27
May
2010
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall by Bill Willingham
This is a self-contained prequel to the Fables graphic novel series. It can be read at any time during the series, as it gives a lot of background to the characters without giving away any plot points. Therefore, it can also be a good introduction to the series if you’re just curious about it.
Sometime–about 150 years ago, judging by her outfit–Snow White visits the Sultan in one of the Middle Eastern Fable worlds. Apparently, none of them have yet been invaded by the Adversary, who caused all of the Fable characters to flee to our world.
The Sultan doesn’t want to hear about it, so instead he says that he’s going to take Snow White for his bride. Every night, he marries a virgen, has sex with her, and beheads her in the morning. Snow explains that she’s divorced, but the Sultan is willing to make an exception.
But Snow White starts telling him her story. She was imprisoned by dwarves, on whom she exacted her revenge.
The Sultan is riveted. He requests she come back the next night to tell him another story. So it goes, each night, that she tells him a story about one of the Fables: Reynard tricks the Adversary’s troops and leads everyone to safety; Flycatcher loses everything to the Adversary, and is so scarred by it, he can’t remember that his family has died; the North Wind sires a litter of wolves, among whom Bigby is the runt, which leads to his determination to become the Big Bad Wolf; Frau Totenkinder sacrifices babies for power; King Cole rallies his people during the Adversary’s siege; plus more.
My favorite stories in the bunch were Snow White’s and King Cole’s. And yes, O.K., it can be argued that these were less dark, in a way, then some of the others. But I think that it illuminated their characters the most. We already know that Bigby was bad before, as was Frau Totenkinder. To what extent is, perhaps, unnecessary (albeit still fun to read!). The why is in itself revealing, but less subtly so than Snow’s and Cole’s stories.
Plus, I loved the artwork for Snow’s story. While each story had it’s own style of cartooning, I felt that this one best captured the feeling of the story.
Overall, a fun read, while I waited for volume six to come in at my library.
Buy Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall on Amazon
If you like this book/author, you might like:
(my reviews in blue)
The Unwritten Vol 1 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross
The Sandman Vol 1: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman
The Sandman Vol 2: The Doll’s House by Neil Gaiman
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Grimm Fairy Tales Vol. 1 by Ralph Tedesco
Manga Shakespeare: A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare and Kate Brown
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire
A Lion Among Men By Gregory Maguire
Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure (AKA Anne Rice)
Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner
Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce
Feminist Fairy Tales by Barbara G Walker
Politically Correct Parables by Robert Martin Walker
Fractured Fairy Tales by AJ Jacobs
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night (1001 ARABIAN NIGHTS) also called The Arabian Nights
Other works by Bill Willingham:
Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
Fables vol. 2: Animal Farm
Fables Vol. 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers
Fables Vol. 5: The Mean Seasons
Fables Vol. 6: Homelands
Fables Vol. 7: Arabian Nights
Fables Vol. 8: Wolves
Fables Vol. 9: Sons of Empire
Fables Vol. 10: The Good Prince
Fables, Vol. 11: War and Pieces
Fables Vol. 12: The Dark Ages
Fables Vol. 13: The Great Fables Crossover
Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall
Peter & Max: A Fables Novel
Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book One
Fables: The Deluxe Edition Book Two
Jack of Fables Vol. 1: The (Nearly) Great Escape
Jack of Fables Vol. 2: Jack of Hearts
Jack of Fables, Vol. 3: The Bad Prince
Jack of Fables Vol. 4: Americana
Jack of Fables Vol. 5: Turning Pages
Jack of Fables Vol. 6: The Big Book of War
Jack of Fables Vol. 7: The New Adventures of Jack and Jack
Day of Vengeance (Countdown to Infinite Crisis)
House of Mystery Vol. 1: Room and Boredom
Sandman Presents, The: Thessaly – Witch for Hire
Sandman Presents, The: Taller Tales
Ironwood Book 2
Shadowpact Vol. 1: The Pentacle Plot
Robin/Batgirl: Fresh Blood
Robin: Unmasked!
Proposition Player
I liked these stories to read once, but I doubt I’d buy it unless I just wanted to complete my Fables collection (of which I do not have one). Snow’s was my favorite too!
His version of Snow White is quite twisted. Who would have thought that dwarfs can kidnap her. Reading each sentence is thrilling and intense. I didn’t regret buying this book.