Peter & Max: A Fables Novel

Peter & Max: A Fables Novel is a 2009 prose novel based on the comic book Fables, written by series creator Bill Willingham; Steve Leialoha provided illustrations.

The book was released by Vertigo on October 7, 2009. An audio book version was released on December 8, 2009; it is read by Wil Wheaton.

Plot

The novel flips between telling the history of the main characters in Hesse, their homeland, and current events in the mundane world (what the Fables call our world).

Peter Piper and his brother Max are sons of traveling minstrels. Although Peter is the younger son, his father bestows on him a magical flute, a family heirloom that has ability to avert danger. When the Piper family is visiting their long-time family friends, the Peep family, the Adversary's army attacks. The Pipers and Peeps escape to the Dark Forest. While the families are asleep, Max — jealous of Peter because he was given the flute — kills his father while they are away from camp. Max then returns to camp claiming that the Adversary's troops have attacked. The announcement causes the families to flee in panic.

Peter, Max and Bo Peep are separated. Peter winds up in Hamelin where he becomes a member of a thief's guild. Bo Peep becomes a member of an assassin's guild. Max meets Frau Totenkinder who gives him a magical pipe of his own which he learns to use for evil purposes. He goes to Hamelin where he becomes the Pied Piper of Hamelin.

Eventually Peter and Bo Peep are reunited and marry. They are heading to Sanctuary when they meet Max who is still angry over being passed over by his father. He attacks Peter and Bo Peep using the power of his magical pipe. Peter is able to avert the danger with his flute, but inadvertently passes the danger along to Bo Peep, ruining her legs and crippling her.

In present day, Peter and Bo Peep have been settled in "the Farm", when they are advised that Max has emerged in the current world. Peter leaves New York to meet his brother in Hamelin, Germany. Peter is fully aware of his brother's power and intent to kill him, but is determined to face his fate regardless. In their confrontation Peter is all but helpless in the face of his brother's magic; all of his weapons are useless due to Max's many magical wards. Peter triumphs in their confrontation by using his magical pipe as a weapon, shoving the sharp reeds through his brother's heart. Peter then claims his brother's flute for Fabletown, resolving to use it only to undo the spell that crippled his wife centuries before.

In a brief epilogue, in which the story reverts to the comic format of the regular series, it is revealed that Bo and Peter later secretly took part in the final war with the Adversary, and it is hinted that their participation contributed greatly to the Fables' ultimate victory (though none but they and Clara the Raven would ever know it).

External links

• Official site for the novel; includes free preview of the first two chapters