The ten stories, in order:
A Most Troublesome Woman Penciled by
Michael Kaluta, inked and painted by
Charles Vess, it is the framing story, text with illustrations, like a lavishly illustrated old time storybook, with nineteen pages, seven of which are full splash pages. It is of particular historical note in that it contains the first and to date only appearance of the original planned
Adversary,
Peter Pan.
The Fencing Lessons Painted by
John Bolton, and the longest story in the collection, at 32 or 33 pages, it illustrates the first few days of Snow White and
Prince Charming's married life. It also reveals the unpleasant circumstances behind Snow White's problem with
dwarves, providing a somewhat darker twist on the
original fairytale. Much is seen of Charming's skill with a blade. This story also further explains where Snow and Charming's marriage may have gone wrong.
The Christmas Pies Painted by
Mark Buckingham and fourteen pages in length, this story focuses on Reynard's behavior in a remote wooded valley, reminiscent of the world of
Narnia. In the story,
Reynard the Fox tricks the armies of the Adversary into baking and delivering pies to a clearing to replicate the "miracle of the Christmas pies". This ruse allows the trapped animals an opportunity, not only to eat, but to escape from the valley and into the mundane world.
A Frog's Eye View Painted by
James Jean and eight pages in length, it concerns
Flycatcher's life from the moment he became human and fell in love, as well as some details of his and his family's life living "happily ever after" before the Adversary's forces invaded their kingdom. It is revealed that in the past when Flycatcher (then known as Prince Ambrose) was nervous, afraid or overly excited he would transform into a frog and only transform back into his human form when he was kissed by his wife. The story also covers his last days in the Homelands and reveals the tragic reason why he was able to escape the Adversary's invasion while his wife and children did not.
The Runt Painted by
Mark Wheatley and thirteen pages long, it is described as a 'dire tale' and focuses on
Bigby Wolf's mother,
Winter, and the
North Wind. It also gives a glimpse of some of Bigby's past, prior to his reformation.
A Mother's Love Painted by
Derek Kirk Kim, it is a three-page tale about hares, in which Colonel Thunderfoot (an original character, based on the rabbit mythology of
Watership Down) is cursed from harekind to humankind to live out his days until "the true love of a doe of our people restores you to harekind".
Diaspora Illustrated by
Tara McPherson and fourteen pages long, it revolves around Snow, her sister
Rose, and Frau Totenkinder, and includes the first visual look at Snow and Bigby's first meeting. It is also used as a framing story for "The Witch's Tale".
The Witch's Tale Painted by
Esao Andrews, "The Witch's Tale" tells the background of Frau Totenkinder, as well as revealing her many previously unrevealed connections to other fables, such as
Hansel and Prince Ambrose.
What You Wish For Illustrated by
Brian Bolland, at two pages, and written as a
cautionary tale, it tells the story of a adventurous girl named Mersey Dotes who has traveled the globe and then wishes to travel the sea and therefore becomes a
mermaid. Not too long after Mersey joins the
merfolk village under the sea, however, the Adversary launches a capture of sea kingdoms. This causes Mersey to be the "big fish" of the Farm in the mundane world, since she is unable to pass as human in Fabletown. She is seen chatting with Reynard Fox about her discontent with the fact that she is stuck in a little lake and not traveling.
Fair Division Painted by
Jill Thompson, it is about
King Cole. It features several of the other Fables that live on the farm, including Mean Little Sunflower Kid, the Badger, the
Three Blind Mice, and the
Three Bears. The Adversary has attacked Cole's kingdom and he hides with several dedicated subjects. The story shows how Cole makes sure all his people eat first, even if it means he does not eat at all. ==Awards==