Happily Ever After

Starred review from May 30, 2011
Klima (Logorrhea) brings together many of the greatest minds in fantasy, horror, and young adult fiction in this rollicking reprint anthology of 33 diverse fairy tale retellings from the past two decades. Gregory Maguire's "The Seven Stage a Comeback" is a clever, mirthful sequel to Snow White. Peter Straub's "Ashputtle" turns Cinderella's plight into a shocking tale of psychological horror. Susanna Clarke's Victorianesque "Mr. Simonelli, or the Fairy Widower" follows a rector who discovers a family secret when he's assigned to a mysterious town in the English countryside. Neil Gaiman expertly flips a familiar trope on its head in "The Troll Bridge." These and other longtime authors are joined by equally talented newcomers such as K. Tempest Bradford and Genevieve Valentine. Fairy tale fans will give this volume pride of place on the shelf.