One Week to Snow Queen! (And a Book Giveaway)
With one week until the release of The Snow Queen’s Shadow [Amazon | B&N | Mysterious Galaxy], a new review rolled in from SciFiChick, who says, “As before, the action and adventure are non-stop with plenty of drama, magic, and inspired characters. Don’t miss this brilliant, action-packed fantasy series.”
I’ll take it!
One thing that intrigues me … of the three reviews I’ve seen so far (four if you count Klausner), not one has talked about the fairy tale I’m using this time around. If you’re not familiar with The Snow Queen, you can check it out on the SurLaLune site.
The first time I used a Hans Christian Anderson tale for one of these books, it was The Little Mermaid. I read the fairy tale, and my initial response was “Oh hell no.” Thus was born The Mermaid’s Madness.
When I read The Snow Queen, I had the opposite reaction. Oh hell, yes! This was exactly the framework I needed for this book. I definitely took some liberties in order to write my story and my characters, but the story Anderson wrote fit very well with what I wanted to do in the last book.
Do you have to read the fairy tale to appreciate the book? Not at all. Is the fairy tale a spoiler for the book? Not really … if you know the tale, you’ll recognize elements in the story, but I don’t think you’ll be able to predict what’s going to happen. Though if you prefer to avoid anything with even the slightest hint of spoilers, you could always wait and read the fairy tale afterward.
I don’t know where else to go with this, so I’m going to jump straight to the giveaway. What’s your favorite fairy tale or fairy tale adaptation, and why? Leave your answer in the comments, and I’ll pick a winner at random to receive an autographed copy of one of my books — your choice.
We’re heading up north on Friday, so you’ve got 24 hours to get your entry in. Anyone can enter; there are no regional restrictions on this one.
Sheryl
June 28, 2011 @ 10:25 am
My favorite fairy tale adaptation is the original Shrek movie.
Candie Syphrit
June 28, 2011 @ 10:29 am
It’s hard to pick a favorite fairyale, but I love adaptations of Snow White, especially Mercedes Lackey’s Serpent’s Shadow and the anime Pretear.
Marjo
June 28, 2011 @ 10:37 am
My favorite fairy tale is Snow White and Red Rose. It’s not as popular as the other Snow White, but I think it should be. It’s such an adorable story.
UnravThreads
June 28, 2011 @ 10:38 am
Insert comment fawning over your books here.
In all seriousness, I think my favourite adaptation would likely be the recent Disney film ‘Tangled’, the adaptation/retelling of Rapunzel. I was instantly sold on it via the posters and I was almost literally champing at the bit to get the DVD release (Which I bought on release day!). I think it’s the perfect blend of humour, fairy tale and classic Disney film making. The characters are amazing, the songs are hilarious and beautiful, the animation is sublime… Disney really outdid themselves with it. Oh, and Rapunzel was super cute, too.
Anita K.
June 28, 2011 @ 10:46 am
Oh heavens, I can’t pick just one…
I like your Princess books, because the ladies don’t just sit there and wait, they take control of their own fates, and because ther’s a gay character(!). Plus, there’s plenty of humor and action.
I like Mercedes Lackey’s Godmother series, for similar reasons, and also because she puts a whole new spin on the “evil” characters, pointing out their importance to the story and to the development of the main characters. I particularly like The Fairy Godmother and The Snow Queen.
I like Mercedes Lakey’s Fire Rose (based on Beauty and the Beast) because I find the beauty character fantastic–she’s a bluestocking!!–and because the beast *doesn’t* get transformed to a handsome prince; he stays kinda weird looking.
I like Patricia C. Wrede’s Snow White and Rose Red, because I just plain enjoy her worldbuilding.
I like Beauty and Rose Daughter, both based on Beauty and the Beast, by Robin McKinley. Beauty makes me laugh and I think I love Rose Daughter so much because of the glittery unicorn manure. And I also like the families in both of them.
I love Ash by Malinda Lo because it is a lesbian retelling of Cinderella, and I also love how she deals with fairies and the fact that things are not always as they seem.
I love the random book of gay retellings of fairy tales that my partner and I found at the bookstore one day.
As far as normal fairy tales, not retellings, I have always loved East o’ the Sun and West o’ the Moon.
… and I should stop now.
Chenelle
June 28, 2011 @ 10:48 am
My favorite fairy tale is The Little Mermaid. I loved this book as a child, and had the book on tape where a little chime sounded to indicate it was time to turn the page. The reason I loved this book, even though she does not get the prince in the end, was for her courage. She wanted a soul, she wanted love, and she went after both. Even though the prince ended up with another she was not bitter, she still loved him and wished him happiness. And despite her impending doom, she was granted the ability to earn a soul through her good works and kindess as a wind spirit. This story had so much more to it than any “disney” version. And while I can appreciate the lightheartedness of Disney’s version, it is truely not the same. I would love to see a film version of the original some day.
Anke
June 28, 2011 @ 10:52 am
My favourite fairy tale is “The Devil’s Soothy Brother”. I remember it was included in an… audio drama? Seems like the wrong word… audio casette with a bunch of fairy tales that I had as a kid. I think even then I picked up on the bit that the devil was a good guy there. At least as far as the protagonist is concerned.
Bill Weinberger
June 28, 2011 @ 11:00 am
So there’s your books – too obvious.
I was blown away by ‘Tangled’ — rats! someone already mentioned that.
I really liked ‘EverAfter’ and it’s pseudo-realistic take on Cinderella – including Leonardo da Vinci (!)
Jim C. Hines
June 28, 2011 @ 11:02 am
I read Fire Rose ages ago, but it’s been so long I barely remember it.
I’ve seen Ash, but haven’t read it yet. May need to check that one out!
Jim C. Hines
June 28, 2011 @ 11:03 am
Ever After came up on the LJ thread as well. I liked that one too. Da Vinci was fun, and I generally like Drew Barrymore’s stuff.
Jason
June 28, 2011 @ 11:11 am
I don’t really have a favourite fairytale, but I do have some favourite adaptations. For books, my favourite adaptation is probably Mirror, Mirror by Greogory McGuire. I really loved the mix of Snow White with reality of 16th Century Italy and the Pope’s children. I enjoyed that the seven dwarves were rock creatures. I also liked the way the story was written. Everything just worked for me.
I also love the comic series Fables. I loved the original set up with Nat King Cole as the mayor of Fabletown in NYC, Snow White as the Deputy Mayor, and the Big Bad Wolf (Bigby Wolf) as the Sheriff. The series has just grown from there and gotten very interesting. Little disappointed that the adversary was so obvious, but I love the developments with Snow, Bigby, and Red Rose. Plus Babe the Blue Ox in Jack of the Fables is the best! Amazing 1 page jokes!
Last, the anime Otogi-Jushi Akazukin or the Three Fairy Musketeers. It has Akazukin (Little Red Ridding Hood), Shirayukihime (Show White) and Ibarahime (Sleeping Beauty) protecting Sota who has this amazing hidden power against evil beasts coming over from the fairy tale lands to kidnap him. I love some of the interactions in this series. Akazukin is so cute and she’s the more tomboyish member while Shirayukihime is regal and quite and Ibarahime is just sleepy. It has elements of a magical girl series so there are some cool transformations and magical items. It’s a very fun series and sweet.
kumako08
June 28, 2011 @ 11:20 am
My favorite fairy tale has to be Beauty and the Beast >< hehe
Jann M.
June 28, 2011 @ 11:58 am
My favorite fairytale growing up was “The Twelve Dancing Princesses.” Not sure why, maybe it was all the dancing shoes. Plus I was quite enchanted by the picture of the princesses in their pretty dresses. My favorite movie as a child was Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. Romantic, great and elegant villian (Love love love Maleficent!), and more dancing! Plus a dragon! My favorite grown up fairytale type stories are “Stardust” by Neil Gaiman(book) and “The Princess Bride”(movie).
BeckyK
June 28, 2011 @ 12:08 pm
My favorite fairytale adaptation is “Briar Rose” by Jane Yolen. It’s still one of my all-time favorite books. And, no, Harriet Klausner does NOT count as a review.
Jennifer
June 28, 2011 @ 12:17 pm
humm, I am in love with the trilogy by Gregory McGuire for Wicked. I think the musical was good too – There is just so much background and inspiration for the story of OZ and the witches in the story. I think that would be my favorite fairytale adaptation. 🙂
mattw
June 28, 2011 @ 12:28 pm
I don’t know if you’d call it a fairy tale, per se, but I was always fond of tales of Arthurian legend. Disney’s The Sword in the Stone will always have a special place in my heart.
Leslie Seabolt
June 28, 2011 @ 12:30 pm
When I was a little boy, I had a hardbound picture book of “The Steadfast Tin Soldier” I read it over and over again. The idea of being different from the rest of the soldiers appealed to me as a weird little kid who never felt like he was “like all his brothers”. To fall in love with someone because of their grace and beauty, as the soldier did with the ballerina, and because she was like him (Standing on one foot) gave me hope that someday I would find someone as “different” as me to love. (Which fairy tales DO come true and I did!) The Jack In The Box was a perfect representation of all the bullies (Both kids AND teachers) who enjoyed making your life hell. (Though I’d have preferred him being torn apart by the children as a fitting end!) The adventure in the boat reminded me I needed courage, and being swallowed by the fish and brought back to the very house he started in made me think about coincidences, fate, and destiny. Finally the ending where he became a heart and she the ribbon, well it made something in me twist, even at that age. It was so sad yet beautiful as well.
Marla Rudas
June 28, 2011 @ 12:34 pm
Not sure if it’s a fairy tale but Once Upon A Mattress is a musical I love. I think the story is “The Princess and the Pea” Carol Burnett as Winnifred always has me howling!
Gerard D
June 28, 2011 @ 12:35 pm
My favorite fairy tale adaptation(s) would be the anime Fairy Muskateer Akazukin. The main reason is I quite enjoyed how Cinderalla turned evil after she lost the one she fell in love with at a young age and in order to stop her the 3 Muskateers (3 preincesses had to team up to stop her. the 3 are Akazukin (Red riding hood), Shiriyuki (Snow white) and Ibara (Briar Rose). A rather fun and magical series.
Leslie Seabolt
June 28, 2011 @ 12:36 pm
Have you ever seen the musical play “Once on this Island”? It does a capital job of recreating the story, though instead of being a mermaid, the protagonist is a poor black peasant who falls in love with a rich ruling class guy whose car crashes and she nurses him back to health. I cried at the end.
Debi Murray
June 28, 2011 @ 12:38 pm
As a child, I loved The Six Swans fairy tale. I often wondered why the youngest brother didn’t just take off the shirt so she could finish it and he wouldn’t be stuck with a wing instead of his left arm.
Bennett
June 28, 2011 @ 1:29 pm
My favorite (at the moment) is Patricia C. Wrede’s retelling of ‘Snow White and Rose Red’. I love her writing in any case (I recently found I still love the Enchanted Forest Chronicles even a decade and a half since I read them in elementary school), but more to the point with this was how she took such a bare-bones almost nonsensical tale and gave it a sense of realism (setting it in Elizabethan England and just getting that setting to feel so right), characters that were well developed, and otherwise just made it a memorable story.
Of course my recent interest in retelling fairy tales is all your fault, it was the Princess books that got me started on them, but since last fall I’ve read (several times) your books, Mercedes Lackey’s 500 Kingdoms books, the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, and I’m currently rereading Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels about the witches which also have some fun with various fairy tales. But at the moment, picking just one favorite has to be Snow White and Rose Red.
Jeremy Carroll
June 28, 2011 @ 1:39 pm
There is quiet a few local fairy tales associated with the town I grew up in, and my favorite one concerns the devil drinking with a local chieftain and how a certain mountain and a few lake islands formed.
An loose adaptation of fairy tale tropes that I thoroughly enjoy is ‘Lords and Ladies’ by Terry Pratchett. It has elves and witches, and makes me laugh everytime I read it.
Melissa Scheel
June 28, 2011 @ 1:58 pm
I would have to say either Tangled: Because well… the music, the story… everything about it makes it a great fairytale!
Or Ever After. In Ever After I really liked the characters and how they were different from the original, they had grown into something.. more 🙂
Abrah
June 28, 2011 @ 2:01 pm
I love Beauty by Robin McKinley! I grew up loving that story, and the detail she added was spot on for me.
Amy Loving
June 28, 2011 @ 2:12 pm
My favorite fairy tale adaptation (besides your books, to which I am hopelessly addicted) is the musical “Into the Woods” by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. The tales of Jack & the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty (as well as one created by Lapine, The Baker and His Wife) are carefully woven together to create a beautiful story (with fantastic music). The duets between the two Prince Charmings are priceless!
Jim C. Hines
June 28, 2011 @ 2:15 pm
Love those duets!
The original draft of Snow Queen had an Into the Woods reference in chapter one, but I had to rewrite that chapter and couldn’t find a way to keep the reference 🙁
Erin
June 28, 2011 @ 2:16 pm
Well, I am guessing we can’t just put your princess series as an answer. :p
I’d have to say that my favorite adaptation was the show Grimm’s Fairy Tail Classics. I used to watch that all the time (on Nickelodeon) with my brother when we were little. They were always so interesting to me, and I get a lovely nostalgic feeling just thinking about it!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimm's_Fairy_Tale_Classics
Tony
June 28, 2011 @ 2:24 pm
Charles de Lint’s urban fantasy retelling of Jack the Giant Killer is probably at the top of my list. The sudden intrusion of the fae into the mundane world is a theme I enjoy, and I think he writes it very well. To this day when I need a sudden burst of energy to do something, I think “gojackygojackygo!”
candy griffin
June 28, 2011 @ 2:25 pm
Deerskin by Robin McKinley. I loved it from the first page the first time I read it, and have revisited it many times since.
Lili Petit
June 28, 2011 @ 2:37 pm
I am immensely fond of the Hans Christian Andersen tale “The Tinder Box”. The LSD beauty of the dogs with the wild eyes gets me particularly.
I am immensely fond of “The Tinder Box” by Hans Christian Andersen. The idea of journeying beneath the tree-bark to retrieve something special – the LSD beauty of the dogs with the manic eyes – such a unique chill.
Tiffany Harmon
June 28, 2011 @ 2:39 pm
I really enjoyed the TV movie Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister based on the book by Gregory Maguire. I liked the book, but it honestly wasn’t as engaging as the TV movie adaptation. This is a different take on the Cinderella tale as told by one of the stepsisters, and it is much different than the Disney version.
And, of course, I’ve really loved reading your series of books and I can’t wait for this one, even though I’m sad it’s the last one!
Jim C. Hines
June 28, 2011 @ 2:41 pm
We’ve got that movie on the DVR at home. I’ve been nervous, because TV adaptations often seem to mess things up, but your recommendation is encouraging. Will check it out as soon as I have time…
Joe
June 28, 2011 @ 2:44 pm
I’d go with Briar Rose, which is the Grimm’s version of Sleeping Beauty. For some reason it seemed the most realistic to me back when I was a kid. Of modern fairly tales, Shrek – very good story along with great art (and, Mike Myers!)
Kev
June 28, 2011 @ 2:53 pm
Hmmm, I can’t recall the name of it… but’s got something to do with a wolf and low hanging grapes. I recall enjoying that one as a kid.
Jen
June 28, 2011 @ 3:08 pm
My favorite fairy tale was always one called “East of the Sun and West of the Moon”. It has themes similar to Beauty and the Beast, but I prefer this story. It was in a collection of fairy tales when I was little, and I did some research later to find out it’s a Norwegian folk tale.
Max
June 28, 2011 @ 3:37 pm
Terry Pratchett’s The Hogfather, preferably the BBC’s live-action production. It’s just so.. accessible to all ages, yet brilliant enough to be intelligent, funny, sad, sweet, and tell us something wonderful about our hopes and beliefs in things that aren’t real.
For those unaware of this marvel, the Hogfather (Santa Claus) is missing and Death must play the part during Hogswatch (Christmas) lest the children stop believing in him.
Susan and Death are a delight throughout the tale, and the little side-story where Death has to put aside the Hogswatch activities and go collect the little match girl’s spirit is.. well.. that scene gets me every time.
That’s my favorite fairy-tale adaptation. The Hogfather, adapted from Santa Claus, an amalgam of Sinterklaas and Father Christmas.
Bridgitt
June 28, 2011 @ 4:21 pm
My absolute favorite fairy tale of all time is “Beauty and the Beast.” Robin McKinley did two adaptations I liked, “Beauty” and “Rose Daughter.” I loved the first 2 seasons of the TV show, and I have a number of different versions of the original tale. I even liked the Disney version. I even have a VHS copy of the Jean Cocteau movie version – in French.
Chris
June 28, 2011 @ 4:25 pm
I’d have to say I would choose the original Sleeping Beauty, though not really because of the story; I just like how very few stick with the original story (*points distinctly at Disney*).
Jon
June 28, 2011 @ 4:32 pm
I love the musical “Wicked” because its about a wonderful person that is misunderstood ostracized because she looks different. And the songs are awesome!! Not to mention my unexplicable attraction to green girls…
Tammi Albright
June 28, 2011 @ 5:43 pm
I have always held some strange fascination for the fairy tale, “The Frog King” (or The Frog Prince) and all of it’s variations. (I think my all-time favorite version is “The Well of the World’s End” from the Scottish Lowlands where the girl’s backstory resembles a mix of Snow White’s and Cinderella’s humble beginnings.) I love the whole idea of transformation, coming of age, and the loss of innocence at the price of newly found knowledge of the self. I also blame my grandmother, who used to tell me whenever my heart was broken that “You have to kiss a lot of frogs in order to find your prince.”
I really enjoyed how Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” incorporated several ideas from the different story variations, so that in actuality there were the two representations of the princess: one being Tiana, who represents the poor, hard working girl from “The Well of the World’s End” whose circumstances forces her on a quest to find the well so that she can fill her sieve and return home. In Disney’s version, the sieve is metaphoric for the one element that Tiana has overlooked in her life (love) and with the help of the frog prince and the guidance of Mama Odie (who represents the old woman in the story version), she is finally able to realize this. (I also adore the idea that Prince Naveen in this instance has his own story arc and in a lot of ways parallels the “spoiled princess” part.)
The character, Charlotte, on the other hand, is the spoiled debutante (or princess) who meets her “prince” at the Mardi Gras masquerade ball (which is a pretty cool interpretation of the golden ball that the princess loses in many of the stories. Also, being that Mardi Gras arrived to New Orleans when the Le Moynes brothers were sent to defend France’s claim upon “Louisiane” by Louis the XIV, and he was known as the “Sun King,” it sort of adds to the “golden ball” concept, as well as references the part in many of the versions where the daughter of the king was “so beautiful that the sun itself, which has seen so much, was astonished whenever it shone in her face.”) Charlotte eventually learns that love is far more important than her expensive clothes and jewels and is able to step outside of herself to help another in need.
Allison
June 28, 2011 @ 6:05 pm
A lot of my top choices have already been mentioned here – I love adaptations like ‘Into the Woods’ where multiple fairy tales are intertwined, most of the Disney movies (Beauty and the Beast, Tangled, etc) are classics in my mind, Ever After is one of my favorite movies…. I do have to say, I’ve always loved ‘The Snow Queen’ too, which is why I’m so excited about your new book! There are just so many great pieces to that story that make it (in my mind) one of the best fairy tales out there.
Stephen
June 28, 2011 @ 6:10 pm
I think Ella Enchanted will always have a special place in my heart because, as far as I can remember anyway, it was the first book I read that took a familiar fairy tale and retold it with a twist. I’ve read a bunch more since, including your princess books, but that’s still the one I think of when I think about fairy tales.
Joe
June 28, 2011 @ 7:00 pm
My favorite retold fairy tale is Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave by Marianne Mayer. I used to read it to my kids, though not when they were very little, it’s scary! The art in this book is beautiful.
I also like the adaptation of all kinds of fairy tales and myths in the Hellboy comics. Baba Yaga and Vailisa are featured in some of these stories too.
Big B
June 28, 2011 @ 7:25 pm
I’ve always liked Robin Hood. You have to admire someone good with the bow.
Zanna Dobbs
June 28, 2011 @ 7:52 pm
My favorite adaption for a fairy tale would be “Cinder-fella” with Jerry Lewis. My favorite Fairy Tale is hard as I really love fairy tales and magic and fantasy. As I was reading all these post I was thinking yeah I liked that one and that one and that one too. Maybe I will go with the Frog Prince maybe or King Midas. Not sure too many to choose from. Now I have to go read and rewrite some of them thanks.
Kelsey J
June 28, 2011 @ 9:08 pm
I just adore Disney’s version of the “Beauty and the Beast”. The charm that finds it’s way into the movie is refreshing even for adults in this ‘kids’ movie. Oh and P.S. Angela Lansbury!
Steve Buchheit
June 28, 2011 @ 10:15 pm
“The Master Thief’s Apprentice”, a Jack the Giant Killer story with prophesy, local guy makes good, and comeuppance all rolled into one. Not exactly a “fairy tale”, more of a folk tale (although the Mother who predicts her son’s death seems to have some powers).
Kimberly B.
June 28, 2011 @ 10:40 pm
Well, I’ve always loved “The Little Mermaid,” (except for the moralistic bit at the very, very end), and for that reason I can never quite make peace with the Disney version, despite the fun songs. Another of my favorites which rarely gets retold is “Brother and Sister,” I think I like it so much partly because it’s a nice antidote to the sibling rivalry fairy tales are usually filled with, but also because of the deer’s yearning to to run through the forest even though it endangers his life.
As for retellings, I really like Tanith Lee’s, collected in the anthology “Red As Blood: Tales of the Sisters Grimmer.”
Thanks for the terrific giveaway; I can’t wait to read the book!
AndrewK
June 28, 2011 @ 10:42 pm
Hans Christian Andersen’s The Nightingale. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nightingale
I note he also did the snow queen. Coincidence?
liz
June 28, 2011 @ 10:44 pm
I read through all of the comments and though many of my favorites have been mentioned, My ALL TIME FAVORITE remains unspoken. Never After by Rebecca Lickiss. Its not at all the animated movie N’ever After so get that out of you head right now. Its a book that takes so many classic fairy tales and sorta twists them all together in one big hodgepodge of hilarity that somehow all makes sense. I tried counting them once, realized it was impossible, closed the book and opened it to the first page to read it again. Its not only my favorite retelling of fairy tales, but one of my favorite books in general. Now that I think of it, it’s actually been several yrs since I last read it. Definitely time to do so! Thanks for reminding me.
Michael Cannon
June 29, 2011 @ 12:05 am
I very much liked Wicked and it’s spin on the Wizard of Oz. I like pondering what the story is like from the “villain’s” perspective. Villains tend to be very one dimensional in fables and fairy tales. I suppose it’s easier to dislike them that way. This is also the reason I enjoy the Jig stories so much. We’re so used to seeing the heroic adventurers indiscriminately hacking and slashing their way through stories with no thought to what their victims think of them.
Books of a similar vein I have enjoyed include Fred Saberrhagen’s “Frankenstein Papers” written from the monster’s point of view; and “Pontius Pilate: A Novel” by Paul L. Maier.
Monique Leigh
June 29, 2011 @ 5:53 am
I think my favorite is probably Joan Vinge’s Snow Queen, and that’s what I thought of when you announced the title of this book. 🙂 I’m not sure what made me initially fall in love with this version, but I love the sci-fi elements and the socio-political commentary. It was one of the first sci-fi works I can remember reading where all of the main characters were women. Hmmm…. I need to fish my copy out of storage and re-read it. For the umpteenth time. 🙂
Mariann A.
June 29, 2011 @ 11:56 am
It would be really tricky to pick just one as I love classic fairy tales from all over the world and I love the altered versions as well.
But one of my favorite book series, besides your’s of course, is Mercedes Lackey’s 500 Kingdoms series. And of that series I really love the first book “Fairy Godmother” and the book “Fortune’s Fool.” Lackey’s books are also fairy tales that have been turned on their heads and told from a completely different perspective.
And I can’t forget to mention Jim Henson’s versions of the classic fairy tales in “The Storyteller” series. Although there are only a few of them, they are rich and share fairy tales that not everyone is familiar with.
Amy
June 29, 2011 @ 12:13 pm
I’ve always been a fan of “The Three Sillies.” I had this story in a book of fairy tales when I was young and it’s stuck with me. I love the imagery of the cow on the roof and the moon in the pond.
Nolly
June 29, 2011 @ 7:00 pm
My favorite fairy tales as a child were “Beauty and the Beast” and “Snow White and Rose Red”, but the first adaptation that leaped to my mind as a favorite was deLint’s Jack of Kinrowan duology. I’m also fond of Thee Phantom of the Opera, which I see as a Beauty and the Beast variant.
Marija
June 30, 2011 @ 7:58 am
So difficult to choose!
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister has allready been mentioned – I like his fairytale based stuff but wasn’t too happy with the Oz series.
Juliet Marillier also does good re-tellings. In particular her Daughter of the Forest is a lovely re-telling of the swan princess story.
Isobelle Carmody’s short story “The Pumpkin Eater” is a lovely retelling of Rapunzel.
Some of my favourite collections are the ones edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling – love love love these! (although trying to find them all is proving a little difficult!)
Terri
June 30, 2011 @ 9:01 am
Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. I first fell in love with the beauty of the animation and then the more I watched the movie the more I grew to love the story and music.
Mary Rose Linsangan
June 30, 2011 @ 10:28 am
My favorite fairy tale is sleeping beauty. I really do love the concept of the prince waking her up from a hundred years of sleep. I can think of a lot of ways to retell the story because of the time frame.
But if I have to choose which is my favorite fairy tale adaptation, It’s a manga called Ludwig Kakumei or Ludwig revolution in English. the author created a very dark and gothic world of fairy tail. Like what you did with your princess series, all the fairy tale characters lives in the same realm. A prince named Ludwig travels around to find a suitable bride.It includes fairy tale like Snow white, Blue beard, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Goose Girl, Frog prince and a few more. But despite the gothic/horror theme, it has comic reliefs like Cinderella having huge shoe size instead of small, a masochist which who follows the protagonist around and a whole lot more. I don’t know if you are fond of comics/manga because its worth reading.
I like reading stories where fairy tale gets to step out of their usual stories and we see another way of retelling those stories. Oh, I also like Anne Rice’s Sleeping beauty trilogy, its an erotic BDSM retelling of sleeping beauty but the contents are good.
Sarah DK
June 30, 2011 @ 10:45 am
I agree with Anita that your books, Jim (awesome!), Mercedes Lackey and Patricia C Wrede are some of my favorie adaptations. I also love Terry Pratchett, Bruce Coville, and Robin McKinley, to name a few. However, there is another author who is out fairly recently who has captured my interest in remaking fairy tales: Jessica Day George. I, too, really liked the Twelve Dancing Princesses growing up, one of my favorites! Jessica Day George did an adaptation for that one involving knitting!
There was also a story in my fairy tale collection about three princesses who’s father could not choose between them to leave them the ruling of the kingdom. He had them bring him something precious to prove their worthiness. The youngest princess brought him salt – he threw he out of the kingdom for “insulting” him with something so common. She left – became a well-known cook, who was then asked to cook at her sister’s wedding (obviously no one knew she was the younger sister). She cooked everyone’s meal perfectly, except for the king’s – his had no salt.
sarah
August 2, 2011 @ 11:34 am
For an interesting take on fairy creatures, try Robert Weinberg’s “A Logical Magician.”