Cover art by Ruth Sanderson

Snow White Learns Witchcraft

by Theodora Goss

Introduction by Jane Yolen

Available now!

ISBN 978-1-7326440-0-7 | $15.95 | 224 pages

 

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On Feb. 5, Mythic Delirium Books proudly unveiled the new collection of stories and poetry from World Fantasy Award, Locus Award and Rhysling Award winner Theodora Goss, author of the acclaimed Victorian fantasy novels The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter and European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman.

I’m a little bit late making this announcement, but I hardly needed to worry, as the fanfare Goss’s book has generated has been (on our scale) off the charts!

It started late December with a starred review in Publishers Weekly:

Goss takes obvious delight in reweaving classic European folk tales to reveal new, often deeply feminist, perspectives . . . This toothsome collection is best read in one go.

In January, Tor.com published “Conversations with the Sea Witch,” an original story Goss wrote for the collection, in its entirety. Read Conversations with the Sea Witch” here.

In the afternoons, they wheel her out on the balcony overlooking the sea. They place her chair by the balustrade. Once there, the queen dowager waves her hand. “Leave me,” she says, in a commanding voice. Then, in the shrill tones of an old woman, “Go away, go away, damn you. I want to be alone.”

They, who have been trained almost from birth to obey, leave her, bowing or curtseying as they go. After all, what harm can come to her, an old woman, a cripple? They do not call her that, of course. One does not call a queen dowager such things. But their mothers and fathers called her that long ago, when she was first found half-drowned on the sea shore—the crippled girl.

Then things picked up in earnest on the first of February (my birthday(!!!)) as the book appeared on several “highlight of the month” lists:

The Verge: 8 new science fiction and fantasy books to check out in early February

I loved Theodora Goss’ debut novel . . . Goss is also an accomplished writer of short fiction and poetry, and this month, she’s publishing a collection of her fairy tale-inspired stories, in which a young woman looks for her missing shadow, a sea witch explains why she stole a mermaid’s voice, and an alternate Snow White tries to retell her story.

io9: 37 New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books to Keep You Warm This February

The World Fantasy Award winner shares a new collection of poems and stories inspired by classic fairy tales but reworked with an eye toward empowering their female characters.

And then release day brought a burst of reviews! From the Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog:

Snow White Learns Witchcraft is one to savor. . . . Revisionist fairy tales are as common as apples, but by virtue of their clever twisting of legends and their artful prose, Goss’s additions to the bushel are revealed as bright and glistening as rubies.

And from Little Red Reviewer:

I am still trying to figure out how Goss crammed so much top notch story telling into this slender little book of just over 200 pages . . . This is one you want to savor and slowly dip into, enjoying the beautiful prose that will greet you on every page.

And here’s Radioactive Book Reviews:

If you’re into imaginative short stories that give a new take on old fairy tales, than this is the book you need to pick up next.

And Hugo Award-nominated writer Liz Bourke reviewed Snow White Learns Witchcraft for Tor.com.

Goss’s shorter work, collected here in a new volume, aren’t just good: they’re a revelation . . . Goss’s spare, elegiac lines carry a weight of emotion and nuance . . . all eight of the short stories in this volume are exquisite pieces of work . . . I enjoyed the whole collection. It’s well worth checking out.

It all adds up to a pretty spectacular opening bow! I’m confident there’s plenty more to come.

#SFWApro