Patrick Rothfuss and Nate Taylor’s wicked take on the children’s picture book The Adventures of the Princess and Mr. Whiffle (from Subterranean Press) is about a princess, her teddy bear Mr. Whiffle, and the thing under the bed. Don’t worry, I haven’t told you anything you couldn’t figure out from the cover.
This is not a children’s book. I’ve had to distract my four-year-old daughter from this book several times as it looks like it should be a children’s book. Rest assured, it is not. Unless you think Edward Gorey writes children’s stories, then maybe it would be a children’s book for you.
All the same, I found the story delightful and darkly humorous. The drawings are well-done and expressive. There’s a lot of detail in the background of each page to enhance the story. And hey, while you’re waiting for The Wise Man’s Fear, pick a copy of this up to tide you over. Subterranean Press says that sales are brisk for this title and I hope that it becomes one of the rare titles that they decide to send to additional printings.
John Klima is the editor of the Hugo Award winning Electric Velocipede.
