Sunday Funnies: Death Be Not Ready

[Link] Six Retellings That Pull Apart Fairy Tales and Stitch Them Back Together in New and Wondrous Ways

by Bar Fridman-Tell

My love story with fairy tales—and with myths, their sometimes cousins, sometimes siblings, sometimes one and the same (depending on who you ask, and quite possibly the weather)—is long and convoluted. I was enthralled by them pretty much from the moment I learned to read, thanks to an early diet including Italo Calvino’s Italian Folktales, Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, and Lloyd Alexander’s The Chronicles of Prydain, and the fascination lasted throughout (and in many ways, shaped) my years at university.

And the older I got, the more fascinated I became by the way these stories change. Here is what I think: that change is essential to myths and fairy tales, an inherent quality that makes them what they are; and that the way they change functions as a mirror to us—revealing the assumptions that we take for granted, and the ones that no longer fit.

My favorite retellings are ones that take a well-known fairy tale, and unravel it just enough to look at the norms and expectations hiding beneath it, the system of values and morality that designates some characters as wicked and others as good, and—perhaps most of all—dictates what a happy ending looks like.

These are six books that do exactly that: take a fairy tale and pull one thread loose, to see what happens next, or tip the story on its side and see what new shape emerges. Coupled with lush, magnificent writing, these stories stitched themselves into my heart—making me smile and cry and, most importantly, question—and forever changing the way I see each of the fairy tales they retell.

Read the full article: https://lithub.com/six-retellings-that-pull-apart-fairy-tales-and-stitch-them-back-together-in-new-and-wondrous-ways/

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTION PRESENTS UNDER A CROOKED STAR

In the far distant future, Neroy Sphinx is a professional thief operating on Old Earth. He keeps alive by taking on dangerous jobs for various mob bosses and then drinks his profits away in local dive bars. Neroy is missing ten years from his life. What he recalls is being out among the outer worlds when a galactic catastrophe of unknown origin destroyed many of the transfer wormholes forever cutting off entire colony planets from the mother world. Neroy survived, but without his memories of his life or experiences prior to the event.

Back on Earth, he begins having flashback images in his mind of something he sees as a wall of Black Glass. Instinct tells him behind that barrier he will find his past. Obsessed with finding the answers, Neroy escapes a sadistic gang leader and flees on the first off-world shuttle. Thus, he begins his journey back to the ice world where he first regained his consciousness. Along the way, he senses that his personal quest is somehow connected with the cataclysmic wormhole destruction. But if so, how? And if he is successful in regaining his lost years, what horrors will they relive?

Writer Daniel Whiston whips an old fashion sci-fi adventure wonderfully illustrated by artist David Thomson who also delivers a beautiful color cover. “Reminds me of those old Ace Paperbacks,” says Airship 27 Managing Editor Ron Fortier. “This is fun sci-fi with great characters.”

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTION – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERATION!

Available now at Amazon and on Kindle.

Sunday Funnies: Times Are Bad

[Link] 10 Must-Read Books That Reimagine Characters and Stories From Classic Literature

by Nicole Briese

These modern retellings breathe new life into our all-time favorites by Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, and more.

We’re all for a good classic novel. The literary canon has stood the test of time for a reason, after all. Undoubtedly, their prose and powerful stories have resonated with and influenced readers and writers alike for over a century. But beyond putting their stamp on the craft, some classics have inspired authors so much so that they've given contemporary updates to well-loved books.

The best books that reimagine iconic novels take a story from one of the all-time greats, from Jane Austen to Emily Brontë, and retell it in a modernized setting, from another character's perspective, or update the tale with a unique, inspired spin. Essentially, these recent hits and cult favorites scratch the itch for the traditional while stimulating your mind in a whole new way.

So, whether you wish the books you read in high school could be seen through a feminist lens, or you were able to spend more time with the subsidiary characters, these reimagined classics deserve to be on your bookshelf. Here's which ones to read (after you've devoured the originals, of course).

Read the full article: https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/books/best-literary-classic-retellings-books/

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTION PRESENTS CALIFORNIA WOLVES

A Bigfoot P.I. Novel by Michael Panush

Arlo Patches is a bigfoot private investigator living in the Northern California community of Sarsaparilla Springs. His brother is the town sheriff. When a well-known environmentalist goes missing in the surrounding woods, he’s hired to find her. Talk in the area is that the government is looking to reintroduce wolves into the county, and the woman’s disappearance may be connected.

As he begins to investigate, along with the help of a few Florida skunk apes, Arlo finds himself caught up in a brewing confrontation between animal lovers and local ranchers who see the wolves as a threat to their livelihood. He suspects outside forces are manipulating both sides, and unless he can uncover their motives, the woods may soon be filled with sounds of bloody combat.

Writer Michael Panush weaves a truly original adventure in which fantasy and reality merge to the delight of pulp readers. Award-winning artist James Lyle provides cover and interior illustrations.

AIRSHIP 27 PRODUCTION – PULP FICTION FOR A NEW GENERATION!

Available now in paperback from Amazon and soon on Kindle.

Stellar Fest Panels *Updated with Locations and Times*

 

Come and visit me and so many other fantastic folks at Stellar Fest from April 24–26, 2026, at Sonest Gwinnett Place in Duluth, Ga. While there, I'll be taking part in the following panels.

Saturday, April 25

Old Time Radio... On the Spot

Panelists and those who come to enjoy the panel will be assigned roles for an old-time radio drama. Nobody except me will know what that drama script is. Fun ensues, particularly because a lot of things are now double entendres. 

Saturday 1:00pm – Deep Space Diversions

Blood in the Gut: Visceral Fiction 

Panel discussion on how to make your writing engage the guts and not just the brain.

Saturday 3:00pm – Literature/Science Track

Creative Cussing and Other Writing Hacks 

A panel discussion on ways to write better swearing so the reader doesn't get buried in f-bombs but does get quotable sass. Samples provided. 

Saturday 4:00pm – Literature/Science Track

40 Years of Howard the Duck

Forty years ago, the genius behind Star Wars gave us something SO BOLD that many audiences just couldn't handle the awesomeness. If you love Howard the Duck, come join us as we look back at Quack Fu, Dark Overlords, and love conquering all like no one had ever seen before. If you're a hater, you're welcome too, but be warned: you might walk out a changed person!

Saturday 5:00pm – Other Worlds One

Sunday, April 26

Self-Publishing and Writing: Horror Stories 

Panelists will describe the writing, editing, and publishing processes along with mistakes that almost got published as self-published authors. The audience will be encouraged to contribute things they’ve read that horrified them. 

Sunday 10:00am – Literature/Science Track

Old Time Radio... ReRun

So much fun, we're doing a second day! Panelists and those who come to enjoy the panel will be assigned roles for an old-time radio drama. Nobody except me will know what that drama script is. Fun ensues, particularly because a lot of things are now double entendres. 

Sunday 12:00pm – Deep Space Diversions