Fairy tales have been around for centuries, and many storytellers have used them as a template for their own visions, with varying and contrasting intentions, from the sinister nature of the Brothers Grimm stories to the sweetness of a Walt Disney animated feature. Horror writer Paul Kane is the latest do to this, putting a frightening spin on five of these well-known stories, offering twists and turns that may surprise even the most cynical reader.
An introduction by Angela Slatter sets the scene, providing atmosphere and whetting the appetite for what’s to come. Right from the start, Kane doesn’t mess about. His prose is straight and direct, throwing us into the world of each story, quickly defining characters with deft skill before cracking on. While some of the stories rattle along at a speedy pace, he never loses sight of who these people are or their motivations; Kane ensures we care for these characters, and they are never lost or warped simply for the purposes of the plot. The titles themselves are a giveaway as to which fairy tale is being made scary, but there’s great fun to be had in the knowledge that certain characters will make an appearance. In Kane’s hands, they’re not what readers may expect; we’ll meet seven miners, for instance, who are far from Dopey and Bashful…
All bar one of these stories have been published before, but are collected together here for the first time. The standard is consistently high, meaning it would be difficult to pick a favourite, but special mention should go to the tale based on Sleeping Beauty, which never sacrifices character for plot, despite its intense pace. It’s a shame this isn’t longer as it would make a great novel, but perhaps leaving the reader wanting more – thanks to an enigmatic ending – is the author’s intention.
Overall, this is a fantastic collection with every story fulfilling its potential and breathing new life into the familiar by making it strange and unsettling. We certainly won’t look at Cinderella in the same way again…
KANE’S SCARY TALES VOLUME 1 / AUTHOR: PAUL KANE / PUBLISHER: THINGS IN THE WELL / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
