Trolls Eye View

This collection was both different and better than I was expecting. I actually got this as a gift for someone, but once it arrived I couldn’t resist it. (Don’t worry – it still looks brand new! Shh!) Anyway, I believe I was expecting a rather dreary and predictable collection of tales from villains’ points of views. Instead this is a really unique and dynamic collection with stories that run the gamut from funny and touching to tragic and brutal. Certainly, as with all collections, there are points that are higher than others. But I can honestly say that I enjoyed every single story and poem I read. My personal favorite was the haunting and highly original Hansel and Gretel retelling titled A Delicate Architecture by Catherynne M. Valente.

These stories ask us to view with a more critical eye the concepts of ‘villain’ and ‘hero’. The final story titled The Cinderella Game explores this in a particularly thought provoking way. Another thing that I really like about this collection is that a blurb about each author follows each story which includes information about the author and their inspiration/thought process for the story.

Finally, I would say these stories are mostly for adults, but I’d also share this with advanced middle grade readers and up. There really wasn’t anything remarkably inappropriate that I can recall. I very highly recommend this to fans of the fairy tale genre and also for lovers of original and well written short stories.

The stories included in this collection are:

Wizard’s Apprentice by Delia Sherman – a heartwarming retelling of a Russian fairy tale (The Wizard Outwitted).

An Unwelcome Guest by Garth Nix – a very delightful spin on Rapunzel that had me wishing for more!

Faery Tales by Wendy Froud –poem that speculates about what happens to fairy tale heroines after their happy ever after.

Rags and Riches by Nina Kiriki Hoffman – The Goose Girl told from the point of view of the duplicitous maid.

Up the Down Beanstalk: A Wife Remembers – the chatty wife of the giant tells her side of the encounter with Jack.

The Shoes That Were Danced to Pieces by Ellen Kushner – the eldest sister describe what it’s like to be shepherd to a flock of flighty, vain and irresponsible sisters.

Puss in Boots, the Sequel by Joseph Stanton – a short (and not very memorable) poem about the title character’s duplicitous nature.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf by Holly Black – a very original back story of the wolf from Little Red Riding Hood.

Troll by Jane Yolen – Billy Goats Gruff told from a fearful troll’s point of view.

Castle Othello by Nancy Farmer – this author manages to combine two tragic tales (Othello and Bluebeard) and create one jolly romp of a story.

‘Skin by Michael Cadnum – one of the more straightforward retellings (Rumpelstiltskin), but still fun.

A Delicate Architecture by Catherynne M. Valente – the chilling and memorable back story for the witch from Hansel and Gretel.

Molly by Midori Snyder – a sort of postmodern take on Molly Whuppie. The author does an excellent job of creating a sense of foreboding and anxiety throughout.

Observing the Formalities by Neil Gaiman –the snubbed witch from Sleeping Beauty explains her motives.

The Cinderella Game by Kelly Link – For me this was the most disturbing and provocative of all the stories – modern day step-siblings left at home alone engage in a power struggle over their new roles.