Thirty-one stories of disparate quality and tone put a new spin on old tales. James S. Dorr's "The Glass Shoe" is a lighthearted political parody of Cinderella; Michael Takeda's "The Wolf in Standard Ration Clothing" is even darker than the original Red Riding Hood. Amy E. Yergen's brilliant title story, a meditation on family and matrilineal legacies, easily brings Rapunzel into the modern world, while David Turnbull's folksy "The Blood Cakes"; Duncan Eagleson's Viking Snow White retelling, "Snovhit"; and Michelle Markey Butler's Arthurian intrigue, "Sovereynte," have an authentically ancient feel. Line drawings by Ciaran Gaffney and Jade Liebes enhance each story, and introductions offer insight into the writers' lives and inspirations. The wide variety means many transitions are jarring, but any fairy tale fan will find something to enjoy in this collection. -Publishers Weekly
Rapunzel's Daughters
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Editorial Reviews
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"The 30 original stories based on fairy-tale themes feature many new and first-time writers and exhibit a broad spectrum of styles and voices. VERDICT Readers who enjoy discovering new writers or fans of imaginative approaches to familiar themes should relish this small press offering." - Library Journal
From the Back Cover
In this collection you will find answers to questions that no one has dared ask before about your favorite fairy tales, nursery rhymes, and legends.
What dark arts will Little Miss Muffet employ to extract her revenge on the spider? Can a guide help the Big, Bad Wolf succeed in eating Little Red Riding Hood without getting caught? Is Prince Charming gay? And will the Beast get tired of ravishing Beauty, and instead turn his attention to Lady Gaga?All of these answers and more can be found in 31 original tales full of indecisive princesses, talking wolves, unhappy frogs, and wicked witches, with a liberal sprinkling of fairy dust, magical transformations, and psychotherapy.
Includes stories by James S. Dorr, Duncan Eagleson, Richard Jay Goldstein, Heather Fowler, Suzanne Lilly, Anne Waldon Neumann, Stuart Sharp, J. Michael Shell and many others.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The concept of this anthology is fascinating. 'And they lived happily ever after' is a simple statement, but what does it really mean? Nothing lasts forever, and what may seem promising sometimes leads to grief.
This is a mind expanding collection of stories which examine some of the possible futures which couldhave followed the "conclusion" of fairy tales.
We are taken beyond the rainbow's end into a variety of possible 'ever afters" by a selection of author's who have pierced the barrier of the final period and explored the hereafters which their fecund imaginations have produced.
The approaches and results are a varied as the authors themselves.
This is a mind expanding collection of stories which examine some of the possible futures which couldhave followed the "conclusion" of fairy tales.
We are taken beyond the rainbow's end into a variety of possible 'ever afters" by a selection of author's who have pierced the barrier of the final period and explored the hereafters which their fecund imaginations have produced.
The approaches and results are a varied as the authors themselves.
4 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Let me start by saying that I love fairy tales. I love the drama, the romance, the formula they follow. I love that they provide lessons - sometimes good, sometimes not so much - and that they so often feature children outwitting evil/hapless/stupid/ambitious adults. I love that they are dark - at least the originals - and that they stem from the oral tradition of storytelling. The one thing that I don't love - the endings. Don't misunderstand - I'm as big a fan of a happy ending as the next girl. I am, after all, getting married this fall! What I mean is that I don't like how they end. Again, read that carefully before jumping all over me - I'm fine with where they end, what I don't like is the how. The almost always end too abruptly. I often found myself wondering what would happen next - sure it was great that Cinderella's sisters got their come-uppance, but what exactly did that mean or look like? Snow White got her prince, but what about the dwarves? And so on and so on.
In Rapunzel's Daughters, thirty-one authors provide their own spin on fairy tale endings. The collection is, frankly, odd. Odd and more than a little uneven. The individual pieces vary in length and depth. Some are very dark and some are merely trying very hard to be. A few are clever and unique; more feel forced, like the authors are desperate to out-wit one another and the original stories. This is a difficult task indeed since the original stories are classics, and many if not most readers (at least, if they are even remotely like me) are likely to already have strong feelings about them, if not their own take on the "what comes next" scenario.... Read more ›
In Rapunzel's Daughters, thirty-one authors provide their own spin on fairy tale endings. The collection is, frankly, odd. Odd and more than a little uneven. The individual pieces vary in length and depth. Some are very dark and some are merely trying very hard to be. A few are clever and unique; more feel forced, like the authors are desperate to out-wit one another and the original stories. This is a difficult task indeed since the original stories are classics, and many if not most readers (at least, if they are even remotely like me) are likely to already have strong feelings about them, if not their own take on the "what comes next" scenario.... Read more ›
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By T. Ronan
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm only into the 7th story in the book, but I absolutely love it so far, I want to share it with everyone!
