Reason for Reading: Next in the series.

Comments: The main story takes a pivotal turn as the focus shifts to the Fables of the East. Here we meet folklore from the eastern part of the world who are living in Baghdad. Sinbad, is namely the main character introduced and the first 4 issues of this volume contain this story arc. Many of our favourite characters so far make appearances (some very brief) to show what's happening with their respective arcs or to show they haven't been forgotten. Then the final two issues switch to a strange story which has a completely different artist appearance to it and takes place in the Homelands. The story is interesting but appears to have to no real relevance to any story arcs, but hang in there for a surprise ending that will leave you waiting for the characters to turn up again. As a turning point in the series this book takes a bit to get into with all the new happenings, characters and leaving the old plots to fill in the background. But we can see here that while the many story arcs will continue there is now a new direction in the main overall plot. Interesting things are ahead for our friends. And onward I go with the series!! ( )

The Fable universe is extended with the addition of the Fables from the Arabian worlds. They are living in Bagdad and Sinbad with an array of slaves and advisors comes to meet with the major of Fabletown to see about the two cultures combining their strengths after the Adversary has turned his attention to them. They have brought a genie with them, a piece of ancient and powerful Fable magic which could be deemed an act of war. Luckily Fabletown has their own witch in residence, Frau Totenkinder.

After the main series of comics there is also The Ballad of Rodney and Jane. They are both wooden people, Rodey is in the Adversary's army and Jane is a nurse. They meet and quickly fall in love, but have some problems with kissing and certain anatomical issues so they petition to be made human ("meat"). Making their dreams come true comes at a price.

I loved the Ballad at the end and am looking forward to reading more about Rodney and Jane who I am sure will pop up in future installments. It was also good to get some new Fable characters and it's good to have a scary Fable on the side of good! ( )

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1285829...

The series goes seriously off the rails here, with some very dodgy Arab stereotyping, dubious references to the Iraq invasion, and a plot twist that is not very credibile even in the context of the series ('I changed the words that came out of his mouth, even though I don't speak his language'). I got it for completeness but I think it can be skipped. ( )

"Arabian Nights (and Days)" is as good as any of the books in the Fables series, but the entire sequence read like a prelude to future volumes. Nothing happens in this latest installment to significantly impact the war against the Adversary, nor are there any major changes in the established cast, though we see a lot of new characters introduced who will no doubt play major roles in the future.

There are basically two stories in this volume. The first story arc concerns the arrival of a delegation of Arabian Fables in New York, led by their envoy, Sinbad. Unfortunately Sinbad arrives complete with his retinue of blackamor guards and harem slaves. Such did not sit well with the Fabletown authority, especially when they learned that Sinbad is carrying a djinn with them (yes, the Genie in the bottle/lamp type). This is immediately interpreted as an act of war from the camp of the Arabian Fables since a djinn is the magic equivalent of a nuclear arsenal.

We've read references to non-European Fable lands in previous volumes and knew that the Adversary had already begun his invasion of the worlds of the Arabian Fables. Now we learn that the Arabian Fables are quite aware of the threat, but still have not decided whether or not to ally themselves with the Fables who have fled to the mundane world. For more of the initial attempt of Fabletown’s attempt to communicate with the Arabian Fables, best to read “Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall”.

There are a lot of culture clashes and the requisite amount of treachery and bloodshed, along with a few subplots highlighting the personal lives of Beast, Beauty, Prince Charming, Flycatcher, and Red Riding Hood. Newly elected Mayor, Prince Charming and Deputy Mayor Beauty have to deal with their own residents who are fed up with the way that Charming has been running Fabletown; as well as the sexual tension brewing between the two of them (as witnessed by Bufkin, the flying monkey & Business Office Librarian). While Beast has gotten used to his role as Fabletown Sheriff, Charming is still regretting his decision to unseat King Cole as the mayor. He receives an earful from Boy Blue in this regard.

"The Ballad of Rodney and June” as the final section of the book is a real change of pace. The wooden soldiers of the Empire were introduced in March of the Wooden Soldiers”, and we learn that they are exceptionally powerful and merciless foot soldiers, given that they were carved from the living wood of the Sacred Grove.

However, two subjects: a decorated soldier named Rodney and a wooden "medic" who helps repair injured wooden troops named June begin to show human emotions, which are regarded by the wooden soldiers as being among the worst things that have to do with being human. The wooden soldiers discuss at length their disgust with humanity: citing that humans must eat (shoving dead animal and plant matter into one hole), must excrete waste material (out of another hole), must sleep one third of each day, and are easily injured.

No matter, June reciprocates Rodney’s love and they petition their father, Gepetto, to be made human so that they can really and truly marry. Their wish is granted with the grave condition that they move just outside Fabletown and live among the Mundys (with Rodney ironically taking a job as a butcher--meat is abhorrent to the wooden sons and daughters of the Empire). Talk about being spied upon in your very own camp! Most moving was June’s emotional predicament of wanting to protect her future child from the knowledge of what they truly are or to let their future brood live blissfully ignorant in the mundane world.

Book Details:

Title Vol. 7: Fables: Arabian Nights (and Days)
Author Bill Willingham
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )

Charming. Immortal.
"You are entirely defined by what you covet" page 63 ( )