Naomi de Bruyn penned this review.
Tanith Lee is one of the grand masters of the fantasy and horror genres; she has done for these genres what Andre Norton did for science fiction and fantasy. And oddly enough, both are as ambiguously androgynous by name although the general consensus would probably be that they are men. I am not certain if allowing such assumptions was the necessity for Tanith that it was for Andre, not that it would matter. With sixty-seven books already published, it is immaterial at this point in time. Tanith’s craftsmanship is unmistakable, smooth prose flowing strongly like a mountain stream during spring thaw. Her well-thought-out plot lines and attention to consistency and detail combine to deliver great reading experiences, again and again. You can envision the tale easily, and get caught up before you are aware of it.
According to the information at Tanith’s Web site, she has been working hard, and the seeming lack of new material is due to the publishers and not her. She is “still producing 2-3 new novels every year, plus dozens of short stories.” Many of her books are out of print, which means you may have to go hunting for the older ones, but they are worth it. Perhaps the best known of Tanith’s works is The Secret Books of Paradys 1 & 2.’ Although with the numerous titles, it is really difficult to say for certain; it could also be the ‘Birthgrave Trilogy.’
White as Snow is by no means Tanith’s first delving into retelling fairy tales for the adult reader. Red as Blood, or Tales from the Sisters Grimmer is a collection of short stories and within its covers are a number of reworked tales that are enjoyable reading, but not for the children! They are dark and from perspectives which highlight the formidable imagination of this mistress of dark fantasy. ‘Forests of the Night’ is another collection of her adult stories, and equally enjoyable.
This particular series, ‘The Fairy Tale Series’ was created by Terri Windling, and is a growing collection of novels written by acclaimed writers of fantasy and horror. Each of them retells a classic fairy tale from a new perspective, sometimes horrifying, sometimes allowing us to feel sympathy for the character we previously hated for being so evil. Among the writers so far are Stephen Brust, Charles de Lint, Karen Dalkey, Patricia C. Wrede, Pamela Dean, and Jane Yolen. Included in ‘White as Snow’ is a rather informative introduction by Terri Windling, which gives one pause to think about the origins of ‘Snow White,’ as well as other fairy tales in general.
Tanith Lee’s White as Snow is the next instalment of this series and a chance for her to tell her version of an old favourite, ‘Snow White.’ However, in this particularly compelling rendering not all is as it seems. When Arpazia’s entire world shatters about her she becomes the ice-hearted queen, and when later she gives birth to that which she called upon — “black as wood, white as snow, red as blood…” she doesn’t want the child. This child was conceived in a violent and unseemly manner, and means nothing to Arpazia. Poor little Coira must grow up in a loveless, cold and uninviting environment, until the gods of the forest folk lure them both into the woods. The changes wrought that night are something you shall have to find out for yourself, and you will be glad that you did.
(TOR, 2000)
