Once Upon a Fable

Humans and talking animals share a range of struggles in these dry but imaginative fables from Robinson (Sister Sorrow, Sister Joy). The bittersweet “Leave Her to Heaven” focuses on Jay Williamson and Sasha Goforth, married cats who deal with the trials and tribulations of raising three kittens, the result of another cat sexually assaulting Jay. The pair struggles with how much to reveal to the kittens about their origins, leading to a strained relationship with their daughter. Love arises where it’s least expected in “The Good the Bad and the Hideous,” which follows Sarah Archer, a young human woman, and Nancy, a hen, from their first meeting through their lives both together and apart. In “The Beginning of Wisdom,” the strongest tale, young Gabriel Ashworth meets talking squirrel Joseph Bottomley, who reveals to the boy that every creature has loved ones and teaches Gabriel to stop putting insects in jars. Robinson cleverly uses animal characters to explore human foibles, but the formal, sometimes outdated narrative voice keeps the reader at arm’s length. This sweet, if stilted, collection will most appeal to fable and fairy tale enthusiasts. (June)