How will Doctor Who read your favorite fairy tales? Expect a twist. The Time And Relative Dimension In Space (TARDIS), which is simply a (fictional) time machine, revisits the Brothers Grimm's works. The original versions are too dark to be recommended for the young readers, and "Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairy Tales" won't be more wholesome than the original version. Justin Richards, the creative consultant behind the Doctor Who's books, would turn those fairy tales into a romp. The illustrations are loud and clear: Black and white. Let's cite Cinderella, who is an all-time classic character.
Everyone knows Cinderella's sob story, and how the glass slipper would become her shortcut to riches and true love. Richards is thinking of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Cinderella only wants to take part in a star-studded ball, but she doesn't have a clue that she will be thrust into a secret conspiracy. In other words, the Prince didn't come to the ball looking for a wife. Sarah Michelle Gellar, who would play Buffy. should fancy a fairy-tale episode of her hit TV show. Then again, the book comes out too late. Moreover, Richards likes to retain the romantic aspects of the fairy tale, and "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" is anything but romantic.
Let's look at the other entertaining stories:
Frozen Beauty. It's a mash-up of "Sleeping Beauty" and "Star Trek", where the captain is spared from a colony of Wirm grub. (These maggot-like creatures devour not just human flesh but also the brain, memories, and experiences.) A mash-up can be a tricky sub-genre, where the author must know his story well enough to be able to incorporate another sub-genre into the original material. The outcome can be a make-or-break case. In the case of "Frozen Beauty", Richards would describe every part of the spacecraft, which elicits suspense. It's not an easy thing to do, as it's about keeping it short and simple. (Less can be more.) Don't be surprised if BBC will consider a TV episode (or two).
The Garden of Stones. The ending here should divide readers; an elderly couple has a lovely garden, and they don't mind their neighbors' children playing there. As a matter of fact, they will give them sweets and lemon juice. (And the kids will show their appreciation.) The death of the couple will reveal a sinister side, where the statues of angels will remind some readers of the climactic scene of "Raiders of the Lost Ark"; Tarmin and Izmey have fond memories of their frolicking in the garden, so they couldn't resist revisiting the abandoned house. And this is where the guessing game starts. Did the two kids become too sentimental after that eerie encounter with the angels? They would become the new owners of the house. On the other hand, Richards's description of the angels leave little to the imagination. The house might be worse than Dante's Inferno, and it's a fate undeserving for two kids who want to recall their happy memories. It will be better to read it again.
Snow White and the Seven Keys to Doomsday. Richards's update on "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" would surprise fans of this fairy tale. Queen Salima wasn't envious of Snow White's beauty, but she craved for absolute power. King Drextor, Salima's predecessor, was unpopular and unloved as her. He built the Doomsday Machine to instill fear on his constituents. You may wonder where the mirror would come into the picture. Richards's twist provided the suspenseful, if not mind-bending, episode of this story. It would be unwise to close the book (or switch to another tale).
Richards's compilation also includes an update of Little Red Riding Hood (and the Big, Bad Wolf) and the shocking truth about the Gingerbread House. Find a copy of the book. NOW.
