Fairy Tales + Sci-Fi = A Series You Don't Want to Miss!

Question: Fairy Tales + Sci-Fi = ?

Answer: A series you don't want to miss!

     I first came across Marissa Meyer’s books when researching sci-fi Little Red Riding Hood adaptations (it's a long story).  One of the only stories that came up in my online searches was book two, Scarlet.  When my professor said the novel was too long for the purposes of our English Literature class assignment, I put it aside and promised myself I would read it this summer.  When I finally borrowed the first two books in the series, I quickly devoured them, staying up late into the night to finish them.

     From the Brothers Grimm to Walt Disney, fairy tale adaptations have been popular for years and most recently, popular in Young Adult fiction.  The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer has been one of the most unique fairy tale adaptation series I’ve read and boasts twists to familiar stories, thorough world-building and three dimensional characters.  Once I get my own copies of the series, I want to do a blog post series breaking down and analyzing each book in relation to the fairy tale it’s adapting, but for now, check out The Lunar Chronicles published so far …

(c.) Macmillan Publishers
 Book 1: Cinder
Publication Date: 2012
Adaptation of: Cinderella
Publisher’s Description: “Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.”



(c.) Macmillan Publishers
Book 2: Scarlet
Publication Date: 2013
Adaptation of: Little Red Riding Hood
Publisher’s Description: “ … Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana.”


(c.) Macmillan Publishers
Book 3: Cress
Publication Date: 2014
Adaptation of: Rapunzel

I think the publisher’s description is a bit “spoilery” if you haven’t read the first two books, but basically the premise is that the Rapunzel character (Cress) has been isolated in a satellite orbiting Earth since she was a girl and has become an excellent hacker as a result.  Currently, I have a request for the novel at the library.  Rapunzel is my favorite Disney Princess, but the actual fairy tale versions of Rapunzel’s story are quite different … Still very excited to read this one and see what direction Marissa Meyers takes in this one.


(c.) Macmillan Publishers
Book 4: Fairest
Expected Publication Date: Jan. 27, 2015
Adaptation of: Based on the Evil Queen character in Snow White

Just last month, it was announced that Marissa Meyer would be releasing a prequel to The Lunar Chronicles which would be the origin story of the main villain of the series, the ruthless Queen Levana.  Apparently, this news came as a total surprise to the fandom and despite it pushing back the heavily anticipated Winter, many are looking forward to reading about Levana’s tragic descent …


Book 5: Winter
Expected Publication Date: Nov. 10, 2015
Adaptation of: Snow White

Based on the title, I originally thought it might be based on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen (yes, the fairy tale Frozen was first inspired by), especially when I was reading Cinder, I thought it fit with the characters of Queen Levana and Prince Kai.   I mean, come on.   Andersen’s tale features a queen who imprisons a boy named Kai …  However, according to online sources such as goodreads.com, the final novel will be based on Snow White.


Have you read or watched fairy tale adaptations? What is your favorite fairy tale or adaptation of?  What do you think makes a good fairy tale adaptation?

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