Rating: 
Summary: Once upon a time fairy tales were for adults
Review: Many people don't realize that the fairy tales we grew up on were not always stories aimed at children. As is discussed in the forward of this book, the original fairy tales were frequently much darker and disturbing than the ones we are familiar with today. Sleeping Beauty, for example, is not brought awake by the chaste kiss of Prince Charming but rather the suckling of the twin babies she has born, having been impregnated by the less-than-charming prince while she slept. It was only during the Victorian period, when realism became the fashion, that these stories were relegated by men to the domain of women and children, being sanitized in the process so as not to upset the more delicate sensibilities. This anthology, along with its companion volumes, returns the fairy tale to its roots. In doing so it strikes a chord deep within us. The stories contained within are both familiar and strange at the same time. Because of this they are sometimes eerily disturbing, sometimes heart-wrenchingly poignant, always entertaining. The one drawback of this collection, as with any anthology, is that style and quality vary according to author. The good news is that most of these stories are very well written and if you run across one you don't like, you can always move on to the next. If you're looking for something enjoyable to read, you could do far worse than this collection. Overall I strongly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: More of the (great) same
Review: The good AND bad thing about Datlow's anthologies is that they sort of lack a common theme in the selection of stories. Thus with each book you're bound to find some items which fit your tastes and capture you, and some which you'll find absurdely boring or uninteresting just because of some old grudge against a particular character or theme. Having said this, if you're even remotely interested in "mature audiences" fairytales, you'd better go and get hold of this and the other titles in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Fairy Tales Rewritten
Review: This is the fourth anthology of Datlow and Windling's that I have read. If you've read any of the fairy tale anthologies and liked them, then you shouldn't be disappointed with this one. "Stronger Than Time" tells the story of "Sleeping Beauty" from an original perspective. "Godson" is a story about a young man whose "god"-father is Satan. "Sweet Bruising Skin" is an interesting and disturbing take on "The Princess and the Pea." With stories by Peter Straub, Roger Zelazny, Patricia C. Wrede and more, this is an anthology that's definitely worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Fairy Tales Rewritten
Review: This is the fourth anthology of Datlow and Windling's that I have read. If you've read any of the fairy tale anthologies and liked them, then you shouldn't be disappointed with this one. "Stronger Than Time" tells the story of "Sleeping Beauty" from an original perspective. "Godson" is a story about a young man whose "god"-father is Satan. "Sweet Bruising Skin" is an interesting and disturbing take on "The Princess and the Pea." With stories by Peter Straub, Roger Zelazny, Patricia C. Wrede and more, this is an anthology that's definitely worth the read.
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