Everyone is familiar with the Disney-style retellings of old myths and fairy tales. What many people may not realize, however, is that fairy tales were not originally meant for children. Beginning with the Grimm brothers to the present, fairy tales have been edited into versions acceptable for children. The books in my collection are also versions of these fairy tales, but like the originals, they are not meant for children. The authors have brought these tales back to life by showing a darker, more realistic side. Some have happy endings, others do not. These are not just retellings of the originals; many of the authors have placed the tales into modem or future settings. Neither are these versions set in fantasy worlds, like Tolkien's Middle Earth. These are all tales from our world.

In addition to their wonderful tales, many of these books are beautifully illustrated. To me, reading illustrated editions, or even just books with interesting covers, enhances the overall experience of reading. However, what makes some of these books special are that the illustrations inspired the story, rather than the other way around. For example, in the Faerieland's series, artist Brian Froud created a set of paintings from which each author chose the pictures that spoke to them. Each book in this series has a common theme; how the magic of our lives, represented by Fearie, is in danger.

This is a collection of books that bring fairy tales to life, with both words and pictures. I began collecting them serendipitously, as part of my general reading in fantasy. When I realized how much I enjoyed the fairy tale books in particular, I actively began searching them out. For new books, the best resource is each new edition of The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling. In each volume are essays that discuss the books that have been published in the current year. I also look for out of print books in used books stores. For me, finding a new fairy tale is almost as much fun as reading one. I look forward to adding more titles to my collection in the future. These books let you imagine, just for a moment, what it would be like if a character from mythology showed up on the doorstep. It might not be what you or I would expect.

Anthony, Piers and R. Gilliam, Eds. (1994). Tales from the Great Turtle. New York, Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.
The most commonly known fairy tales are from Europe, but Native Americans also have their own wonderful stories. This is an anthology of tales written either by Native Americans, or inspired by Native American tales.

Baudino, Gael (1993). Shroud of Shadow. New York, Roc Books.
Natil was the last of the race of Elves, fighting to stay alive and escape the Inquisition. In this book and others, Baudino deals with social problems such as spouse abuse.

Baudino, Gael (1994). Strands of Sunlight. New York, Roc Books.
Sequel to Shroud of Sorrow, Natil has escaped to the twentieth century, where she has established herself at a college and uses her magic to try to help others and reestablish Elves.

Bell, Claire (1993). The Jaguar Princess. New York, Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.
South American mythology. Mixcatl was a slave during the rule of the Aztecs, when she discovered that her ancestral heritage meant she was the living embodiment of ancient Olmec myths.

Datlow, Ellen and Terri Windling, Eds. (1993). Snow White, Blood Red. New York, Avon Books.
The first in a series of fairy tale anthologies, tales that were never meant to be told to children.

Datlow, Ellen and Terri Windling, Eds. (1994). Black Thorn, White Rose. New York, Avon Books.
The second anthology of fairy tales collected by these editors.

Datlow, Ellen and Terri Windling, Eds. (1995). Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears. New York, Avon Books.
The third anthology of fairy tales by these award-winning editors.

de Lint, Charles (1987). Jack, the Giant-Killer. New York, Ace Books.
Part of the Fairy Tale Series created by Terri Windling. A contemporary retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk. Jacky Rowan has stumbled onto the realm of Faerie in the middle of modern-day Ottawa. Now she must fight giants for her life.

de Lint, Charles (1994). Brian Froud's Faerielands: The Wild Wood. New York, Bantam Books.
The first of a series developed by Brian Froud, Robert Gould, and Terri Windling. Charles de Lint selected a set of Brian Froud's drawings to develop the story of a young artist who is called on to help the dying realm of Faerie deep in the Canadian woods. First edition hardcover, illustrated.

de Lint, Charles (1995). Jack of Kinrowan. New York, Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.
Part of the Fairy Tale Series, created by Terri Windling. This book consists of two parts. The first is a reprint of "Jack, the Giant Killer," described above. The second part is a new story that continues Jacky Rowan's involvement in Faerie. In "Drink Down the Moon," Jacky and her friend Kate Hazel must fight to save Faerie itself, from the creature that has enslaved the moon.

Dean, Pamela (1991). Tam Lin. New York, Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.
Part of the Fairy Tale Series created by Terri Windling, Tam Lin is actually a retelling of a Scottish ballad. Janet, a student at a small Midwest college in the 60's, must fight to save her love. The Queen of Faerie, a Greek professor, must pay a tithe to hell every seven years, and Thomas is the unlucky Classics major who has been selected.

Deitz, Tom (1989). Darkthunder's Way. New York, Avon Books.
Cherokee mythology meets Irish mythology. David and his friends involvement in the realm of Faerie has unintended consequences in other worlds, and now they are called into the mythological Cherokee otherworld of Galunlati. First edition print.

Deitz, Tom (1990). Sunshaker's War. New York, Avon Books.
More Irish and Cherokee mythology. David Sullivan must stop the war in Faerie before it kills people in both the human world and the Cherokee otherworld. First edition print.

Deitz, Tom (1991). Stoneskin's Revenge. New York, Avon Books.
More Cherokee mythology. Calvin McIntosh has accidentally left the gate the Cherokee otherworld left open, and the monster Spearfinger has crossed over. Now he must stop the creature who was once just a tale to scare children. First edition print.

Deitz, Tom (1994). Above the Lower Sky. New York, Avon Books.
Set in the year 2024, a brother receives a message from a dying Selkie for his sister. They must work together with a Cherokee dancer and Apache warrior as myths from many different cultures collide.

Deitz, Tom (1995). Dreamseeker's Road. New York, Avon Books.
More Celtic mythology. Aiken loves mythology and role playing, but has always wanted to go on a real adventure. Now the walls between the worlds are breaking down, and he becomes hunted by the Wild Hunt.

Feist, Raymond E. (1988). Faerie Tale. New York, Bantam Books.
What if your backyard bordered Faerie? For the Hastings family, it was by turns wonderful and terrifying, as they moved into a new home that should never have been sold to them. A fantasy tale placed in rural New England.

Huygen, W. (1977). Gnomes. New York, Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
In the style of an Audubon publication, this is a "documentary" portrayal of the life of the woodland Gnome, including facts about gnome lore, survival, and history. Every page is vividly illustrated by Rien Poortvliet. Hardcover.

Jones, Terry and Brian Froud (1986). The Goblin Companion. Atlanta, Turner Publishing, Inc.
Anyone who has seen Jim Henson's movie Labyrinth will recognize many of the goblins in this field guide. This is because Brian Froud was the conceptual designer of that movie. The goblins were actually created first, with the story following later. Every page presents facts about different kinds of goblins, with beautiful illustrations. First edition hardcover.

Jones, Terry and Brian Froud (1994). Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Book. New York, Turner Publishing, Inc.
This is my most prized book. Every page is a work of art in itself. The text is a diary of a girl who used the book to catch and press fairies, rather than flowers. But are the fairies real, or a symbol of hidden desires that cannot be admitted by a proper, turn of the century English girl? Brian Froud has drawn these captured fairies in beautiful watercolors that even realistically smear on both sides of the page! The book is also autographed by the artist, who drew a goblin on the title page. Hardcover.

Jones, Terry and Brian Froud (1996). Strange Stains and Mysterious Smells, Simon & Schuster Editions.
What if every stain and smell had a life of its own? Lady Cottington's twin, Quentin, was obsessed with this idea and eventually found a way to see the strange creatures that are the origin of these smells. Every page describes and illustrates a different creature, such as the Noximoron, the smell that appears whenever more than two people are riding in a car together. Hardcover.

Kennealy-Morrison, Patricia (1990). The Hawk's Gray Feather. New York, Roc Books.
Volume I in The Tales of Arthur. This is a retelling of the legend of King Arthur, only set far in the future, far away from Britain. In this world created by Kennealy-Morrison, the Kelts of the British Isles had fled Earth and resettled in a star system far away. The people of Faerie, threatened by Christianity, came with them. Autographed by the author.

Kennealy-Morrison, Patricia (1994). The Oak Above the Kings. New York, Roc Books.
Volume II in The Tales of Arthur. The story of how Arthur finally claims his throne, told by Taliesin, Chief Bard of Keltia. Autographed by the author.

Kennealy-Morrison, Patricia (1996). The Hedge of Mist. New York, HarperPrism.
Volume III of The Tales of Arthur. The final book in this space-going Arthurian legend, with a Grail Quest that takes Arthur to far-away planets.

Kushner, Ellen (1990). Thomas the Rhymer. New York, Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.
Part of the Fairy Tale series created by Terri Windling. The story of Thomas, who was abducted by the Queen of Elfland. He was returned years later unable to speak anything but the truth. Winner of the Mythopeoic Fantasy Award.

Lackey, Mercedes (1996). Firebird. New York, Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.
Based on the fairy tale of the Firebird, this is the story of the Russian boy Ilya, and his adventures after he discovers the thief stealing his father's cherries.

Lee, Allan and Brian Froud (1978). Faeries. New York, Peacock Press/Bantam Books.
An encyclopedia of Faerie lore, this text discusses the realm of Faerie and its denizens, large and small. Ever wondered about the differences between goblins, dwarves, elves and kobolds, or where the Sidhe go on their raids? Every page presents information from a variety of sources, and is beautifully illustrated by Brain Froud.

McKenzie, Nancy (1994). The Child Queen. New York, Ballantine Books.
A tale of Guinevere and King Arthur, as told by Guinevere, who was a child of fourteen when she was married to Arthur. First edition print.

McKenzie, Nancy (1995). The High Queen. New York, Ballantine Books.
Sequel to The Child Queen this book finishes the tale of Guinevere and King Arthur. First edition print.

McKillip, Patricia A. (1994). Brian Froud's Faerielands: Something Rich and Strange. New York, Bantam Books.
The second book in Brian Froud's Faerielands series. Megan and Jonah are a couple who live by the sea. When a sea creature enchanted Jonah, Megan must rescue him, herself, and this magical realm threatened by civilization. First edition hardcover, illustrated.

McKinley, Robin (1978). Beauty. New York, Pocket Books.
This is Robin McKinley's first novel, a wonderful retelling of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.

McKinley, Robin (1981). The Door in the Hedge. New York, Ace Fantasy Books.
A retelling of four classic fairy tales including the well known "The Princess and the Frog."

McKinley, Robin (1988). The Outlaws of Sherwood. New York, Ace Books.
This is the story behind the legend of Robin Hood. Robin, a struggling apprentice forester, is forced by bad luck to live as an outlaw in the forest. Joined by others, circumstances make him a reluctant hero.

Paxson, Diana L. (1993). The Wolf and the Raven. New York, Avon Books.
A retelling of the legend of Siegfried the Volsung, made famous by Wagner's Cycle of heroic operas, "The Ring of the Nibelung." This is the beginning of the story, the events leading to the meeting of the Hun princess Brunahild, apprenticed to the Walkyruin, and the apprentice smith Sigfrid.

Paxson, Diana L. (1995). The Dragons of the Rhine. New York, William Morrow and Company, Inc.
The sequel to The Wolf and the Raven. Sigfrid Simundson has been caught by the magic of a witch, and has left his love Brunahild for the princess Gudrun. Brunahild, meanwhile, has been forced to marry a Burgund king. This book tells the story through the point where Wagner's opera ends, although the legends continue this saga further. Hardcover.

Stewart, Mary (1973). The Hollow Hills. New York, Fawcett Crest.
The second book written by Mary Stewart about the legends of King Arthur. This is the story of how Merlin helped Arthur become king of all Britain.

Stewart, Mary (1979). The Last Enchantment. New York, Fawcett Crest.
The third book written by Mary Stewart about the legends of King Arthur. This is the tale of the betrayal of Arthur and Camelot.

Tepper, Sheri S. (1991). Beauty. New York, Bantam Books.
On her sixteenth birthday, Beauty did not fall asleep, but began a fantastic journey that took her from the 14th century to the 22nd century, from the human world, to the fairy world, and to hell and back. From her life sprang many other fairy tales- those of Briar Rose, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Cinderella, and Thomas the Rhymer, as she worked to preserve the magic and beauty left in the world before it is destroyed.

Vance, Jack (1983). Lyonesse. New York, Berkley Books.
A story of a princess of Lyonesse, before it and the other Elder Isles (including Atlantis, Ys, and Avallon) sank beneath the Atlantic.

Windling, Terri (1996). The Wood Wife. New York, Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.
Originally intended to be part of Brian Froud's Faerielands series, this tale grew to large for a novela. This is the story of Maggie Black, who has moved to the Sonoran desert after her mentor died and left her his estate. There she encounters the ancient spirits of the desert, as characters from Native American mythology come to life. World Fantasy Award winner.

Wrede, Patricia C. (1989). Snow White and Rose Red. New York, Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.
Part of the Fairy Tale Series, created by Terri Windling. A retelling of the classic tale of Snow White and Rose Red, Wrede sets the story in Elizabethan England.

Yolen, Jane (1992). Briar Rose. New York, Tom Doherty Associates, Inc.
Part of the Fairy Tale Series, created by Terri Windling. Yolen has taken the old German fairy tale of Sleeping Beauty, and placed it in the German forests of World War II, during the Holocaust. Years later, a granddaughter tries to solve the mystery behind her grandmother's odd version of this tale.

Zipes, Jack, Trans. (1992). The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. New York, Bantam Books.
Reading these translations of the 1857 edition of the Children's and Household Tales, one gets a sense of how different, and darker, these tales are compared to the Disney versions of today.