ABU AND THE 7 MARVELS
Richard Matheson, , illus. by William Stout. . Gauntlet, $21.95 (128pp) ISBN 978-1-887368-49-0
Really outstanding fairy tales please all ages, especially ones that pop out of magic bottles (or small press publishers) when you least expect them. Whimsical and diabolically clever, this sure-to-be classic follows a humble Persian boy, Abu, as he seeks to win the heart of lonely Princess Alicia, while jealous Grand Vizier Zardak, his rival for her affections, schemes to keep them apart. The evil Zardak convinces Alicia's father that Abu must first seek outrageous tokens (named by a very sleepy Royal Wizard) from the Seven Marvels of the World. Joining Abu on his possibly impossible quest are a cranky, moth-eaten has-been genie, who provides constant comic relief, and Abu's little brother, Mut, who tags along for the ride. Stout brings to stunning visual life the exotic Arabian Nights landscape populated by amazing creatures, in the best tradition of W.W. Denslow's original Oz illustrations as well as some of Arthur Rackham's soft-color work. Matheson (
Reviewed on: 04/15/2002
Genre: Fiction