My favorite of this series thus far (through The Dark Ages)--I love them all, but this story line just really blew me away. ( )

Another of Mr TQD's finds at the library. (I promise to not whinge about how he gets time to look at books at the library, while I spend my time reading to the kids - which can be fairly dire, depending on what has caught their eye. Whoops, I think I just fell into whinge mode...)

This is volume three of an ongoing graphic novel series, that has been highly recommended by both freelunch here on LibraryThing, and by one of Mr TQD's mates. So it was a no-brainer for him to pick it up, but I think I startled him by pouncing on it with much glee.

Imagine a world where fairy tale characters actually live. But for some reason (covered, no doubt, in volumes one and two) they have fled their country which has been invaded by the mysterious Adversary, and are living in New York (as you do). The fairytale creatures that can pass for human live in New York City, while the ones that can't (the three little pigs, Thumbelina, etc) live on a farm somewhere rural.

Prince Charming is a complete cad and a bounder, but not quite as caddish as Bluebeard; there's a full complement of fairytale princesses (Briar Rose, Snow White, etc); the Big Bad Wolf is currently known as Bigby and isn't allowed anywhere near the farm so passes as a very hairy man in New York City; and Old King Cole is the nominal head of them all.

This is a collection of various stories, revolving mostly around a loose theme of love. Some work wonderfully - those revolving around Bigby and Snow White in particular; others are less good. But it's a great world with some wonderful ideas, and I'm going to be delving further into it in the future. ( )

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1218839...

This third volume, unlike the first two, is not a single narrative but several stories bound together, one of which does take the central plot a lot further with two major characters apparently getting killed. Granted it is rather monocultural, but still enjoyable. ( )

This volume collects Issues #11-18, including the 4-part "Storybook Love." Also included are the 2-part "A Sharp Operator" and the single-issue tales "Bag o' Bones" and "Barleycorn Brides." Unlike in the first two volumes of Fables, there is no single story arc in this one. Instead we get four tales of different lengths that help flesh out the characters for us.

"Bag o' Bones" is a set of stories adapted and taken from the Mountain Jack Tales of American folklore. Jack of the Tales is the main character and the rogue as he always was and continues to be, he thought of taking advantage of the American Civil War so he may marry himself off to a rich Southern belle by first earning renown in battle. When it became obvious that the South has lost, Jack winds up having adventures involving Nick Slick (the Devil), Death, and a beautiful cursed Southern Belle.

In "A Two-Part Caper" Tommy Sharp, a writer for the Daily News somehow got wind that there was something unusual about the Fabletown community and spent several years following it up. He tracked down records detailing the Fables' possession of the area right back to when the city was called New Amsterdam; compiled a number of personal histories and located photographs of several of the Fabletown residents going back to the beginnings of photography, proving that none of them had aged a day. He also secretly trailed Bigby Wolf--a not unimpressive feat--given the Wolf's massively enhanced senses and witnessed him changing to his wolf form in Central Park. Prior to publishing, he came to Fabletown and asked to speak to Bigby, with the aim of giving the Fables a chance to respond as a journalistic courtesy. Explaining to a visibly amused sheriff that he believed them to be vampires, Sharp stated that he would shortly be publishing his story. Bigby, with the help of Briar Rose (more popularly known as Sleeping Beauty), Bluebeard, Flycatcher (the Frog Prince), Prince Charming and Boy Blue, makes a late night raid to ensure their secret is kept. The story also gives us a glimpse of the coward that Bluebeard really is, as exposed via the verbal taunting of Bigby. No wonder the former then plotted for the Wolf’s demise.

In "Storybook Love", the longest story in the collection, Bigby and Snow become targets and are removed from Fabletown. Bluebeard magically hypnotizes the pair and sends them off on a camping trip out in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains from which he thinks they will never return. After they wake up, they soon are running for their lives from Goldilocks, who seems to have a vendetta against Snow White. We are treated to a sample of Bigby’s power as a Wolf from all the legends (the most popular being the one who huffed & puffed down The Three Little Pigs’ homes and who tried to end Red Riding Hood’s life) and an idea of his lineage. The story ends with two great twists: one of which involves Snow White beginning to shed her image of an ice queen, as for the other, it’s much better to let the next volume tell the story in detail. I’m already rooting for a happily-ever-after for Bigby & Snow White (blame the romantic in me). The story also provides an introduction to the Mouse Police and the rare occurrences of noble urges on the part of Prince Charming.

Finally, in "Barleycorn Brides," Bigby tells Flycatcher the story of Smalltown, a community at The Farm. It was founded by the Lilliputian army (Lilliputians are of course the tiny people from “Gulliver's Travels”) after they escaped from the Adversary's armies in the Homelands. Since the army was made up of only men, they immediately realized that they had a problem; without women their size, they couldn't procreate or find love. A brave Lilliputian by the name of Johnny Bullhorn and Arrow, a bird commander of the Air Patrol, go on an adventure back to the Homelands to solve the problem and fetch the barleycorns from whence Thumbelina herself sprung from.

Book Details:

Title Vol. 3: Fables: Storybook Love
Author Bill Willingham
Reviewed By Purplycookie ( )

Wow, in volume three this series really picks up with a bang! First we are presented with a few tales of Jack during the Civil War and how he often beats Death. Thus, giving the reader a bit knowledge of Jack's trickster personality. Then we follow a two issue caper involving a journalist who has been watching the fables for many years and keeping files and pictures. He comes to Bigby with the news that he will be publishing a story shortly and is giving Bigby the opportunity to respond. The journal has figured them all (or so he thinks) out and is going to expose them to the world. Another issue takes us back to the story of Goldilocks and we find out what the fugitive is up to now. The Lilliputians enter the story here as major characters and we learn their story. And finally we get to the series mentioned in the title, Storybook Love. This continues for the rest of the volume and I really don't want to give away any of the plot. It was riveting to say the least.

This is a big scale issue with lots of violence, thus lots of blood, a bit of s*x, and not a few deaths. I was surprised at the blood but must say found the story arcs very compelling reading. If the first two volumes haven't convinced you this is adult reading material this third volume will settle that for you. This is my favourite volume to date. It is amazing how deep the characterization and intricate the plot can be in a graphic novel. Willingham certainly shows the rest of us how this medium can be used to utmost advantage over plain text. If you are one of the few people on earth (ok, in the online book community) who hasn't read this series yet, I'm asking you: "What the heck are you waiting for?" Highly recommended. Can't wait to read the next book! ( )