The Wicked Wood gathered by Isobelle Carmody and Nan McNab
Tales from the Tower: Volume 2. Allen and Unwin 2011. ISBN
9781742374413.
(Ages: 15+) Highly recommended. The Wicked Wood accompanies
The Wilful Eye; both volumes described as collections of
'tales of enchantment from six writers of modern fantasy'. Most
striking, at first glance, are the covers designed by Zoe
Sadokierski. With the books placed alongside each other, the hands
of two rather amazing winged female creatures meet, giving the
collection unity and continuity. A valuable introduction by Nan
McNab begins the journey for the reader and each of the contributors
is given space at the conclusion of their particular story to
explain its origin. Fairy tales carry great insights into everyday
life and the same stories are told the world over. Analysing these
tales can be a fascinating exercise and having new interpretations
of well-known stories presented in this way makes for interesting
and memorable reading. The length of each story differs, as does the
familiarity of its plot. Each of the stories stands alone well, with
a link to a traditional fairy tale being somewhat more obvious with
some than with others. All are exciting tales of fiction, full of
mystery and imagination. As with the previous volume, most stories
in this collection will be of interest to the teenage reader with
some obviously referring to more adult themes. Of interest, too, are
the various writing styles of each of the chosen authors, and how
they choose to retell their tale. This collection is highly
recommended.
Julie Wells