A lord forces a showdown with the forest-dwelling woman whom, many years ago, he raped, and whose mother he burned as a witch. He accuses her of cursing him to not sire any heirs, and demands from her the child that he is sure she is hiding from him. However, the woman may indeed have some odd powers, and a womans revenge can be nasty, gory, and oh-so-fitting.. not for the weak-stomached!
80 In the Insomniac Night Joyce Carol Oates
A divorced mother has some serious emotional issues. Protectiveness, whether or not it comes from a well-founded fear, can be as destructive as anything else Reminded me a little of Melanie Tems story in the other volume of this series that I just read.
102 The Little Match Girl Steve Rasnic Tem
A short poem based on the story.
104 The Trial of Hansel and Gretel Garry Kilworth
In this medieval-esque courtroom drama, the actions of the two children who pushed an old woman into her own oven take on a more criminal aspect.
122 Rapunzel Anne Bishop
In this fairly-traditional retelling of the Rapunzel story, the eponymous characters mother is shown to be a horrible, self-centered bitch and the witch who steals her is no better a bitter, malevolent old woman. However, Rapunzel herself manages to transcend the trials that beset her, in order to become a stronger person.
142 Sparks Gregory Frost
This story sets the tale of The Tinder Box in the milieu of the 1940s noir detective story. When a veteran-turned-P.I. accepts a commission to find a strange old ladys Zippo lighter, he falls into a bizarre underworld. Soon he has three huge, magical dogs willing to do his bidding, and a beautiful femme fatale who seem to be quite interested in him Unfortunately, getting involved with her may also mean getting on the wrong side of organized crime
178 The Dog Rose Sten Westgard
Driven to desperation by drought, a gardener and a blacksmith go in search of the legendary castle of Sleeping Beauty, surrounded by impenetrable thorns. Perhaps only a Prince will end the enchantment, but a bold and lucky commoner may also find rewards according to his station.
198 The Reverends Wife Midori Snyder
A very cute and funny story set in Puritan(?) times about two women who concoct a couple of quite absurd stories in order to each have an affair with the others husband but, oddly enough, both end up happier for their adulteries in the long run.
221 The Orphan the Moth and the Magic Harvey Jacobs
Suddenly orphaned and unexpectedly left a fortune by his miserly father, a young man is dismayed when a magical moth tells him that it would be best to discard that fortune. Inexplicably, he decides to pay attention to the moth. Penniless, he is mysteriously transported to a foreign land where animals are unknown, and where he is mistaken for a cat, and expected to eat rats - and sleep in the princess bed. An enterprising young man may find a way to seriously capitalize on this situation Doesnt really hold up to any kind of logic, but quite entertaining.
240 Three Dwarves and 2000 Maniacs Don Webb
An intentionally absurdist riff on Snow White, set in a futuristic(?) mental hospital. Eh. It tries too hard.
256 True Thomas Bruce Glassco
An truly memorable and excellent science fiction story that postulates that the legendary Thomas the Rhymer, who was supposed to have been abducted by Faeries and taken under the hill, was actually taken on an FTL interstellar flight by insectoid aliens (which would account for his returning only to find that years had gone by in his absence, while he had not aged). The portrayed perception of aliens from an early medieval perspective (Thomas assumes that the aliens ARE fairies) is done really well.
277 The True Story Pat Murphy
Snow Whites stepmother tells her side of the story perhaps she wasnt evil after all, but was actually trying to save her beloved stepdaughter from incestuous abuse.
288 Lost and Abandoned John Crowley
The counterpart to Joyce Carol Oates story - a father fights tooth and nail to gain custody of his children, even though he is neither financially nor emotionally equipped to care for them.
297 The Breadcrumb Trail Nina Kiriki Hoffman
A poem based on Hansel & Gretel.
301 On Lickerish Hill Susanna Clarke
Clarkes period spelling is in even heavier effect in this story than it is in Jonathan Norrell. Personally, I really find it irritating, even if it is historically correct for her Victorian-esque setting. Still, if one can get past the creative spelling, this is a clever, funny and very entertaining version of Rumplestiltskin. The team of learned experts is hilarious, and the portrayal of the seemingly helpless Victorian lady as calm and resourceful in the face of adversity (including being locked away and threatened) is quite subtly subversive.
330 Steadfast Nancy Kress
The tale of the tin soldier and the ballerina is here transposed into real-life France. A soldier devotes his life, and makes all his sacrifices for the ballerina he loves, although she has no interest in him indeed, no interest in dancing. Still, his actions mystically somehow bring her success although she does not appreciate it. Possibly even more tragic than the original.
350 Godmother Death Jane Yolen
A wonderful story of Death (as a lady) and her human godson. Although he is granted special knowledge and privileges, he must learn that even he cannot cheat Death.
Contents:
6 The Flounders Kiss Michael Cadnum
A rather disturbing tale of a fisherman who hates fish, his wife who doesnt think much of him, and what happens when a fish willing to grant wishes is caught
14 The Black Fairys Curse Karen Joy Fowler
Short and simple what if Sleeping Beauty didnt particularly feel like being woken up?
20 Snow in Dirt Michael Blumlein
A very odd, science-fiction style story of a man who finds a beautiful woman buried, alive but seemingly comatose, in his backyardOnce she is resuscitated, he of course marries her, and she goes on to a career as a famous fashion model but as usual, not everything works out perfectly when mysterious and possibly magical elements are involved
56 Riding the Red Nalo Hopkinson
The story of Little Red Riding Hood is used here as a metaphor for young womens sexuality and the threat(?) posed by sexually voracious men.
61 No Bigger Than My Thumb Esther M. Friesner
A lord forces a showdown with the forest-dwelling woman whom, many years ago, he raped, and whose mother he burned as a witch. He accuses her of cursing him to not sire any heirs, and demands from her the child that he is sure she is hiding from him. However, the woman may indeed have some odd powers, and a womans revenge can be nasty, gory, and oh-so-fitting.. not for the weak-stomached!
80 In the Insomniac Night Joyce Carol Oates
A divorced mother has some serious emotional issues. Protectiveness, whether or not it comes from a well-founded fear, can be as destructive as anything else Reminded me a little of Melanie Tems story in the other volume of this series that I just read.
102 The Little Match Girl Steve Rasnic Tem
A short poem based on the story.
104 The Trial of Hansel and Gretel Garry Kilworth
In this medieval-esque courtroom drama, the actions of the two children who pushed an old woman into her own oven take on a more criminal aspect.
122 Rapunzel Anne Bishop
In this fairly-traditional retelling of the Rapunzel story, the eponymous characters mother is shown to be a horrible, self-centered bitch and the witch who steals her is no better a bitter, malevolent old woman. However, Rapunzel herself manages to transcend the trials that beset her, in order to become a stronger person.
142 Sparks Gregory Frost
This story sets the tale of The Tinder Box in the milieu of the 1940s noir detective story. When a veteran-turned-P.I. accepts a commission to find a strange old ladys Zippo lighter, he falls into a bizarre underworld. Soon he has three huge, magical dogs willing to do his bidding, and a beautiful femme fatale who seem to be quite interested in him Unfortunately, getting involved with her may also mean getting on the wrong side of organized crime
178 The Dog Rose Sten Westgard
Driven to desperation by drought, a gardener and a blacksmith go in search of the legendary castle of Sleeping Beauty, surrounded by impenetrable thorns. Perhaps only a Prince will end the enchantment, but a bold and lucky commoner may also find rewards according to his station.
198 The Reverends Wife Midori Snyder
A very cute and funny story set in Puritan(?) times about two women who concoct a couple of quite absurd stories in order to each have an affair with the others husband but, oddly enough, both end up happier for their adulteries in the long run.
221 The Orphan the Moth and the Magic Harvey Jacobs
Suddenly orphaned and unexpectedly left a fortune by his miserly father, a young man is dismayed when a magical moth tells him that it would be best to discard that fortune. Inexplicably, he decides to pay attention to the moth. Penniless, he is mysteriously transported to a foreign land where animals are unknown, and where he is mistaken for a cat, and expected to eat rats - and sleep in the princess bed. An enterprising young man may find a way to seriously capitalize on this situation Doesnt really hold up to any kind of logic, but quite entertaining.
240 Three Dwarves and 2000 Maniacs Don Webb
An intentionally absurdist riff on Snow White, set in a futuristic(?) mental hospital. Eh. It tries too hard.
256 True Thomas Bruce Glassco
An truly memorable and excellent science fiction story that postulates that the legendary Thomas the Rhymer, who was supposed to have been abducted by Faeries and taken under the hill, was actually taken on an FTL interstellar flight by insectoid aliens (which would account for his returning only to find that years had gone by in his absence, while he had not aged). The portrayed perception of aliens from an early medieval perspective (Thomas assumes that the aliens ARE fairies) is done really well.
277 The True Story Pat Murphy
Snow Whites stepmother tells her side of the story perhaps she wasnt evil after all, but was actually trying to save her beloved stepdaughter from incestuous abuse.
288 Lost and Abandoned John Crowley
The counterpart to Joyce Carol Oates story - a father fights tooth and nail to gain custody of his children, even though he is neither financially nor emotionally equipped to care for them.
297 The Breadcrumb Trail Nina Kiriki Hoffman
A poem based on Hansel & Gretel.
301 On Lickerish Hill Susanna Clarke
Clarkes period spelling is in even heavier effect in this story than it is in Jonathan Norrell. Personally, I really find it irritating, even if it is historically correct for her Victorian-esque setting. Still, if one can get past the creative spelling, this is a clever, funny and very entertaining version of Rumplestiltskin. The team of learned experts is hilarious, and the portrayal of the seemingly helpless Victorian lady as calm and resourceful in the face of adversity (including being locked away and threatened) is quite subtly subversive.
330 Steadfast Nancy Kress
The tale of the tin soldier and the ballerina is here transposed into real-life France. A soldier devotes his life, and makes all his sacrifices for the ballerina he loves, although she has no interest in him indeed, no interest in dancing. Still, his actions mystically somehow bring her success although she does not appreciate it. Possibly even more tragic than the original.
350 Godmother Death Jane Yolen
A wonderful story of Death (as a lady) and her human godson. Although he is granted special knowledge and privileges, he must learn that even he cannot cheat Death.
daedelys -
With the exception of a couple of stories, this book was wonderful. I've always loved fairy tales and the more adult versions in this book were right up my alley.
