surprisingly well integrated, all those different styles of art. it owes a whole lot to Gaiman's Sandman books, which is a good thing, although it's a lot more postmodern in its arch tone. not that i object to that, but i'd still like this series to aim at more. ( )

Basic Reason for Beginning: Well. Fables sounds an interesting series and when I found this was a stand-alone version, I added it to my wishlist. Then Nymeth reviewed it and... well... You can blame many books on Nymeth. ^-~
Basic Reason for Finishing: Fairytale retellings are shiny!

Full review here.

Book Rereadability: Mmm... On the one hand 'yes' and on the other 'no'. I like the stories, but I think the surrounding frame is too uneven.
Author Rereadability: Actually, I don't know. It's a long series. I think that's my biggest concern. It's a long series and while I'm curious about everything hinted at and shown in this collection, I'm also hesitant to start a new (and gritty) series.
Recommendation: To anyone who loves Fables, but that goes without saying. Also, to anyone who want to try the series without committing to starting a series. This'll give you quite a bit of info and should, hopefully, also tell you if you're interested in the main series. ( )

"Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall" is something of a prequel to Bill Willingham's award winning Fables series. Taking place long before the events set forth in the regular series, 1001 Nights retells the tales of several of the inhabitants of Fabletown.

The art of 1001 Nights is beautifully rendered, each story illustrated by a different artist, including Charles Vess (of "Stardust" fame), Brian Bolland, John Bolton, Michael Wm. Kaluta, James Jean, Tara McPherson, Derek Kirk Kim, Esao Andrews, Mark Buckingham, Mark Wheatley and Jill Thompson. Every story in it is drawn by a different artist who shows off his or her distinctiveness in manners ranging from traditional comics’ realism and photo-based naturalism to something I can't even give a label to.

Charles Vess' illustrations provide the beginning and ending stories, as Snow White travels as an Ambassador of Fabletown to try to drum up support against the Adversary. She travels to the lands of the Arabian Fables where she's accused of "You arrive here unveiled, wearing immodest foreign clothes...and what sort of backward people would send a woman as their envoy?" Thus she becomes trapped in being the Sultan's bride for the night and then set for execution in the morning (yes, directly adapted from the "Arabian Nights") even though she's not of their people, isn't a virgin and has already been married (and divorced from her prince).

The stories are both clever and psychologically explanatory of the characters as they appear in the ongoing, contemporarily set Fables story. Snow White starts off with her own "small tale of revenge and its terrible lessons."

"The Fencing Lessons" as illustrated by John Bolton, tells of the story of the marriage between Snow White and Prince Charming, of the two worlds that dwelt alongside each other (of the world of men above and the world of dwarves below), and of a wedding present ("anything that your heart desires") of a husband to his princess bride. You will never think of the fairy tale "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" in the same way again, this I promise. "Though I love you dearly, and will obey you in all else, I told you long ago some details about my past life will follow me to my grave."

"Christmas Pies" as illustrated by Mark Buckingham tells of the story how the subjects of King Noble the Lion were able to escape to the mundane world by first having a three day feast of Christmas pies provided by the Adversary's goblin troops themselves, helped along by the trickeries of Reynard the Fox. "A good trick well played is worthy on its own merits."

"A Frog's Eye View" as illustrated by James Jean (the one responsible for all the wonderful wraparound covers of the Fables series) is the story of the Frog Prince and of his family. A not to be missed tale--it shall make you weep for the fate of Prince Ambrose. After reading his sad tale, I never looked at character of Flycatcher the same way.

"The Runt" as illustrated by Mark Wheatley is the lineage story of Bigby Wolf: he coming from a mixed breeding via his mother, a she-wolf by the name of Winter and of his father, the powerful North Wind. Just how did Bigby become the "big, bad wolf" of well-known children's stories such as The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood when he was the runt of the litter?

"A Mother's Love" as illustrated by Derek Kirk Kim is the story of a mother's revenge for the loss of her son. Can you guess what manner of beast she has transformed Col. Thunderfoot into?

"Diaspora" as illustrated by Tara MacPherson is the story of Snow White & Rose Red finding each other once more and agreeing to a truce while they try to escape from the armies of the Adversary. They were on their way to escaping to the mundane world when they were attacked and forced to flee into the forest. Here they encounter Frau Totenkinder in the throes of death. Rose Red persuaded her sister to trust Frau Totenkinder and take her with them.

"The Witch's Tale" as illustrated by Esao Andrews is where acts of love and acts of revenge can turn into one and the same thing. It tells the story of The Black Forest Witch (Frau Totenkinder in the Fabletown series) before Hansel and Gretel exacted their revenge on her. She tells her story to Snow White and Rose Red: of her young days as a shaman of the Fog Mountain tribe and of how she was able to come into great power. She assisted those who were kind to her, creating the Three Billy Goats Gruff to eliminate a bridge troll that was causing problems for a village that won her favor, and blessing those who she felt worthy. She took her revenge on the town of Hamelin by creating an enchanted flute that was used to lure away their children. Prompted by her experience with Aurac (her first love), she waged her own private war against handsome princes and men of wealth and privilege, during which she was responsible for the curses on Beast, Flycatcher, and Rapunzel.

"What You Wish For" as illustrated by Brian Bolland is the story of an adventurous maid by the name of Mersey Dotes, who wishes to tour the world. As they say: be careful what you wish, it might just come true.

"Fair Division" as illustrated by Jill Thompson is the story of Old King Cole's realm being easily overwhelmed by the Adversary's forces. Only with the assistance of his loyal and loving subjects (which includes the Three Bears of the Goldilocks story, Cock Robin, Squire Pup, the Three Blind Mice, among others) was he able to hide in the woods and survive long enough to reach the mundane world. It was then that Old King Cole became the first mayor of Fabletown, winning the election by a landslide over Bluebeard. It was also by his hand that led to the formalization of the banishment of non-human looking Fables to The Farm.

And so for three years, Snow White enthralled the Sultan with her stories...until the time came that she managed to pass on the idea to Scheherazade herself.

If you have not read farther than the first collection of Fables stories, you won't be lost reading 1001 Nights. Since all these stories are based on fairy tales and fables that everyone is familiar with, there isn't much background needed to read 1001 Nights, nor does it appear to spoil anything farther along in the series, and I'm glad that I read this when I did, so that now I will have a more solid base to read the rest of the Fables tales.

This book presents the biggest questions to the series yet: given a big enough timeline, can the Fable's ever really escape their tragic pasts? Is this a foreshadowing of an inevitable sad ending? Or will they be redeemed by the heroism within them inspired by said tragedies?

Book Details:

Title Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall
Author Bill Willingham
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )

Another entry in the Fables series, although not a part of the series continuum, but a side story that takes place long before the proper opening. In this collection, Snow White travels to the lands of Arabia as an ambassador from the fledgling Fable town, and finds herself heading for the executioner's block because of her confidence and brashness. To spare herself the ax, and the Sultan's bed, she tells him stories. For roughly one thousand nights.

Sound familiar? I was drawn by this remake of the 1,001 Arabian nights tale, and curious about what stories Snow White would tell. While Willingham continues to display impressive ingenuity with his retellings of both well known and obscure fairy tales, I didn't like this collection nearly as much as the Fables series itself. I think it was because most of the stories were so dark, just too much for my tastes. Even more so than the rather dark Fables series. They were interspersed with more light-hearted fare, to be sure, but it wasn't enough to offset, for me, the death and rape and child sacrifice. I'll be happy just to stick with the ongoing storyline. ( )

I thought this was good, but a little too short and with no real answers to any questions you think of while reading it. I know it's part of a series, but I'd prefer it if this book was a little longer and more in-depth. ( )