Snow, Glass, Apples
Encyclopedia
"Snow, Glass, Apples" is a 1994 short story
written by Neil Gaiman
. It was originally released as a benefit book for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
and was reprinted in the anthology Love in Vein II, edited by Poppy Z. Brite
.
of Snow White
from the point of view of Snow White's stepmother, who is traditionally the villain of the piece but is here depicted as struggling desperately — and ultimately, unsuccessfully, as the "happy ending" takes place on schedule — to save the kingdom from her unnatural and monstrous stepdaughter.
The story incorporates themes of vampirism, incest
, pedophilia
, and necrophilia
.
.
It was adapted by the author into an audio drama, which was produced by Seeing Ear Theatre in 2001, starring Bebe Neuwirth
. This was the second of two collaborations between Gaiman and Seeing Ear Theatre, following Murder Mysteries
, and the two adaptations have been released together on CD under the title Two Plays for Voices
.
, found in the 1983 story collection Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer
.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
written by Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
. It was originally released as a benefit book for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a United States non-profit organization created in 1986 to protect the First Amendment rights of comics creators, publishers, and retailers covering legal expenses....
and was reprinted in the anthology Love in Vein II, edited by Poppy Z. Brite
Poppy Z. Brite
Poppy Z. Brite is an American author. Brite initially achieved notoriety in the gothic horror genre of literature in the early 1990s after publishing a string of successful novels and short story collections...
.
Plot
The story retells the famous fairy taleFairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
of Snow White
Snow White
"Snow White" is a fairy tale known from many countries in Europe, the best known version being the German one collected by the Brothers Grimm...
from the point of view of Snow White's stepmother, who is traditionally the villain of the piece but is here depicted as struggling desperately — and ultimately, unsuccessfully, as the "happy ending" takes place on schedule — to save the kingdom from her unnatural and monstrous stepdaughter.
The story incorporates themes of vampirism, incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
, pedophilia
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
, and necrophilia
Necrophilia
Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia or necrolagnia, is the sexual attraction to corpses,It is classified as a paraphilia by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association. The word is artificially derived from the ancient Greek words: νεκρός and φιλία...
.
Publication
"Snow, Glass, Apples" is included in Gaiman's collection, Smoke and MirrorsSmoke and Mirrors (book)
Smoke and Mirrors: Short Fictions and Illusions is a collection of short stories and poems by Neil Gaiman. It was first published in the US in 1998, and in the UK in 1999....
.
It was adapted by the author into an audio drama, which was produced by Seeing Ear Theatre in 2001, starring Bebe Neuwirth
Bebe Neuwirth
Beatrice "Bebe" Neuwirth is an American actress, singer and dancer. She has worked in television and is known for her portrayal of Dr. Lilith Sternin, Dr. Frasier Crane's wife , on both the TV sitcom Cheers , and its spin-off Frasier...
. This was the second of two collaborations between Gaiman and Seeing Ear Theatre, following Murder Mysteries
Murder Mysteries
"Murder Mysteries" is a fantasy short story by Neil Gaiman later collected in his collection Smoke and Mirrors. The bulk of the story is an account of the first murder in the history of the universe, before even Cain and Abel, recounted in first-person hardboiled detective fiction style by Raguel,...
, and the two adaptations have been released together on CD under the title Two Plays for Voices
Two Plays for Voices
Two Plays for Voices is a sound recording of two of Neil Gaiman's short stories, "Snow, Glass, Apples" and "Murder Mysteries"."Snow, Glass, Apples" relates the traditional tale of Snow White from the non-traditional point of view of the Queen. In the story, no character is without their flaws,...
.
See also
Another revisionist take on the story of Snow White as a tale of vampirism can be found in the short story "Red as Blood" by Tanith LeeTanith Lee
Tanith Lee is a British writer of science fiction, horror and fantasy. She is the author of over 70 novels and 250 short stories, a children's picture book and many poems. She also wrote two episodes of BBC science fiction series Blake's 7...
, found in the 1983 story collection Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer
Red As Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer
Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer is a short story collection of dark fantasy retellings of popular fairytales by British author Tanith Lee. Contrary to what the title may suggest, it not only includes retellings of fairytales by the Brothers Grimm, but also by Charles Perrault,...
.