Black Swan, White Raven (Paperback)

~ (Editor), (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This is the fourth volume in Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling's ongoing anthology series that invites modern authors to rewrite classic fairy tales. Like many of the original stories themselves, these retellings are often dark, and many contain erotic subtexts. While some of the authors choose to stick to the more traditional aspects of folklore, others reinvent their tales entirely, such as the seven dwarfs who turn into "Three Dwarfs and 2000 Maniacs" at the hands of author Don Webb. As usual, Datlow and Windling have managed to enlist an impressive roster of professional writers for their project, with headliners such as Joyce Carol Oates, John Crowley, and Jane Yolen. These seasoned veterans are mixed in with some relative newcomers to create a collection that is as diverse as it is unique. --Craig E. Engler

From Library Journal

The fourth book in Datlow and Windling's anthology series of well-known and obscure fairy tales retold by contemporary writers, this collection features 19 short stories and two poems about Snow White, the fisherman and his wife, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, and others. Writers like Joyce Carol Oates, Pat Murphy, Don Webb, and Jane Yolen put interesting twists to the sanitized Victorian versions we have, proving that these tales, along with the originals, aren't really for children. Highly recommended for fantasy and short story collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 366 pages
• Publisher: Avon Books (October 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380786214
• ISBN-13: 978-0380786213
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,177,215 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #45 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( W ) > Windling, Terri
  #46 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( D ) > Datlow, Ellen

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a brilliant series keeps getting better, March 31, 1999

By	M. Browning (the D.C. 'burbs, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The team of Datlow & Windling have put in their 4th collection of adult retellings of classic fairy tales, and this is the best yet. Strong, haunting tales that are truly not the Disney fluff we grew up on are what this collection is made of. Stories are drawn from many different cultures, not just the familiar Brothers' Grimm type; they also end up in many times/places, not just the dragons and castles type. The entire series is well worth your time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Seller, October 19, 2009

By	LeeAnne Valentine "Deafly Books" (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

I receieved this book from the seller, in timely fashion and it was well worth the wait. The book was beyond anyone's expectations. I had thought that this book would be boring. Who would have thought to write a story of what happened to Rumpelstiltskin after he was offically defeated by the mom? I've always wondered if anyone had made any strange but oddly fascinating twists to stories that we've heard in our childhood.
Lo and behold - we have a book full of stories such as that! I would strongly recommend anyone who has a twisted but adult version of how stories actually would've been with choldhood stories.
Like I said, athe seller mailed this book out on time, and was true to word when the book was actually used. Some yellowing but that is to be expected of an old, used book but still readable!
I would recommend the book, AND the seller!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff, May 25, 2001

By	Ashareh (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews

Black Swan, White Raven is an excellent anthology of new fairy tales based on the traditional stories. In this series, all the stories are dark, based on the fact that fairy tales were originally written/told for adults, and their relegation to the the nursery occurred with the Victorian era. Particularly strong and memorable stories are the Rapunzel one by Anne Bishop, the Snow White one by Pat Murphy, and the Tin Soldier one by Nancy Kress.