Synopses & Reviews
and#147;Look inside this world and find wonder.and#8221; and#151;
KATE BERNHEIMER, editor of
My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me and author of
The Girl Who Wouldnand#8217;t Brush Her HairA book arrives by Owl, left under an old fir tree in the snow. With it, a mysterious message: another worldand#8217;s scientists have discovered the laws of the universe are found inand#151;fairy tales. Is it true?
Snottyand#151;the unlikely hero of this taleand#151;is a streetwise adolescent mastermind transported to a mystical realm where the fate of the world rests on discovering who he really is. As Snottyand#8217;s perceptions of might and right are upended, the scholarly footnotes point toward a deeper truthand#151;that in the endless fight against evil, the toughest warriors come from the most despised group of all: the smallest, the poorest, the funniest, the snottiest.
A fantastic adventure story, smart political allegory, and philosophical treatise, this is a book to be savored by adults of all ages.
The History of Arcadia series tells the story of a world that was literally formed by a story, by one person discovering and claiming who she really is . . . and of the subsequent events that led first to a deceptively happy world, then to an inevitably tragic outcome, and finally to a slow rebuilding of the world on foundations more deeply and thoughtfully laid. Each book includes bonus Arcadian legends and fairy tales, and relates how the manuscript crossed the barriers between Arcadia and our own world to arrive at Exterminating Angel Press. The first two novels in the series are Snotty Saves the Day and Lily the Silent.
Tod Davies lives with her husband and her two dogs at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, in Boulder, Colorado and in the alpine valley of Colestin, Oregon, where she discovered Snotty Saves the Day, the first Arcadian manuscript.
Illustrator Gary Zaboly is the author and illustrator of The Barack Obama Coloring Book (Dover Publications) and many books on American military and frontier history. He lives with his wife Cora in Riverdale, New York, overlooking the Hudson River.
Review
Fascinating . . . A quirky, intelligent, and imaginative read for mid-teens and up . . . anyone who enjoys reading or studying fairy or folk tales and fantasy will especially enjoy this.”
ForeWord Reviews"Ms. Davies blends folklore, fairy tales, fantasy, and even oral traditionand does so brilliantly . . . Snotty Saves the Day is a book for mature or precocious teens, for fantasy and tale-within-a-tale lovers, and for thoughtful adults who seek the wonder and optimism so badly needed in today’s times.”New York Journal of Books
The Arcadians know that real wisdom is found in fairy tales. Look inside this world and find wonder. Thank goodness for Tod Davies, who knows we need fairy tales.”KATE BERNHEIMER, editor of My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me and Fairy Tale Review
Blending the magic of fairy tales with the great existential mysteries, Tod Davies leads us into a phantasmagorical world that resurrects the complex lore of times past with vibrant narrative energy.”
MARIA TATAR, author of The Annotated Brothers Grimm
Tod Davies has produced an imaginative book that will make readers think twice: do they know the meaning of fairy tales and of their own lives?”JACK ZIPES, author of Why Fairy Tales Stick
Review
The most audacious and unusual book I have read this year. Framed in a we found this on our doorstep” ala Spiderwick sort of way, it is ostensibly forwarded to the publisher by a professor from the land of Arcadia. . . . If you are intrigued by how [fairy tales] are manipulated with such ease by pop culture mavens and movie makers . . . you will find the cheekiness of Davies story to be wildly appealing.”Bookslut Summer Reading List
Awesome . . . Theres plenty of humor in the book. . . . And the best is the truthwhat Is, as the book calls itSnotty discovers about himself. He doesnt just see the error of his old ways; he re-becomes an entirely different person. And that possibility, that abilitythat we all might re-become what we were born to beraises a wonder, a sympathy with the idea of changing the world” that beats louder than does a superficially bleeding heart.”Nervous Breakdown
A smart, funny, and thought-provoking read for readers of all ages, Snotty Saves the Day has me eagerly awaiting its sequel.”Largehearted Boy
Fairy tales and Biblical stories come true in this amusing debut mash-up of folklore and Christian allegory. . . . Readers with a fantasy bent will note the traditional fairy tale elements (there are teddy bears and they do picnic), as those with Christian sensibilities will know to pronounce Luc with a soft c. Dressed up with footnotes, scholarly introductions and a bibliography, as well as lovely line drawings by Gary Zaboly, Snottys story seeks to prove that fairy tales rank with quantum mechanics in their ability to establish parallel worlds.”Publishers Weekly
Fascinating . . . A quirky, intelligent, and imaginative read for mid-teens and up . . . anyone who enjoys reading or studying fairy or folk tales and fantasy will especially enjoy this.”ForeWord Reviews
"Ms. Davies blends folklore, fairy tales, fantasy, and even oral traditionand does so brilliantly . . . Snotty Saves the Day is a book for mature or precocious teens, for fantasy and tale-within-a-tale lovers, and for thoughtful adults who seek the wonder and optimism so badly needed in todays times.”New York Journal of Books
The Arcadians know that real wisdom is found in fairy tales. Look inside this world and find wonder. Thank goodness for Tod Davies, who knows we need fairy tales.”KATE BERNHEIMER, editor of My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me and Fairy Tale Review
Blending the magic of fairy tales with the great existential mysteries, Tod Davies leads us into a phantasmagorical world that resurrects the complex lore of times past with vibrant narrative energy.”MARIA TATAR, author of The Annotated Brothers Grimm
Tod Davies has produced an imaginative book that will make readers think twice: do they know the meaning of fairy tales and of their own lives?”JACK ZIPES, author of Why Fairy Tales Stick
Review
Praise for The History of Arcadia Seriesand#147;Innovative form and spellbinding content . . . Daviesand#8217;s fast-paced and mesmerizing [Snotty Saves the Day], which propels its reader from one breathtaking adventure to the next, is a novel of ideas for children and adults. . . . Much like Snotty Saves the Day, Lily the Silent is also a political allegory that asks its reader to reflect on gender roles, popular culture, and dominant ideologies. . . . Stories, as Tod Daviesand#8217;s History of Arcadia novels ultimately suggest, serve as a civilizationand#8217;s backbone, and it is therefore in stories too that we can discover the potential for fundamental change and a better society.and#8221; and#151;Marvels and Tales
and#147;Look inside this world and find wonder.and#8221; and#151;KATE BERNHEIMER, editor of My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me and author of The Girl Who Wouldnand#8217;t Brush Her Hair
and#147;Blending the magic of fairy tales with the great existential mysteries, Tod Davies leads us into a phantasmagorical world that resurrects the complex lore of times past with vibrant narrative energy.and#8221; and#151;MARIA TATAR, author of The Annotated Brothers Grimm and other volumes, and chair of the Program in Folklore and Mythology at Harvard University. ??
Praise for Lily the Silent, the second novel in The History of Arcadia series
and#147;Tod Davies is a multitalented writer . . . In this book, Lily lives happily in Arcadia until an invasion from Megalopolis turns everything upside-down. She escapes slavery through a kind prince of Megalopolis and goes on an eventful journey to retrieve a key that could save her people.and#8221; and#151;The Oregonian
and#147;Daviesand#8217;s absorbing salute to the necessity and power of storytelling promises many grand adventures while hinting that there is really only one.and#8221; and#151;Publishers Weekly
and#147;A fairy tale told in lush but specific language, that reminds seasoned readers to seize their destiny.and#8221; and#151;Library Journal
and#147;In the grand tradition of fairy tales everywhere, Lily the Silent is the story of a reluctant heroine, feckless prince, and the wickedest of queens. . . . With Mike Madridand#8217;s illustrations throughout (appropriately compared to Arthur Rackhamand#8217;s), this title shows how comfortably fairy tales can encompass the fits and foibles of current times. It reads fast and furious and promotes love and friendship, all while making sure readers never forget to keep a solid head on their shoulders.and#8221; and#151;Bookslut
and#147;Tod Davies follows up her novel Snotty Saves the Day with the equally impressive Lily the Silent, the second installment in her The History of Arcadia series. This modern fairy tale smartly explores the power of storytelling in our lives, and is a rewarding book for both adults and children.and#8221; and#151;Largehearted Boy
Praise for Snotty Saves the Day, the first novel in The History of Arcadia series
and#147;Fascinating . . . A quirky, intelligent, and imaginative read for mid-teens and up.and#8221; and#151;ForeWord Reviews
and#147;Ms. Davies blends folklore, fairy tales, fantasy, and even oral traditionand#151;and does so brilliantly . . . Snotty Saves the Day is a book for mature or precocious teens, for fantasy and tale-within-a-tale lovers, and for thoughtful adults who seek the wonder and optimism so badly needed in todayand#8217;s times.and#8221; and#151;New York Journal of Books
and#147;A fun and unique tale, sure to entertain readers both young and old.and#8221; and#151;Midwest Book Review
and#147;[An] amusing debut . . . dressed up with footnotes, scholarly introductions and a bibliography, as well as lovely line drawings by Gary Zaboly, Snottyand#8217;s story seeks to prove that fairy tales rank with quantum mechanics in their ability to establish parallel worlds.and#8221; and#151;Publishers Weekly
and#147;A smart, funny, and thought-provoking read for readers of all ages, Snotty Saves the Day has me eagerly awaiting its sequel.and#8221; and#151;Largehearted Boy
and#147;The most audacious and unusual book I have read this year. Framed in a and#147;we found this on our doorstepand#8221; ala Spiderwick sort of way, it is ostensibly forwarded to the publisher by a professor from the land of Arcadia. . . . If you are intrigued by how [fairy tales] are manipulated with such ease by pop culture mavens and movie makers . . . you will find the cheekiness of Daviesand#8217; story to be wildly appealing.and#8221; and#151;Bookslut
and#147;Awesome . . . Thereand#8217;s plenty of humor in the book. . . . And the best is the truthand#151;what Is, as the book calls itand#151;Snotty discovers about himself. He doesnand#8217;t just see the error of his old ways; he re-becomes an entirely different person. And that possibility, that abilityand#151;that we all might re-become what we were born to beand#151;raises a wonder, a and#147;sympathy with the idea of and#145;changing the worldand#8217;and#8221; that beats louder than does a superficially bleeding heart.and#8221; and#151;Nervous Breakdown
and#147;Like Susanna Clarkand#8217;s magnificent Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell . . . and many works by Nicholson Baker, Snotty Saves the Day features fictional footnotes that add another layer to the novel. . . . Davies touches on . . . very Big Ideas. But these themes are wrapped in wonders . . . What could have been simply and#147;messageyand#8221; is a romp, and an original one at that. . . . Give it to a smart, precocious young person in your life, read it yourself, and see what kind of interesting conversation develops.and#8221; and#151;Bookconscious
and#147;An imaginative book that will make readers think twice.and#8221; and#151;JACK ZIPES, author of Why Fairy Tales Stick
Synopsis
A manuscript arrives by Owl, left under an old fir tree in the snow. Another world's scientists have discovered that the laws of the universe are found infairy tales. The greatest of these laws? That in the endless fight against evil, the toughest warriors come from the most despised group of all: the smallest, the poorest, the funniest.
Is it true that this story of a snotty little boy, who falls through a rabbit hole into another world and battles giant garden gnomes with the help of a teddy bear army, holds this secret of the universe? Snotty travels through fantastic lands, meeting angels, dragons, fairy tale creatures, and a unicorn, battling a gorgeous enemy who seeks to hide the truth of things. The truth of who Snotty really is, and of what his world can become. Can a horrible little child really have the power to change everything?
Is it true? Can Snotty save the day?
A fairy tale within a fairy tale with footnotes from another world. Read the book and see what happens next. It just might be that if we knew who we were, we could change our world too.
An Exterminating Angel Press fairy tale for adults of all ages.
Synopsis
"Look inside this world and find wonder." --
KATE BERNHEIMER, editor of
My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me and author of
The Girl Who Wouldn't Brush Her Hair A book arrives by Owl, left under an old fir tree in the snow. With it, a mysterious message: another world's scientists have discovered the laws of the universe are found in--fairy tales. Is it true?
Snotty--the unlikely hero of this tale--is a streetwise adolescent mastermind transported to a mystical realm where the fate of the world rests on discovering who he really is. As Snotty's perceptions of might and right are upended, the scholarly footnotes point toward a deeper truth--that in the endless fight against evil, the toughest warriors come from the most despised group of all: the smallest, the poorest, the funniest, the snottiest.
A fantastic adventure story, smart political allegory, and philosophical treatise, this is a book to be savored by adults of all ages.
The History of Arcadia series tells the story of a world that was literally formed by a story, by one person discovering and claiming who she really is . . . and of the subsequent events that led first to a deceptively happy world, then to an inevitably tragic outcome, and finally to a slow rebuilding of the world on foundations more deeply and thoughtfully laid. Each book includes bonus Arcadian legends and fairy tales, and relates how the manuscript crossed the barriers between Arcadia and our own world to arrive at Exterminating Angel Press. The first two novels in the series are Snotty Saves the Day and Lily the Silent.
Tod Davies lives with her husband and her two dogs at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, in Boulder, Colorado and in the alpine valley of Colestin, Oregon, where she discovered Snotty Saves the Day, the first Arcadian manuscript.
Illustrator Gary Zaboly is the author and illustrator of The Barack Obama Coloring Book (Dover Publications) and many books on American military and frontier history. He lives with his wife Cora in Riverdale, New York, overlooking the Hudson River.
Synopsis
Snotty-the unlikely hero of this tale-is a streetwise adolescent mastermind transported to a mystical realm where the fate of the world rests on discovering who he really is. As Snotty's perceptions of might and right are upended, the footnotes point toward a deeper truth-that in the endless fight against evil, the toughest warriors come from the most despised group of all: the smallest, the poorest, the funniest, the snottiest. A fantastic adventure story, smart political allegory, and philosophical treatise, this is a book to be savored by adults of all ages.
Synopsis
A fairy tale from another world with scholarly footnotes from its scientists. What does it mean?
Synopsis
A book arrives by Owl, left under an old fir tree in the snow. With it, a mysterious message: another worlds scientists have discovered the laws of the universe are found infairy tales. Is it true?
Snottythe unlikely hero of this taleis a streetwise adolescent mastermind transported to a mystical realm where the fate of the world rests on discovering who he really is. As Snottys perceptions of might and right are upended, the scholarly footnotes point toward a deeper truththat in the endless fight against evil, the toughest warriors come from the most despised group of all: the smallest, the poorest, the funniest, the snottiest.
A fantastic adventure story, smart political allegory, and philosophical treatise, this is a book to be savored by adults of all ages.
Synopsis
The first History of Arcadia novel is a fairy tale from another world with scholarly footnotes from its scientists.
About the Author
TOD DAVIES is the author of Jam Today: A Diary of Cooking With What Youve Got. Inspired by the work she did with teenagers in England, Snotty Saves the Day is her first book of fiction. Unsurprisingly, her attitude toward literature is the same as her attitude toward cookingits all about working with what you have to find new ways of looking and new ways of being, and in doing so, to rediscover the best of our humanity and work toward a better world. Davies can usually be found in the alpine valley of Colestin, Oregon, surrounded by a mountain forest where this manuscript was discovered, or in Colorado, where her husband Alex teaches.
GARY ZABOLY is the author and illustrator of The Barack Obama Coloring Book (Dover Publications) and many books on American military and frontier history. He is a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians and a member of the Alamo Society. He lives with his wife Cora in Riverdale, New York, overlooking the Hudson River.
Exclusive Essay
Read an exclusive essay by Tod Davies