1001 Nights of Snowfall
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1001 Nights of Snowfall is an hardcover, original graphic novel that is prequel to Fables by series creator Bill Willingham. In the story Snow White has been sent to negotiate with the Arabian fables. The sultan, considering it an insult that a woman was sent to negotiate, holds her hostage. Snow White tells him a story every night to keep him from beheading her.
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[edit] Plot
This tale is set in the 1800s, in the early days of Fabletown, when Snow White was sent as an envoy to the lands of the Arabian Fables. But the Arabian Fables are actually offended that a woman would be sent to negotiate. When she catches the eye of the sultan, Snow finds herself filling the unenviable role of the legendary Arabian Fable Scheherazade, the teller of the original Thousand and One Arabian Nights tales. Snow has to amuse the Sultan with tales of wonder and imagination every night - for a thousand and one nights - to keep her head off of the chopping block. We see the stories as Snow tells them in a framing sequence similar to the original. Running the gamut from horror to dark intrigue to mercurial coming-of-age, it reveals the secret histories of familiar characters through a series of compelling and visually illustrative tales.
We'll find out what happened with the seven dwarves and why Snow doesn't allow any mention of them. Prince Charming plays a vital role in one of the stories, including a few solid hints on why he is the way he is when the series opened. How did the North Wind meet Bigby's mother and become the father of a Big Bad Wolf? What turned Frau Totenkinder into a wicked witch? What was the incident that caused Fabletown to elect King Cole as their mayor and keep him in that job for hundreds of years?
[edit] Tales
The ten stories, in order:
[edit] 1) A Most Troublesome Woman
Penciled by Michael Wm. Kaluta, inked and painted by Charles Vess. It's the framing story, text with illustrations, like a lavishly illustrated old time storybook. Nineteen pages, seven of which are full splash pages.
[edit] 2) The Fencing Lessons
Painted by John Bolton. It's the longest story, 32 or 33 pages. This is the one that illustrates the first few days of Snow's and Prince Charmings married life as well as just what Snow's problem with the dwarves is - and it's not pretty. This story further explains where Snow's and Charmings marriage may have gone wrong.
[edit] 3) The Christmas Pies
Painted by Mark Buckingham. Fourteen pages, focuses on Reynard.
[edit] 4) A Frog's Eye View
Painted by James Jean. Eight pages. It concerns Flycatcher's last days in the Homelands -- and tells why he got out and his wife and children didn't.
[edit] 5) The Runt
Painted by Mark Wheatley. Thirteen pages long. It's described as a 'dire tale' and focuses on Bigby's Mother,Winter, and the North Wind. It also gives us a glimpse of some of Bigby's past, prior to his reformation.
[edit] 6) A Mother's Love
Painted by Derek Kirk Kim. A three-page tale, short and nasty and about rabbits.
[edit] 7) Diaspora
Illustrated by Tara McPherson. Fourteen pages long, revolves around Snow, Rose and Frau Totenkinder, and includes our first visual look at Snow and Bigby's first meeting. Contains another story within it called. . .
[edit] 8) The Witch's Tale
Painted by Esao Andrews tells us the background of Frau Totenkinder and her connections to other fables.
[edit] 9) What You Wish For
Illustrated Brian Bolland. Two pages. A very short, cautionary tale.
[edit] 10) Fair Division
Painted by Jill Thompson. It's about King Cole, but the Mean Little Sunflower Kid makes an appearance.
