Beyond the Woods

“A broad and varied collection . . . you will definitely find something to enjoy.”—Unicorn Ramblings. “Some of the best re-tellings of our favorite fairy tales in recent memory. These twists on old standards and adaptations breathe new life into these classic stories. You’ll find yourself lost in the pages of this book.”—Convergence Book Reviews

Once upon a time, the stories that came to be known as “fairy tales” were cultivated to entertain adults more than children; it was only later that they were tamed and pruned into less thorny versions intended for youngsters. But in truth, they have continued to prick the imaginations of readers at all ages.

Over the years, authors have often borrowed bits and pieces from these stories, grafting them into their own writing, creating literature with both new meaning and age-old significance. In the last few decades or so, they’ve also intentionally retold and reinvented the tales in a variety of ways—delightful or dark, wistful or wicked, sweet or satirical—that forge new trails through the forests of fantastic fiction.

This new anthology compiles some of the best modern fairy-tale retellings and reinventions from award-winning and bestselling authors, acclaimed storytellers, and exciting new talents, into an enchanting collection. Explore magical new realms by traveling with us, Beyond the Woods . . .

Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.

“Paula Guran has collected some of the best re-tellings of our favorite fairy tales in recent memory. These twists on old standards and adaptations breathe new life into these classic stories. You’ll find yourself lost in the pages of this book, and it will be well worth it when you come out on the other side.”—Convergence Book Reviews

“An interesting mix of fairy tales with horror and dread sprinkled through the stories. You won't think of your fondest fairy tales without remembering what these authors thought up! . . . Give this anthology a read”—Independent Online Booksellers Association

“Entertaining fairy tales for adults. . . . I liked it very, very much.”—Lump Lit

“A fairy tale landscape beyond the literary craft workshop . . . it’s about time that so-called “genre writers” claim their rightful place around the fairy tale fire. After all, fantasy and sci-fi owe much to the wonder of the fairy tale.”—Something to Read for the TrainM

“A broad and varied collection . . . you will definitely find something to enjoy.”—Unicorn Ramblings

“Exactly what it sets out to be - a compilation of fairy tales retold for the modern generation. . . . I would recommend this extremely long tome to anyone who is a fan of fairy tales and/or horror stories.”—ATSP