Bibliofreakblog

Fables vol 7: Arabian Nights (and Days) by Bill Williamson

The Arabian Fables have sent a delegation to Fabletown, led by Sinbad.  Cultural differences abound but guess who steps in to save everyone’s face?  King Cole, the former Mayor.

There are some truly funny moments as King Cole translates Prince Charming’s stark words into flourishing Arabic (marked by using a different font).  

Having read 1001 Nights of Snowfall, I wondered why they didn’t send in Snow White.  She mentions that she doesn’t want to do it, but really, I think it’s because she’s up at the farm trying to control her pack of human-cubs.  Luckily she has “mean old Auntie Red” and Bigby’s father, the North Wind, to help her.

The discussions take a turn for the worse when someone of Sinbad’s retinue goes rogue and releases a “weapon of magical destruction.”

Overall, I thought that this was delightful in depicting the differences between not just the European and Arabian Fables, but Fables who have been living as refugees in the Mundy world and those who, until recently, have not really been bothered by the Adversary.

There was, however, one thing that annoyed me about this volume: with all of the Arabian Fables in it, the only three that were ever mentioned were Sinbad, Aladdin, and Ali Baba…basically, the three most well known Arabian Fables in the Western World.  I would have liked to see Williamson dig a little bit deeper and introduce more characters from Middle Eastern stories–so what if they’re not well known to us?  That hasn’t stopped him before?  I didn’t know who Kay was until quite recently.

But here’s hoping there will be a continued alliance between Fabletown and the Arabian Fables and we’ll being seeing more and more Arabian Fables in the future.
Buy Fables: Arabian Nights (and Days) on Amazon

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(my reviews in blue)

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Other works by Bill Willingham:

Fables Vol. 1: Legends in Exile
Fables vol. 2: Animal Farm
Fables vol. 3: Storybook Love 
Fables vol. 4: March of the Wooden Soldiers 
Fables vol 5: Mean Seasons 
Fables Vol. 6: Homelands
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