Novels:
Beast
by Donna
Jo Napoli, Pocket Books, 2002- Told from the Beast's point of view.
Prince Orasmyn is the son of the Shah of Persia who is turned into a lion
after angering a pari (fairy). Forced to flee home in order to avoid
being slain by his own father, he travels first to India and then through
Europe into France (where he makes his home in an abandoned castle) in the
hopes of breaking the curse.
Beauty
by Robin
McKinley, Scott Foresman, 1993- This retelling of the classic fairy
tale has a few differences from the original. Beauty's sisters are not jealous
or spiteful and Beauty is not the most beautiful of the three (in fact, "Beauty"
is just a joke nickname, her true name is Honor). Beauty is smart and resourceful
and loves to read and care for horses. When she goes to live with a Beast
in his enchanted castle in order to save her father's life, the relationship
between them develops in such a way that, by the end, you understand why Beauty
fell in love with the Beast.
Beauty
by Susan
Wilson, Scribner, 1997- In this contemporary retelling of Beauty
and the Beast, the Beauty is Alix Miller, an artist with a handsome but career-obsessed
boyfriend. When she is hired to paint the portrait of Leland Crompton, a reclusive
mystery author, she is at first shocked by his physical appearance (he is
disfigured due to acromegaly, a genetic disease). The question here isn't
whether Beauty can love the Beast, but whether the Beast can accept himself
and, in turn, accept Beauty's love.
Fire
Rose by Mercedes
Lackey, Baen Books, 1996- As a Ph.D. candidate in medieval and
ancient languages, Rosalind Hawkins does not fit the norms of Victorian womanhood.
After her father dies, leaving massive debts, she is forced to answer an advertisement
calling for a governess with knowledge of ancient languages for a rich rail
baron near San Francisco. When she arrives, she discovers her employer (Jason
Cameron) in fact has no children and that her true job is to translate and
read to him from ancient texts through a tube in the wall. What is Jason hiding
from her?
Rose
Daughter by Robin
McKinley, Ace Books, 1998- In McKinley's second retelling of the
tale, Beauty loves to work in the garden and especially loves roses because
their scent reminds her of her mother, who died when she was a child. Eventually,
when she agrees to go live with the Beast she is dismayed by his dying rose
garden and begins to bring it back to life. As she does so, the enchantment
around the palace beings to break. Be warned...the ending to this fairy tale
will not be what you expect.
"Beast"
in The Rose and the Beast: Fairy Tales Retold by Francesca
Lia Block, Joanna Cotler, 2000- Beauty learns that there is freedom
in becoming like the Beast.
"Beauty"
in Red as Blood, or, Tales from the Sisters Grimmer by
Tanith
Lee, DAW Books, 1983- Science Fiction fans will enjoy this story
set in the distant Future. Over a hundred years ago an alien race came to
Earth with gifts for humanity, asking nothing in return, that is, until the
first roses were sent and the first young men and women taken away. Now a
rose has been sent to Estár...
"The
Courtship of Mr. Lyon" in The Bloody Chamber by
Angela
Carter, Penguin USA, 1990- When a man's car breaks down he takes
shelter in a nearby mansion, setting events in motion that lead to his daughter
becoming the companion of a lion who dresses and speaks like a man.
"The
Tiger's Bride" in The Bloody Chamber by Angela
Carter, Penguin USA, 1990- A hopeless gambling addict loses his
daughter to a masked man known as the Beast at cards. When she arrives at
his villa, she is told by a manservant that the master's only wish is to see
her unclothed. What is it exactly the Beast wants of her?
"The
Tale of the Rose" in Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins
by Emma
Donoghue, HarperTrophy, 1999- The beast in this tale has an unexpected
secret. Will it cause the beauty to reject the love that has developed between
them?
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