How to Fracture a Fairy Tale Read online

  Praise for How to Fracture a Fairy Tale

  “This collection is Jane Yolen at her best, telling stories you’ve never seen before but have known all your life, and stories as familiar as your left hand that you barely recognize, spun from shadows and moonlight and breathed through silvered glass. This is magic.”

  —Patricia C. Wrede, author of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles

  “Yolen’s deftly-flowing prose highlights each unique perspective or imaginative speculation. Her tales, once fractured, don’t splinter—they sparkle.”

  —Alex Flinn, author of Beastly and Beheld

  “A master storyteller at her best. I’ve been a fan of Jane Yolen and fractured fairytales for years and this collection doesn’t disappoint.”

  —Chanda Hahn, author of Reign (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale)

  “How to Fracture a Fairy Tale is a fascinating exploration of how old stories we all think we know can become fresh and new and stunning in the hands of the masterful Jane Yolen. So many of Yolen’s stories here are like origami—with expert snips and twists and turns, she transforms the ordinary into fantastic art. This book can be read just for sheer pleasure or as a study for other writers in what is possible.”

  —Margaret Peterson Haddix, author of The Missing series and The Shadow Children series

  “Ever the master storyteller, Jane Yolen weaves and spins and fractures her way through a far-ranging, culturally diverse array of fairy-tales. Ranging from the comic (various famous fairy tale wolves kvetching in an Old Wolves Home) to the disturbing (a take on Cinderella involving incest) to the poetic (a lovely version of the Native American tale ‘The Woman Who Loved a Bear’), each tale is a finely crafted gemstone. Readers will be filled with wonder and delight, pain and joy, and may even be inspired to try their own hand at fracturing a fairy tale. I particularly loved Yolen’s explanatory ‘How I Fractured These Stories’ section at the end, identifying the origin tale, each one accompanied by a luminous poem.”

  —Edith Pattou, author of West and East

  Praise for Jane Yolen

  “One of the treasures of the science-fiction community.”

  —Brandon Sanderson, author of Mistborn

  “There is simply no better storyteller working in the fantasy field today. She’s a national treasure.”

  —Terri Windling, author of The Wood Wife

  “The Aesop of the twentieth century.”

  —New York Times

  “Jane Yolen is a gem in the diadem of science fiction and fantasy.”

  —Analog

  “The Hans Christian Andersen of America.”

  —Newsweek

  Praise for The Emerald Circus

  “Jane Yolen facets her glittering stories with the craft of a master jeweller. Everything she writes, including The Emerald Circus, is original and timeless, deliciously creepy and disturbingly lovely.”

  —Elizabeth Wein, author of Code Name Verity

  “Jane Yolen’s The Emerald Circus is full of marvels. She turns toads into witches, Sir Lancelot into a 600-year-old monk, Dorothy into a tightrope walker, and Emily Dickinson into a spacefarer. From Snow Queen to spaceship, The Emerald Circus is a delight.”

  —Patricia A. McKillip, author of The Riddle-Master of Hed

  “[Starred] These delightful retellings of favorite stories will captivate newcomers and fans of Yolen as she once again delivers the magic, humor, and lovely prose that has attracted readers for years.”

  —Library Journal, starred review

  “[Starred] These highly entertaining retellings are perfect for teen fans of fairy tales and classic literature, though they are easily enjoyed without any background knowledge.”

  —School Library Journal, starred review

  “[Starred] The Emerald Circus dances at the border between bucking tradition and paying homage to the great stories and figures of ages past. The result is a brilliant assemblage of narratives with the potential to leave an audience spellbound.”

  —Foreword, starred review

  “Ever the wordsmith, Yolen dazzles with her first short story collection for adults in years.”

  —Booklist

  “Jane Yolen is a consummate storyteller, weaving old and new threads to create tales rich in wisdom and depth. The Emerald Circus is an utter delight.”

  —Juliet Marillier, award-winning author of the Sevenwaters series

  “Jane Yolen’s collection The Emerald Circus is pure delight for anyone who craves inspired retellings of classics from literature, or re-imaginings of the lives of real literary figures. 5/5 stars.”

  —YA Books Central

  Also by Jane Yolen

  Novels

  The Wizard of Washington Square (1969)

  Hobo Toad and the Motorcycle Gang (1970)

  The Magic Three of Solatia (1974)

  The Transfigured Hart (1975)

  The Mermaid’s Three Wisdoms (1978)

  The Acorn Quest (1981)

  The Stone Silenus (1984)

  Cards of Grief (1985)

  The Devil’s Arithmetic (1988)

  The Dragon’s Boy (1990)

  Wizard’s Hall (1991)

  Briar Rose (1992)

  The Wild Hunt (1995)

  The Sea Man (1997)

  Boots and the Seven Leaguers (2000)

  Sword of the Rightful King (2003)

  The Young Merlin Trilogy: Passager, Hobby, and Merlin (2004)

  Except the Queen (with Midori Snyder, 2010)

  Snow in Summer (2011)

  Curse of the Thirteenth Fey (2012)

  Centaur Rising (2014)

  A Plague of Unicorns (2014)

  Trash Mountain (2015) Mapping the Bones (2018)

  Finding Baba Yaga (verse novel, 2018)

  Magic Three of Solatia (TBD)

  The Pit Dragons Chronicles

  Dragon’s Blood (1982)

  Heart’s Blood (1984)

  A Sending of Dragons (1987)

  Dragon’s Heart (2009)

  Great Alta Books

  Sister Light, Sister Dark (1989)

  White Jenna (1989)

  The One-Armed Queen (1998)

  Tartan Magic Series

  The Wizard’s Map (1999)

  The Pictish Child (1999)

  The Bagpiper’s Ghost (2002)

  Rock & Roll Fairy Tales

  Pay the Piper (with Adam Stemple, 2005)

  Troll Bridge (with Adam Stemple, 2006)

  B. U. G. (Big Ugly Guy) (with Adam Stemple, 2013)

  Young Heroes Series

  Odysseus in the Serpent Maze (with Robert J. Harris, 2001)

  Hippolyta and the Curse of the Amazon (with Robert J. Harris, 2002)

  Atalanta and the Arcadian Beast (with Robert J. Harris 2003)

  Jason and the Gorgon’s Blood (with Robert J. Harris, 2004)

  The Seelie Wars Trilogy

  The Hostage Prince (with Adam Stemple, 2013)

  The Last Changeling (with Adam Stemple, 2014)

  The Seelie King’s War (with Adam Stemple, 2016)

  Collections

  The Girl Who Cried Flowers and Other Tales (1974)

  The Moon Ribbon (1976)

  The Hundredth Dove and Other Tales (1977)

  Dream Weaver (1979)

  Neptune Rising: Songs and Tales of the Undersea People (1982)

  Tales of Wonder (1983)

  The Whitethorn Wood and Other Magicks (1984)

  Dragonfield and Other Stories (1985)

  Merlin’s Booke (1986)

  The Faery Flag (1989)

  Storyteller (1992)

  Here There Be Dragons (1993)

  Here There Be Unicorns (1994)

  Here There Be Witches (19
95)

  Among Angels (with Nancy Willard, 1995)

  Here There Be Angels (1996)

  Here There Be Ghosts (1998)

  Twelve Impossible Things Before Breakfast (1997)

  Sister Emily’s Lightship and Other Stories (2000)

  Not One Damsel in Distress (2000)

  Mightier Than the Sword (2003)

  Once Upon A Time (She Said) (2005)

  The Last Selchie Child (2012)

  Grumbles from the Forest: Fairy-Tales Voices with a Twist (with Rebecca Kai Dotlich, 2013)

  The Emerald Circus (2017)

  Graphic Novels

  Foiled (2010)

  The Last Dragon (2011)

  Curses! Foiled Again (2013)

  Stone Man Mysteries (with Adam Stemple): Stone Cold (2016) Sanctuary (2018)

  How To Fracture a Fairy Tale

  Jane Yolen

  tachyon | san francisco

  How to Fracture a Fairy Tale

  Copyright © 2018 by Jane Yolen

  This is a collected work of fiction. All events portrayed in this book are fictitious and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form without the express permission of the publisher.

  Introduction copyright © 2018 by Marissa Meyer

  “How to Fracture a Fairy Tale” copyright © 2018 by Jane Yolen

  Interior and cover design by Elizabeth Story

  Pages at the back constitute an extension of this copyright page

  Tachyon Publications LLC

  1459 18th Street #139

  San Francisco, CA 94107

  415.285.5615

  www.tachyonpublications.com

  [email protected]

  Series Editor: Jacob Weisman

  Project Editor: Jill Roberts

  Print ISBN: 978-1-61696-306-4

  Digital ISBN: 978-1-61696-307-1

  First Edition: 2018

  Introduction by Marissa Meyer

  “How to Fracture a Fairy Tale” by Jane Yolen

  Snow in Summer

  The Bridge’s Complaint

  The Moon Ribbon

  Godmother Death

  Happy Dens or A Day in the Old Wolves’ Home

  Granny Rumple

  One Ox, Two Ox, Three Ox, and the Dragon King

  Brother Hart

  Sun/Flight

  Slipping Sideways Through Eternity

  The Foxwife

  The Faery Flag

  One Old Man, with Seals

  Sleeping Ugly

  The Undine

  Great-Grandfather Dragon’s Tale

  Green Plague

  The Unicorn and the Pool

  The Golden Balls

  Sister Death

  Sule Skerry

  Once a Good Man

  Allerleirauh

  The Gwynhfar

  Cinder Elephant

  Mama Gone

  The Woman Who Loved a Bear

  Wrestling with Angels

  How I Fractured These Stories: Notes and Poems

  How to Fracture a Fairy Tale / “The Thing About Fairy Tales”

  Snow in Summer / “Prince Ever After”

  The Bridge’s Complaint / “Troll Maiden on the Bridge”

  The Moon Ribbon / “Learning from Those Other Princesses”

  Godmother Death / “Stone Hand in Stone Hand: Norvelt Cemetery”

  Happy Dens or A Day in the Old Wolves’ Home / “Once Upon A Wolf”

  Granny Rumple / “Spinning Straw”

  One Ox, Two Ox, Three Ox, and the Dragon King / “‘Story,’ the Old Man Said,”

  Brother Hart / “Green Children”

  Sun/Flight / “Icarus Fall”

  Slipping Sideways Through Eternity / “Ovens”

  The Foxwife / “Foxwife”

  The Faery Flag / “Carrying the Flag of Faery”

  One Old Man, with Seals / “On Meeting a God”

  Sleeping Ugly / “Old Woman by the Well”

  The Undine / “Warning from the Undine”

  Great-Grandfather Dragon’s Tale / “St. George’s Sword and Word”

  Green Plague / “To Be Paid”

  The Unicorn and the Pool / “Rhinoceros”

  The Golden Balls / “Frog Meet Princess”

  Sister Death / “The Keening Woman”

  Sule Skerry / “When I Was a Selchie”

  Once a Good Man / “What Do We Need of Heaven”

  Allerleirauh / “Cinderella in the Ashes”

  The Gwynhfar / “Not That Princess”

  Cinder Elephant / “Fat Is Not a Fairy Tale”

  Mama Gone / “The Vampire Regrets”

  The Woman Who Loved a Bear / “Marrying the Bear”

  Wrestling with Angels / “Jacob’s Regret”

  Introduction

  Marissa Meyer

  ONE OF THE FASCINATING things about fairy tales that has captured countless imaginations is the breadth of possibility these stories have to offer. We may think we know a particular tale—from Grimm, Andersen, or even Disney—but once we start to uncover its sweeping history, we learn that there is so much more to it than a beautiful princess, a mean stepmother, or a happily ever after. There is a history of tales told and retold that spans centuries—even millennia—and reaches to all corners of the globe. To trace that history reveals just how much the stories have been changed with time . . . and also, interestingly, how much they have stayed the same.

  And that doesn’t even begin to touch on the library of fairy tale retellings and fractured legends that have been amassed from an endless array of contemporary storytellers, of which Jane Yolen is, of course, one of the most beloved. This collection of her works clearly exemplifies why Yolen has been called a modern-day Hans Christian Andersen.

  In the pages that follow, Yolen demonstrates the vast potential contained within these classic tales. Nothing is sacred. Everything can be altered according to a writer’s whims and imagination—the time period, the location, the protagonist, the point of view . . . even the ever after bit, whether happily or otherwise. Fairy tales are a living thing. They are meant to be adapted for each new generation. They are meant to grow and morph along with their tellers and their listeners (who are sometimes children . . . but certainly not always). These modified versions of the familiar are sometimes dark and haunting, sometimes witty and satirical, but always as universal and worthy of telling as any of their predecessors.

  With their basis in well-known fairy tales, legends, and myths, the stories contained here are familiar, but only to a point. Some have been altered in ways that are subtle, yet profound. Others have been smashed into pieces and glued back together. They have been reimagined, reworked, and, now, retold.

  The result?

  Poetry. Wishes. Heartache. Dreams.

  And oh yes, a few nightmares, too.

  Expect to be greeted with characters that are both well-known and forgotten, and more often than not, changed, as in the case of a wolf who fights for animal welfare, and a modern-day pied piper in a small tourist town. Prepare to have your long-held opinions put to the test, as with a sleeping princess with a cruel heart, or even Death herself, whose own tragedies are as poignant as they are sympathetic. You might even meet a character who is exactly what you wanted them to be, all this time, as was the case for me when I read the story of the plump Cinderella and her awkward prince (to which the plump teenager of my past gave a resounding cheer—finally!).

  In the course of all that, you will be transported.

  To a rookery off the shores of Scotland and a temple off the coast of Japan and even World War II concentration camps—as horrific and cruel in these altered tales as any historical account. You will be swept away to caves at the tops of mountains and grottos beneath the sea. To castles and palaces and, naturally, a few cottages in the woods. Though the stories found inside those unassuming walls may not be the stories of your
childhood. For these are stories of lust, betrayal, and sorrow, as much as they are of love, longing, and magic. These are stories that have been mined from a wealth of traditions, chiseled and polished to once again reveal their universal truths, and—ultimately—fractured.

  —Marissa Meyer

  Tacoma, Washington, 2018

  How to Fracture a Fairy Tale

  A FRACTURE IS A BREAK, usually in the bone, but also can mean a crack in the earth, an interruption of the norm. It can be a fault line, a fissure, a split, breach, disruption, splintering, fissure—oh, and a breakup. It sounds explosive, can hurt like a sprain or reveal like a geode being split apart to show the jewels within. As a writer, I find all those possibilities both fascinating and freeing. As a fairy tale writer, it means I can have fun with old stories, breaking them open to pull out the insides, reveal them to the light, and make prophesies, aka stories. A combination of academic, Aztec priest, griot, seeress, and hardworking author. These old stories, from way back in human history, have already been told and retold in many different ways. They are guised and disguised. Of course, when a writer or storyteller rewrites and refines them for the world we now live in, magic happens. Sometimes the fracture reveals beauty, sometimes suppurating flesh. Sometimes it causes an itch or discloses a deep wound. Sometimes it makes the reader gasp or laugh, or give a fist bump to other readers. Sometimes that fracture makes a difference in a life.

  As a teacher of writing, I also ask—how does a writer fracture a fairy tale? Use a bludgeon? Sometimes. A scalpel—other times. Or a good sensible piece of dark chocolate to tease out the meanings—also good. But first read the old story in as many incarnations as you can. Because, honestly, you may already be reading one that has been seriously fractured in just the way you’d planned.