Abu and the Seven Marvels
First edition
AuthorRichard Matheson
IllustratorWilliam Stout
CountryUS
LanguageEnglish
GenreFairy tale fiction
Published2002
PublisherGauntlet
Pages135
ISBN978-1-887368-49-0

Abu and the Seven Marvels is a 2002 illustrated fairy tale novel by Richard Matheson, and illustrated by William Stout.[1] Abu is a Persian varlet who seeks the hand of Princess Alicia, in a love triangle with the scheming Grand Vizier Zardak. Inspired heavily by Arabian Nights, Abu must seek tokens from each of the seven marvels of the world in order to win Alicia's hand. He is accompanied by a washed-up genie and his little brother Mut.[2][3]

Reception

Publishers Weekly stated that it was "(w)himsical and diabolically clever" and "a gem",[4] while The Guardian called it "charming".[5]

Art

William Stout described his participation in the project as "a labor of love", and noted that his original artwork — "several elaborate and well-researched full color illustrations" — was rejected by Matheson as too "serious".[6]

References

  1. ^ "Fiction Book Review: Abu and the 7 Marvels". Publishers Weekly.
  2. ^ "Abu and the 7 Marvels". Gauntlet Press.
  3. ^ Kaye, Marvin (February 1, 2005). H. P. Lovecraft's Magazine of Horror #2. Wildside Press LLC. ISBN 9781592242078 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ ABU AND THE 7 MARVELS, reviewed at Publishers Weekly; published April 15, 2002; retrieved September 11, 2019
  5. ^ Richard Matheson obituary, by Christopher Hawtree, in The Guardian; published June 25, 2013; retrieved September 11, 2019
  6. ^ Richard Matheson 1926 - 2013, by William Stout, at WilliamStout.com; published June 26, 2013; retrieved September 11, 2019


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