Good Faeries Bad Faeries [Hardcover]

Brian Froud (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1998

"Once upon a time, I thought faeries lived only in books, old folktales, and the past. That was before they burst upon my life as vibrant, luminous beings, permeating my art and my everyday existence, causing glorious havoc...."

In the long-awaited sequel to the international bestseller Faeries, artist Brian Froud rescues pixies, gnomes, and other faeries from the isolation of the nursery and the distance of history, bringing them into the present day with vitality and imagination. In this richly imagined new book, Brian reveals the secrets he has learned from the faeries -- what their noses and shoes look like, what mischief and what gentle assistance they can give, what their souls and their dreams are like.

As it turns out, faeries aren't all sweetness and light. In addition to such good faeries as Dream Weavers and Faery Godmothers, Brian introduces us to a host of less well behaved creatures -- traditional bad faeries like Morgana le Fay, but also the Soul Shrinker and the Gloominous Doom. The faery kingdom, we find, is as subject to good and evil as the human realm. Brilliantly documenting both the dark and the light, Good Faeries/Bad Faeries presents a world of enchantment and magic that deeply compels the imagination.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Why are large, illustrated works offhandedly relegated to gather dust on the corner of your coffee table? Sure, you will want to put Good-Faeries/Bad Faeries in an obvious place, somewhere your friends will see it and pick it up, but it's far more than mere decoration. Froud's illustrations have delighted readers since his first book, Faeries, introduced us to the little people of folklore. Good Faeries/Bad Faeries is a doorway to the faery realm of the 20th century, where you'll meet delightful characters like Quempel, who dances to celebrate when something is done well; or the Buttered Toast Faery, who decides which side of a dropped piece of toast will hit the floor--faeries who will call you back so often that Good Faeries/Bad Faeries won't have a chance to gather dust. --Brian Patterson

From School Library Journal

YA-Froud's collection of fanciful sketches encompasses both the benevolent and the malevolent species of the tribe Faeries. The structure of the book is reversible with the jacket proclaiming "Good Faeries," matched on the flip side with the title "Bad Faeries." An introduction to each section covers Faery Blights, Faery Defects, Glamour, and Music, and offers advice to humans on protection against the meddling of the Bad Faeries. There are paragraphs on naming, classification, and a further delineation of earth, water, fire, and air Faeries. This is followed by an exposition on Faery physiognomy-their wings, eyes, ears, heads, and size. Faery communication and healing are also discussed. The illustrations are the heart of the book, whether done in black and white, sepia, or full color. They are vivid, full of vitality, and wonderfully varied. With unnumbered pages, this is primarily a sketchbook for readers to leaf through and marvel at the creative bent that depicts the countenances of: "The Buttered Toast Faery," "The Wrong Decision Faery," and the "Pot Pixie." While not as glamorously elegant as their counterparts, the Bad Faeries are indeed beautiful in their own right. Handsomely jacketed, this is a whimsical, charming, artfully crafted book.
Frances Reiher, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Fourth Printing edition (October 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684847817
• ISBN-13: 978-0684847818
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 9.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,150 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Fairy Tales
  • #18 in Books > Arts & Photography > Museum Exhibition Catalogs
  • #59 in Books > Arts & Photography > Individual Artists

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and beautiful, January 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Good Faeries Bad Faeries (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful and informative book of faery lore. Everyone who loves myths, legends, and magic, should click their Mouse and buy it here immediately, you won't be sorry. As a great admirer of Froud's superlative art I was still stunned by just How Good this book is. The man is a modern Master of faery painting. His name will go down in History alongside 19th century Masters like Rackham, Dadd, Doyle and Dulac. Fans of myth and magic will be pleased to note that the legendary Terri Windling also had a hand in this book. The text has some of the same flavor as her folklore columns in Realms of Fantasy magazine, which someone ought to collect and publish someday. The Froud-Windling connection became apparent when Froud and his faeries showed up as characters in her magical novel "The Wood Wife" and it's thrilling to see these two myth-masters teaming up again. Windling's fans will want to pick up this book and all of Brian Froud's work while Froud's faery fans will be enchanted with "The Wood Wife". The book jacket says they both live in the same town in England. There must be something magical in the water there! Thank you Mr. Froud and Ms. Windling for keeping the Myth Alive in our technology-obsessed world.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my treasure, May 9, 2001

By 

Ryan (APO, AP USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good Faeries Bad Faeries (Hardcover)

Ah, I remember that day. Just browsing the bookstore when this book caught my eye. I went ahead looking at other things but it kept tugging at me. I had always had a love of the fae and decided I'd give it a look. I knew instantly as I held the book in my hands, before I even opened it, that I had to have it. Upon opening it I was drawn into a state of awe. With each page I flipped I became more enthralled. Who painted these I wondered! And to my surprise when I looked at the artist, and what he had done, Mr. Froud had been a part of my life for some time now, I just never knew it. All those years ago when I grew up with Labyrinth and the Dark Crystal, watching my videos till the tape ran thin. I longed to find that magic in something again. And I truely found it in this book. Upon taking my purchase home, I learned there was another book done by Mr Froud. There was no question, I knew I had to have it. Since then, I have purchased the first Faerie book, and the Faerie Oracle and I can truely say that it has given me something that I belive I was always searching for. What these books has given me is something that I wish to share with everyone. Buy this book, it will open your vision to a whole new world.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth whatever price they put on it!, December 13, 1999

By 

Phogg (U.S., California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good Faeries Bad Faeries (Hardcover)

This is by far one of the most incredible books I've come across in years. My Grandmother picked it up one day and showed it to me; I was blown away. Each drawing is so detailed that you could spend hours looking at each one, and not have seen everything in it. If you love faries, fantsy art, magnificent drawings, or funny and informative stories, this is for you. The attention to detail is unbelievable. Pay whatever you must to make this part of your collection... you won't be sorry.