New Book: Magic Beans: A Handful of Fairytales from the Storybag

Magic Beans: A Handful of Fairytales from the Storybag is a recent book released in the UK with many short stories by well-known authors based on fairy tales. I missed this when it was released a few months ago and it is pushed primarily in ebook format here in the US. The ebook is $9.99 which looks like a bargain when one finds that each of the short stories are also available separately for $1.95 each in ebook format.

The best part--besides a stellar author list--is that many of these are lesser used tales for retellings. I'm not sure how much interpretation is in these versions or if they are more straightforward rewritings by the authors, but either way I am sure they are fun reading. I do know enough to recognize they are reprints of dollar books printed by Scholastic with each title. The illustrations appear to be included here, so this is a good way to collect them all if they interest you or a child in your life.

Book description:

Magic beans. Sow them. Plant them. Watch children grow.

'If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hoper, a prayer, a magic-bean-buyer. If you're a pretender, come sit by my fire, for we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in!' - Shel Silverstein, Poet

Each and every one of the stories in this anthology is a magic bean: a wondrous tale that will capture your imagination. Prepare to be dazzled by Rapunzel's golden tresses. Prepare to be moved by the suffering of the Little Mermaid. Prepare to laugh yourself silly as 'Mr Sultana' struggles to get the better of a little red rooster!

Lovingly crafted by the finest authors and illustrators, these 'magic beans' will delight, thrill and thoroughly entertain.

Table of Contents:

Adèle Geras
The Six Swan Brothers

Anne Fine
The Twelve Dancing Princesses

Henrietta Branford
Hansel and Gretel

Jacqueline Wilson
Rapunzel

Malorie Blackman
Aesop’s Fables

Philip Pullman
Mossycoat

Tony Mitton
The Seal Hunter

Alan Garner
Grey Wolf, Prince Jack and the Firebird

Berlie Doherty
The Snow Queen

Gillian Cross
The Goose Girl

Kit Wright
Rumpelstiltskin

Michael Morpurgo
Cockadoodle-doo, Mr Sultana!

Susan Gates
The Three Heads in the Well

Linda Newbery
The Little Mermaid

At BlogCritics: Reinventing Fairy Tales: An Interview with Once Upon a Time's Jane Espenson

Here's a short bit of Reinventing Fairy Tales: An Interview with Once Upon a Time's Jane Espenson, which by the way, is a very long, newsy article and is a must for fans of the show. This is only a small excerpt from the five page article (rather short pages, but there are 5!).

I read a poll the other day on some fansite, and interestingly Rumpelstiltskin was far in the lead as favorite character. He's certainly my favorite character, but I'm not sure why that is. I don't usually find myself drawn to "villains," but is Rumpelstiltskin/Mr. Gold a real villain? After all, he did bring Henry to Storybrooke (and helped Snow White and the Prince save their baby).

We are fortunate to have two amazing villains in The Evil Queen/Regina and Rumple. And I really love how both of them can justify their own actions. Regina has a yet-to-be-revealed beef against Snow, and you're going to learn a lot more about the source of Rumple's dark energy soon. And, yes, you're onto something. Rumple's agenda is very complex. Look not just to episode 8, but to episode 12 and beyond to learn more about it. You'll have to decide for yourself if it's evil or not.

You probably won't tell me, but I have to ask: how much does Mr. Gold actually know about the curse?

Regina retains all her memories. Mr. Gold certainly seems to know something, but we won't be telling you more than that for a while.

Once Upon a Time: Four Episodes In

Above is the preview for the next episode.

This next Sunday will be a byweek for Once Upon a Time, but we now have four episodes aired in the US. I myself finally got caught up with the series over the weekend after only seeing the pilot before my vacation trip. I think last night was my favorite so far probably because I liked the more episodic content as well as the Cinderella/Rumpelstiltskin mash-up element to it.

Or perhaps, after four episodes, I am simply more comfortable with it and more forgiving of the flaws and more interested in the storytelling. Like Cinderella being called "Ashley" in one storyline last night. Less obvious than I expected of the show, so I was happy with it. Does that make any sense?

Besides, I prefer Robert Carlyle as a villain than the wicked queen whose motivations and understanding are still not working as well for me. Are we really to believe that a small town life is a "curse" she loves just because it gives her control? Cursing herself to curse the others? And how is that really a curse? Their lives don't seem so horrible to me...sure, no true love, but it doesn't seem to be working so well for them in their fairy tale existences either.

Besides, Carlyle had some of the best lines last night and delivered them well for having to play a supernatural villain.

So what are your feelings about "Once Upon a Time"?

The good news if you are a fan so far is that ABC has picked up a full season of the series.

From AOLTV:

The fall has been kind to ABC; after recent full season orders for 'Revenge' and 'Suburgatory,' the Alphabet network is doubling down with pickups for two more of their freshman series, fantasy drama 'Once Upon a Time' and Tim Allen's 'Last Man Standing.'

Though 'Once' has only aired two episodes so far, it's already the highest-rated new drama of the season, managing an average 12.3 million viewers and a robust 4.0 rating in the coveted adults 18-49 demo.

My goal this week is to finally see Grimm, because, no, I haven't yet. TV has not been a priority for weeks and weeks and weeks in my little world. I admit I am also squeamish about it since I don't care for the violence that I've seen so far and my husband said the pilot is violent. I am a Downton Abbey/Pride and Prejudice sort of girl overall despite my fascination with Bluebeard, who sounds like a perfect fit for Grimm actually, in all his incarnations.

Christian Jackson's Minimalist Fairy Tales

The following are minimalist fairy tale posters by Christian Jackson that are available for purchase. I love them. I think Princess and the Pea and Ugly Duckling are my favorites, but the subtlety of some of them, such as Goldilocks, warm me. There are others on his site, but I chose to stick with the traditional fairy tales here.

ABC's Once Upon a Time Movie Posters

Just in time for the preview of the pilot and a cast panel at Comic-Con this Saturday, ABC has released five posters to promote the upcoming Once Upon a Time series.

From San Diego Comic-Con 2011: First Look At Five Once Upon A Time Posters by Masked Slasher:

Those of you at Comic-Con looking for the "Once Upon a Time" events, we've got 'em right here: Saturday, July 23rd from 3:15 to 4:15 pm PT, check out the pilot episode in Room 6DE (airing October 23). Stick around afterward for a panel discussion featuring series co-creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and cast members Jennifer Morrison, Ginnifer Goodwin, Robert Carlyle, Lana Parrilla and Josh Dallas. The festivities are to be moderated by Damon Lindelof, which will be followed by an autograph session in Room 28C.

The buzz for this one is excellent and ABC is giving it a much bigger seal of approval with a Sunday night air date unlike NBC which has put Grimm on Friday nights. Alas, the show doesn't premiere for the rest of us until October 23rd, but it looks like it may be worth the wait. I will post more feedback from the Comic-Con viewers.

Theatre: Trumpelstiltskin

From Save the Date: A fairy tale gets Trumped: "Trumpelstiltskin" opens July 7 at Occidental College by Christopher Yee:

Most everyone knows the classic tale of Rumpelstiltskin: An ordinary girl is forced to spin straw into gold, a dwarf shows up to make it happen, and the girl must guess the dwarf’s name or forfeit her first-born child. However, what if that scheming dwarf had the cunning and business acumen of one Donald Trump?

The Occidental College Children’s Theater in Eagle Rock plans to explore that possibility in their next production, “Trumpelstiltskin,” a comedy that debuts on Thursday July 7. The play will run Thursdays through Saturdays at 10 a.m. from July 7 to August 20 at Occidental College’s outdoor Remsen Bird Hillside Theater.

Well, I admit that is one play on the name that I didn't anticipate...

New Issue of Faerie Magazine

The newest issue of Faerie Magazine is hitting newsstands and mailboxes soon and this is a great issue. Of course, I am slightly prejudiced since my latest column is included, this time it's an article about the Grimms' tale, The Three Spinners. Bet you didn't expect that one, did you? I didn't but when editor Kim Cross requested a tale about spinning, this was the perfect choice, especially considering I've already written about Rumpelstiltskin in a previous issue. I struggled with finding material and learned a little myself since I hadn't studied this one much previous to writing this article for readers like you.

Here's the brief description for the issue:

Faerie Magazine Issue #22 includes an in depth interview with writer Charles de Lint, the life of Edmund Dulac (fairy illustrator of the Victorian era), Dancing in the Green: Robin Hood and the Faeries by John Matthews, The Three Spinners by Heidi Heiner of Surlalune, and much much more! Enjoy!

I just received my author copies today and it is very full of wonderful imagery--very expected with Edmund Dulac featured--and many more articles not listed here such as one about the aforementioned spinning as well as one about The Mabinogion by Claire Matthews and even one about mushrooms in Victorian paintings which is much more interesting than you might think at first thought.

New Book: My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

 

My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison was released last week and is a sequel to last year's My Fair Godmother.

From the publisher:

Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn' texactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother.

Okay, I haven't seen or read this one and have only been aware of it as a portal keeper to fairy tale related books, but a book that uses Rumpelstiltskin and Robin Hood does interest me. I'll probably have to read this one sooner rather than later. After the next releases for SurLaLune Press are ready, that is....

Dreaming Frankenstein by Liz Lochhead

Dreaming Frankenstein by Liz Lochhead is one of her earliest collections of poems from 1984. There are a few fairy tale influenced poems in the collection. She was recently made the national poet of Scotland, essentially the poet laureate. From the BBC:

Liz Lochhead has been confirmed as the new Scots Makar, or national poet.

The 63-year-old follows on from Edwin Morgan who died, aged 90, last August. He had held the post since it was created in 2004.

Ms Lochhead, originally from North Lanarkshire, is a widely recognised poet, author, translator, playwright, stage performer and broadcaster.

She also recently wrote the script for a play adaptation of Beauty and the Beast which you can read about here.

However, for today, I will share one of her most often assigned fairy tale poems, Rapunzstiltskin. This is copyrighted and is offered as a preview from her book. I've embedded it in an image to make copying and pasting much more difficult although it appears in several places around the web along with many essays and discussions of this fascinating smash-up of two well-known fairy tales into a statement on sexual politics.

Rumpelstiltskin at Enchanted Conversation

The newest issue of Enchanted Conversation at FairyTaleMagazine.com is up. Here is the direct link to the table of contents. The theme for the issue is Rumpelstiltskin.

This is old news since it went up last Friday actually, but I've been head down in translating tales for upcoming SurLaLune collections which makes my brain go splat when I read other things remotely fairy tale related right now.

My good intentions were to preread and comment, but it just won't be happening for several more days as I deal with heavy, heavy editing and some final translating. But new books will be coming soon. Bluebeard, my friends, is huge at well over 700 pages. More about that later... (And my punchiness has probably shown through on the blog recently, too. It's subtle, but I see it at least, after all I'm experiencing it firsthand.)

Here's a glance at that Table of Contents:

1) Welcome!


2) Little Rattle Belly

3) The Other End of The Tale

4) Rumpelstiltskin (Burns)

5) The Queen's Child Comes In

6) Garbage-To-Gold Spindle

7) He Tore Himself In Two

8) Batul and the Rumpel

9) The Name of the Helper

10) Straw Into Gold

11) The Duchess's Boy

Congrats to KateW and company for achieving another issue...

Fairytale Reflections (18) Inbali Iserles at SMoST

Fairytale Reflections (18) Inbali Iserles was the post a week and a half ago at Seven Miles of Steel Thistles. This time Katherine Langrish writes about the author's books as well as animal fantasy in general, which Iserles writes. Click through to read it all.

Then Katherine turns the post over to Iserles who writes about Rumpelstiltskin. Here is an excerpt:

What struck me most on first hearing this fairytale as a child was the power of a name. Rumpelstiltskin’s name was ultimately his undoing. As the bearer of an unusual name: my bête noir, my curse, my identity – I could empathise.

In most cultures names have symbolic meaning. They are not just labels by which we distinguish ourselves but avatars that hold a deep message, whether about our origins (Moses, in Hebrew “Moshe”, meaning “plucked out of water”), our intention for the name-bearer (Linda – “beautiful” in Spanish, Aslan – “lion” in Turkish) or a homage we pay to a deity or a saint for protecting the name-bearer.

Modern fantasy reveals a fascination with names. In The Lord of the Rings, there are names in many tongues, and ancient words hold in them the power of revelation. Most characters have multiple monikers. The shift in a hobbit-like creature to a wasted, tormented obsessive is characterised through a change of name from Smeagle to Gollum. The handsome hero of the epic is known, among other things, as Aragorn, son of Arathorn, the Dúnadan, Longshanks, Wingfoot and Strider.

Names may be dangerous and, in the world of books, their expression alone can be folly. Characters in the early Harry Potters are urged not to speak the name Voldemort, due to its perceived power, and in the later books dare not do so because of a trace placed on its utterance (Harry’s foolishness in breaking the taboo almost costs him and his friends their lives). In a world of spells, where language is gateway to untold power, a presence can be called upon by a name alone.

And here are images and links to Inbali Iserles books:
 

   

Carola Dunn's Fairy Tale Romances

So earlier this week I was sleepless thanks to a lingering cough and resorted to some lite reading late at night. I ended up choosing The Frog Earl by Carola Dunn as my light reading of choice and had a fun time with it. Yes, this is a romance novel. Yes, it is almost twenty years old and has been rereleased to ebook format along with several of Dunn's other novels. This also means it is not a bodice ripper but more in line with Georgette Heyer lite. If that is your taste, Dunn's books may be for you. I was interested since I have read some of Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple mystery series and enjoyed them. I own this one somewhere as a tattered copy found at a used bookstore years and years ago but I've never read it. My allergies often hinder reading old paperbacks and they have to go in sealed boxes to prevent my sneezing. Not an issue with an ebook...


Here's the book description:

Escaping into the countryside to nurse his wounded pride and heart, Simon Hurst encounters the lovely but eccentric Mimi (half English, half Indian and all mischief) who promises him three favors—then only grudgingly doles them out. If he can capture that last one—that kiss—before she learns the truth about his identity, he should transform into an earl once again.

I had fun with just how many ways Dunn incorporated the Frog Prince into the story. It's fun and clever with several little "wink-winks" at the reader. In truth, I was impressed with just how well the tale is incorporated into the plot. There is no magic but the fairy tale elements appear in several places. I think I also enjoyed it because it is rare to read a novel-length interpretation of the tale. We have Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast everywhere, but the Frog Prince is pretty rare and Dunn shows how it can be successfully used.

The leads are interesting, too.  Few Regencies I've dabbled with include half Indian, half English heroines so that was a change of pace. I definitely got my $4 worth of entertainment on a sleepless night. Now I will be adding her other fairy tale romances to my TBR pile for when I need some lite reading. I will share those below although I haven't read them myself yet.

Lady in the Briars by Carola Dunn is a take on Sleeping Beauty, a much less literal adaptation of the fairy tale it appears.

Book description:

Rebecca Nuthall, downtrodden unpaid companion to a relative, is saved from drowning by Lord John Danville. Lord John has been ordered abroad by his father after indulging in a frivolous but near fatal duel. About to leave for Russia with his cousin Teresa Graylin and her diplomat husband, he persuades Teresa to take Rebecca along as governess for their little girl. In St Petersburg, Rebecca blossoms…until she is arrested for espionage. Once again, John must risk his life to rescue her.

This review from Library Journal is more descriptive and better explains how the Sleeping Beauty theme is used.

After nine years of terror and abuse by her uncle, Rebecca Nuthall flees to London. There she enjoys a dull but safe and insulated life as a companion until she meets the Graylin family and becomes involved in their adventures of intrigue. Lord John Danville, a gentleman of the ton with profligate habits, has been banished to the family estate. Old friends with the Graylin's, he too becomes involved in their schemes--and with Rebecca. Initially John feels sorry for Rebecca; she is so timid and fearful of men. His feelings change as he and Rebecca travel with the Graylins to Russia and Rebecca learns to overcome her fears and assert herself. A light, diverting romance, this is the author's ninth Regency.

 
Finally we have The Magic of Love by Carola Dunn which is actually a collection of three Regency romance novellas. I own this one but had quite literally forgotten about it.

Book description from the publisher:

Three Regency Fairytales and a Halloween ghost story:

RUMPLESTILTSKIN—with an unexpected hero

ALADDIN’S LAMP—turns up in Regency Oxford, jinnee and all

THE FIREBIRD—with a wer-fox as heroine

with Superstition—a Halloween short story, in which a Gypsy’s fortune-telling proves doubly accurate

All of these books are also available in other ebook formats, not just Kindle mobis, at Belgrave House where several of Dunn's Daisy Dalrymple short stories are free for downloading.

Theatre: Wolf Tales and Rumpelstiltskin

From Wisecracking Fairy Tales: Robinson Production Company Puts on "Rumpelstiltskin": This duet of plays features a family-friendly twist on old stories by Rachael Dickson, a school theatre production in Virginia, two plays, including interesting interpretations of Three Little Pigs and Rumpelstiltskin:

“Once Upon a Time… you have to start with that or the union comes after you,” a character cracks at the beginning of Wolf Tales, one of two fairy tale themed plays performed by the Robinson Production Company this weekend. These renditions put a family-friendly, humorous spin on traditional stories.

Wolf Tales retells the story of The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood through a skewed lens – complete with mobster-style wolves with New Jersey accents, the three little pigs as fighting sisters, and a grandma with some serious ninja fighting skills. Rumpelstiltskin features a much-expanded cast of characters from the original folk story and a green puppet as the title character, with cartoonish background music and props adding a bit more levity to the script.

Rumpelstiltskin by David Sawer

Recently on stage and getting its own post because it stands out from the holiday season of other fare: Rumpelstiltskin, CBSO Centre, Birmingham: The wordless reworking of a classic fairy tale makes its timeless message more alarming than ever reviewed by Anna Picard

In Rumpelstiltskin, Sawer's score is a rich broth of Petrushka-esque carnival music, Depression-era dance music and melancholy doynas, with 13 instruments providing the voices of the silent actors. It's a work that is hard to categorise, neither dance nor opera, but storytelling through music and movement.

With shades of Erich von Stroheim's silent film classic Greed in the lighting designs of Mimi Jordan Sherin, Richard Jones's tart, sharp production has Rumpelstiltskin (Sarah Fahie) as a tiny, gold-toothed vagabond. Crippled by debt and drink, the miller (Chris Harrison-Kerr) is hiding from two bailiffs whose pacing feet set the rhythm of the opening dance for double-bass, bassoon and tuba. Muted trumpet and horn announce the distraint of table, chair, even a cobweb, and, in one fantastical, desperate lie, the miller consigns his daughter (Bryony Perkins) to spin straw into gold for the king (Nicholas Lawson). Imprisoned in the wooden box that is Stewart Laing's set, Perkins weeps to a quartet of violin, viola, cello and harp (the players painted, like the actors, with the monochrome cosmetics of early cinema). Pale pizzicato figures cast a chilly spell as the box slides shut and Rumpelstiltskin sets to work, his fee the first-born child of the girl.

The Guardian: 'Quests'

Today's fairy tale booklet (Day 4) at The Guardian is themed Quests. You can read more about the seven part series at my previous post.

Quests in fairytales: Adam Phillips looks at the concept of quests in fairytales. Here's an excerpt:

If genius, as Sartre said, is the word we use for people who get themselves out of impossible situations, what is the word for people who find themselves in impossible situations, or even seek them out? And why are fairytales so compelling that we don't think of them as stories from a particular place and time? The answer to the first question is "everybody", but the answer to the second question is that these stories are sufficiently hospitable – suggestive enough, puzzling enough – so that virtually everybody who can read can make something of them. We can identify with the quests and riddles they present because the stories are about getting the most basic needs met; that is, learning how to protect yourself (keeping your wits about you) and getting married (literally or metaphorically getting together with someone or something that makes you feel better).

Today's theme also gives us four, instead of the usual three, fairy tales to read:

The fairytale of the Lion and the Hare retold from Sanskrit by Ramsay Wood

The fairytale of the Sleeping Prince retold by Alison Lurie

The fairytale of Rumpelstiltskin by the Brothers Grimm

The fairytale of the boy who set out to learn fear by the Brothers Grimm, translated by Joyce Crick



The illustrations for this set are by Rui Tenreio.