Heidi Anne Heiner's Blog, page 121

Sci Fi Sleeping Beauty: A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan

A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan also qualifies for today's science fiction fairy tales list. It's also dystopian which is why I perhaps forgot to add it on my earlier list today. This one draws inspiration from Sleeping Beauty.

Rosalinda Fitzroy has been asleep for sixty-two years when she is woken by a kiss. Locked away in the chemically induced slumber of a stasis tube in a forgotten subbasement, sixteen-year-old Rose slept straight through the Dark Times that killed millions and utterly changed the world she knew. Now, her parents and her first love are long gone, and Rose— hailed upon her awakening as the long-lost heir to an interplanetary empire— is thrust alone into a future in which she is viewed as either a freak or a threat. Desperate to put the past behind her and adapt to her new world, Rose finds herself drawn to the boy who kissed her awake, hoping that he can help her to start fresh. But when a deadly danger jeopardizes her fragile new existence, Rose must face the ghosts of her past with open eyes— or be left without any future at all.

Science Fiction Fairy Tales from SurLaLune

Back in the fall, John was doodling around with some fairy tale illustrations with science fiction twists for the fun of it after we had a lengthy discussion one day about which genres have few fairy tale inspired retellings. My list of science fiction retellings was slim, I could only think of a handful. I'll do a post of those separately today.

But for now I wanted to share the first three--and I don't know if there will be more since John is rather da Vinci like in his creative projects--flittering from one to another as the mood captures him. From computer illustration to painting to sculpting, he does it all and goes where his muses lead him at times. There are others in draft, but these are the completed ones. But we can hope since we have a really adorable version of seven dwarf robots in draft.

John wanted to instill the flavor of the old pulp science fiction paperback covers from the 80s and earlier, but with the modern feel of computer illustration. These make me want to write the stories to go with them, what about you?

I have added these to the SurLaLune CafePress store. They are also available as posters on Zazzle where John was happier with the poster printing options. Which illustration is your favorite?


This is the one we struggled with the most between John's vision and my own. She started out as Briar Rose/Sleeping Beauty with a different color scheme and a slightly different backstory in our minds. But the glass coffin is obviously Snow White and once I showed John some classic illustrations such as here and here, he agreed, changed the color scheme, and Snow White entered the stasis chamber.

At first she was riding away, but then we turned LRRH back, riding directly into danger in the forest. Much better, yes?

Science Fiction Retellings of Fairy Tales

I mentioned in my earlier post today that I would write a post about science fiction genre retellings of fairy tales. And it's a short post. I'm sure I have to be missing a few, but here is my short list. I am an admitted science fiction fan, although I am also picky and tend to lean towards space opera more than "pure" science fiction.

"Beauty" by Tanith Lee, which appears in Red as Blood or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer, is my favorite science fiction retelling of a fairy tale. It is also one of my favorite Beauty and the Beast retellings, period. A must read for Beauty and the Beast fans.

On to more:


Once Upon a Galaxy is a short story collection of science fiction retellings, some more successful than others. It is out of print, unfortunately.

...in these original new stories by today's masters of science fiction and fantasy. Two time-tested genres test the limits of "happily ever after" when beloved tales like "Goldilocks" and "Sleeping Beauty" are given an outer-space spin.

Once Upon a Galaxy edited by Josepha Sherman isn't really a collection of science fiction retellings, but it offers tales as inspiration for well-known science fiction.

Science fiction is all around us. Fantasy fiction is just as well known in today's world of entertainment. But what few readers of science fiction and fantasy realize is that these stories of wizards and star ships have much older roots in the world of folklore. Cultures throughout the world share common references to heroes who must fulfill great quests featuring wise old men, magic potions that can save a life or clever adventurers who outwit their foolish enemies. This book has collected the original stories that served as the inspiration behind Star Trek, Superman, Star Wars, and even Bugs Bunny.

Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles) and Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles) by Marissa Mayer were perhaps the first  titles you thought of, since they are the most recent and ongoing science fiction retellings of fairy tales.

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison--even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

The next two are inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk. Both are out of print.


Jumping Off the Planet by David Gerrold

A trip to the Moon? Sounds like the perfect family vacation. Only for 13-year-old Charles "Chigger" Dingillian his family is anything but perfect. His parents fight so much they put the 'dis' into dysfunctional. So when he and his brothers find themselves halfway to the Moon Chigger hits on a plan: if his parents can't find a way to work things out, why not just divorce them? Sound crazy? Until it works. Charles and his brothers are on their own. But their bid for freedom hits a roadblock when Chigger suspects they are targets of an interstellar manhunt. What do these Big Corporations want? And why? Their only hope is to jump off the planet...

Beanstalk by John Rackham

Behind every folktale there is a true story and behind every legend a lost fact of history, distorted by word of mouth of people who did not understand what was really happening. In the case of the infiltration of the highly strategic space station upon which the battle between the Salviar Federation and the Hilax Combine pivoted, the account of Earth's role in the affair has become greatly distorted. Because that was eight hundred years ago and the men of Olde England never even knew the world was round, let alone that it was a planet. Earth still doesn't know which side we were on and because we are out on a far limb of Galactic Sector Seven they haven't contacted us yet. But our very position in the Milky Way just that once made our little planet strategic - and when Salviar's scout Jasar-am-Bax had to enlist the aid of a clever young yeoman to launch his kamikaze attack the result became legend. But it took John Rackham to uncover the real story behind the event. It's all in BEANSTALK - it just depends on how you look at it.

Finally, The Quantum Rose (Saga of the Skolian Empire) by Catherine Asaro is often described as a science fiction Beauty and the Beast. Having read it, it fits quite well. Part of her Skolian series, the initial premise has the heroine marrying an alien, a beast to save her people. It has some rough themes of abuse and worse, so be reader beware. That said, I enjoyed it enough to read more of the Skolian series which has an interesting use of science in several of the books, but can be enjoyed as space opera, too. Asaro plays with genres with her usage of science fiction, romance and fantasy along with well-developed characters throughout the series.

Kamoj Argali is the young ruler of an impoverished province on a backward planet. To keep her people from starving, she has agreed to marry Jax Ironbridge, the boorish and brutal ruler of a prosperous province. But before Argali and Ironbridge are wed, a mysterious stranger from a distant planet sweeps in and forces Kamoj into marriage, throwing her world into utter chaos.

The Book Rat's Third Annual Fairy Tale Fortnight

Yesterday marked the beginning of The Book Rat's Third Annual Fairy Tale Fortnight. You can see the schedule at 3rd Annual Fairy Tale Fortnight Main Page & Schedule. It's a fun way to read an intense fairy tale discussion by some bloggers who don't do it year round--although fairy tale posts do show up during the year on their blogs, of course.

From the site:

Basically Fairy Tale Fortnight (or FTF) is a 2 week-long celebration of all things fairy tale and fairy tale-esque. Every day you can expect to find numerous fairy tale goodies, ranging from reviews and discussions to giveaways, interviews, guest posts and vlogs! And probably some other things, too!

A Bargain and A Little TV Discussion: Grimm Season 1 on DVD for $19.99

I rarely look at Target ads anymore, but did this week and saw that Grimm: Season One is $19.99 on sale this week at Target. And sure enough, Amazon price matched it this morning, so it is also $19.99 there.

I haven't been writing regular coverage of Grimm or Once Upon a Time or Beauty and the Beast this season due to time constraints--and I don't manage to keep up with watching them very well either--although I try to stay informed with them through TV review sites and such. That said, I have found myself watching all the episodes of Grimm since it returned from hiatus and the show has definitely grown on me more for entertainment purposes although the folklore elements seem to have atrophied. Poor NBC, Grimm is the only show I watch on that network. And they have upped the presence of women on the show which also makes it more enjoyable for me. I am hoping it gets renewed.

 
Once Upon a Time doesn't need my coverage. It has a large, loyal fan base and is, of course, the show I am asked about the most when SurLaLune comes up during my conversations with people in my "real" world. The Season 2 DVDs are already up for preorder, too. This one should be renewed for a third season very easily. I admit I am not a fan of the "evil queen should be lovable to all of us" storytelling. There are consequences for bad behavior--many fairy tales remind us of that!--and whatever the antihero sympathetic motivations offered, she has done some despicable stuff and should not be trusted but kept on a tight leash. Guess I've known too many real people like that to make a hero out of one of them. Has everyone forgotten she put a knife in her own father?


Beauty and the Beast barely resembles its inspiration show and is on the bubble for renewal. Hence the upping of the sexual levels the last few weeks. It looks like a CW show--it's like there is the same set designer for the entire network--which I now know since John and I are regular viewers of Arrow, having forgiven its flaws a while back ourselves. Which I admit is often my criteria for TV watching these days--what shows will give me a few minutes of something to watch with the hubby and chill for a few minutes with him? Arrow and Grimm and Elementary fit that need better than the others.

So which shows are you watching? Or not watching? What's your favorite?

Bargain Ebook: The Wide-Awake Princess by E. D. Baker

TODAY ONLY: The Wide-Awake Princess by E. D. Baker is $1.99 in ebook format at Amazon, a repeat discount from late last year before the holidays. If you didn't get it then, this is a great chance for a popular series. There are two books in it for now but at least one more is in the works. My 10 year old niece also likes this book.

Book description:

In this stand-alone fairy tale, Princess Annie is the younger sister to Gwen, the princess destined to be Sleeping Beauty. When Gwennie pricks her finger and the whole castle falls asleep, only Annie is awake, and only Annie-blessed (or cursed?) with being impervious to magic-can venture out beyond the rose-covered hedge for help. She must find Gwen’s true love to kiss her awake.

But who is her true love? The irritating Digby? The happy-go-lucky Prince Andreas, who is holding a contest to find his bride? The conniving Clarence, whose sinister motives couldn’t possibly spell true love? Joined by one of her father’s guards, Liam, who happened to be out of the castle when the sleeping spell struck, Annie travels through a fairy tale land populated with characters both familiar and new as she tries to fix her sister and her family . . . and perhaps even find a true love of her own.

Bargain Ebook: My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison

My Fair Godmother by Janette Rallison is one of the Kindle Ebooks Deals of the Day on Amazon today. It is $1.99. It has been discounted before, but here it is for those of you with new Kindles or other devices.

And if you prefer paper, the paperback is also bargain priced right now for $3.60. The reviews are strong for this and there is a sequel.

Book description:

Finding your one true love can be a Grimm experience!

After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy.

New Book: The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf (Accidental Enchantments) by Tia Nevitt

The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf (Accidental Enchantments) by Tia Nevitt from Carina Press is a romance novel inspired by Snow White which was released last month. It is the second in a series and qualifies as a bargain ebook at $2.51. It was also reviewed today at SBTN with an overall favorable review and these final lines may encourage non-romance readers to look into this one: "If you are looking for an explicit book, look elsewhere, because in this one the sex scenes are very much of the "fade to black" variety. The relationships are, however, very tender and touching."

Book description:

Book two in Accidental Enchantments.

Prince Richard is cursed. Enslaved to a magic mirror, he must truthfully answer the evil queen when she uses it to call on him. To keep from betraying innocents, Richard wanders the countryside and avoids people.

All her life, Gretchen has been teased for being small. When she hears of a hidden farm populated by little people like her, she sets out to find it—and is welcomed by the mostly male inhabitants. Lars in particular woos her with his gentle kindness and quiet strength.

Danger looms when Gretchen meets a runaway princess and offers her shelter at the Little Farm. Wandering nearby, Richard instantly falls in love with the beautiful princess, and is later compelled to tell the queen that she is not the fairest of them all. Enraged, the queen vows to find them and destroy them.

If either Gretchen or Richard are to have their happy endings, they must team up to break the mirror's spell before the queen kills them all…

For another fairy tale retelling from Tia Nevitt, check out The Sevenfold Spell, available now!

The Sevenfold Spell (Accidental Enchantments) was released in 2010 and is also $2.51 from Carina Press. It draws inspiration from Sleeping Beauty.

Book description:

Have you ever wondered what happens to the other people in the fairy tale?

Things look grim for Talia and her mother. By royal proclamation, the constables and those annoying "good" fairies have taken away their livelihood by confiscating their spinning wheel. Something to do with a curse on the princess, they said.

Not every young lady has a fairy godmother rushing to her rescue.

Without the promise of an income from spinning, Talia's prospects for marriage disappear, and she and her mother face destitution. Past caring about breaking an arbitrary and cruel law, rebellious Talia determines to build a new spinning wheel, the only one in the nation--which plays right into the evil fairy's diabolical plan. Talia discovers that finding a happy ending requires sacrifice. But is it a sacrifice she's willing to make?

Bargain Ebook: Too Many Fairies: A Celtic Tale

Too Many Fairies: A Celtic Tale by Margaret Read MacDonald (Author), Susan Mitchell (Illustrator) was a bargain book back in June and it is one of Amazon's Deals of the Day today only for $1.99. This ebook only works on Kindle Fires, iPads, etc. but more people have those since Christmas so I thought I would share again. The hardcover edition is $11.69, so the digital is an economical way to own the book.

Besides, I love this fairy tale and most kids do, too, when they hear it.

Book description:

There was once an old woman who hated chores. "Work! Work! Work! How I hate it! Hate it! Hate it!" One day some fairies show up. They . . . clankety-clankety-clankety — clean all the dishes. Swishety-swishety-swishety —sweep the house. Flumpety-flumpety-flumpety — shake out the bedclothes. Clickety-clickety-clickety — work on all the knitting. But then there is nothing left to do. So, they tear everything apart and start again! Clankety-clankety-clankety, swishety-swishety-swishety . . . . The fairies are driving the old woman crazy! How will she get them to leave? Lively watercolor illustrations add to this Celtic retelling by master storyteller Margaret Read MacDonald. An author’s note is also included.

New Book: Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: An Anthology of Gaslamp Fantasy

Queen Victoria's Book of Spells: An Anthology of Gaslamp Fantasy edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling is released today. Looks like a few stories might have a fairy tale spin to them, too, but won't know until I read it myself!

Book description:

“Gaslamp Fantasy,” or historical fantasy set in a magical version of the nineteenth century, has long been popular with readers and writers alike. A number of wonderful fantasy novels, including Stardust by Neil Gaiman, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and The Prestige by Christopher Priest, owe their inspiration to works by nineteenth-century writers ranging from Jane Austen, the Brontës, and George Meredith to Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, and William Morris. And, of course, the entire steampunk genre and subculture owes more than a little to literature inspired by this period.

Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells is an anthology for everyone who loves these works of neo-Victorian fiction, and wishes to explore the wide variety of ways that modern fantasists are using nineteenth-century settings, characters, and themes. These approaches stretch from steampunk fiction to the Austen-and-Trollope inspired works that some critics call Fantasy of Manners, all of which fit under the larger umbrella of Gaslamp Fantasy. The result is eighteen stories by experts from the fantasy, horror, mainstream, and young adult fields, including both bestselling writers and exciting new talents such as Elizabeth Bear, James Blaylock, Jeffrey Ford, Ellen Kushner, Tanith Lee, Gregory Maguire, Delia Sherman, and Catherynne M. Valente, who present a bewitching vision of a nineteenth century invested (or cursed!) with magic.

And Table of Contents:

Preface Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling
Introduction Terri Windling
The Fairy Enterprise by Jeffrey Ford
From the Catalogue of the Pavilion of the Uncanny and Marvelous, Scheduled for Premiere at the Great Exhibition (Before the Fire) by Genevieve Valentine
The Memory Book by Maureen McHugh
Queen Victoria’s Book of Spells by Delia Sherman
La Reine D’Enfer by Kathe Koja
For the Briar Rose by Elizabeth Wein
The Governess by Elizabeth Bear
Smithfield by James P. Blaylock
The Unwanted Women of Surrey by Kaaron Warren
Charged by Leanna Renee Hieber
Mr. Splitfoot by Dale Bailey
Phosphorus by Veronica Schanoes
We Without Us Were Shadows by Catherynne M. Valente
The Vital Importance of the Superficial by Ellen Kushner and Caroline Stevermer
The Jewel in the Toad Queen’s Crown by Jane Yolen
A Few Twigs He Left Behind by Gregory Maguire
Their Monstrous Minds by Tanith Lee
Estella Saves the Village by Theodora Goss