β Scribed by Ellen Datlow; Terri Windling
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
In this follow-up to Datlow and Windlingβs A Wolf at the Door (2000) and Swan Sister (2003), the duo again amass an anthology of fairy-tale retellings, only this time they keep focus upon the backstories of well-known villains. As always with such endeavors, itβs a mixed bag of funny, quirky, and downright creepy entries. A standout on the humorous side is Peter S. Beagleβs βUp the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remembers,β in which Mrs. Giant tells all to a newspaper reporter about that infamous rascal Jack, who scrambled up the beanstalk and ended up killing Mr. Giant. On the sinister side, Kelly Link finishes off the book with an absolutely bone-chilling offering called βThe Cinderella Game,β in which Peter babysits his new stepsister. The experience ends in blood, horror, and with the sense that there is no happily ever after left for anyone. Although some stories, like Neil Gaimanβs βObserving the Formalities,β require a good deal of familiarity with the original yarns, the collection is largely accessible and very enjoyable. Grades 5-8. --Daniel Kraus
"Dazzling." - Laura Miller, Salon
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### From Booklist In this follow-up to Datlow and Windlings A Wolf at the Door (2000) and Swan Sister (2003), the duo again amass an anthology of fairy-tale retellings, only this time they keep focus upon the backstories of well-known villains. As always with such endeavors, its a mixed bag of funn
Everyone thinks they know the real story behind the villains in fairy tales?but the villains themselves beg to differ. In _Troll's-Eye View_ , you'll hear from the Giant's wife (?Jack and the Beanstalk?), Rumpelstiltskin, the oldest of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and many more. A stellar lineup o
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