In one kingdom, a queen counts down the days until she will be married, concerned that this will be the end of her life. Across a near-impassable mountain range, another kingdom sleeps, with the wave of sleepiness slowly spreading outward. You see, a princess was cursed with magical sleep by a witch (or was it a bad fairy? or maybe an enchantress?) many years before when the witch (or bad fairy, or enchantress) wasn't invited to the birthing ceremony. She pricked her finger and fell asleep, and everyone else started to fall asleep around her, in a slow wave around the tower where she now resides. When the queen hears of this from the dwarfs, she springs into action, postponing her marriage, and goes under the mountains to save the girl and her kingdom from falling prey to never-ending sleep (because if anyone knows about magical sleep, it's our queen). Mashing together two well-known fairy tales, Neil Gaiman of course puts his own spin on them, while also poking at the very nature of fairy tales themselves, in this short story that has been beautifully illustrated in black and white by Chris Riddell. This is one that will definitely appeal to all.
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