"Snow, Glass, Apples" is a 1994 short story written by Neil Gaiman. It was originally released as a benefit book for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and was reprinted in the anthology Love in Vein II, edited by Poppy Z. Brite.
Contents
Plot
The story retells the famous fairy tale of Snow White from the point of view of Snow White's stepmother, who is traditionally the villain of the piece but is here depicted as struggling desperately—and ultimately, unsuccessfully, as the "happy ending" takes place on schedule—to save the kingdom from her unnatural and monstrous stepdaughter.
The story incorporates themes of vampirism, incest, pedophilia, and necrophilia.
Publication
"Snow, Glass, Apples" is included in Gaiman's collection, Smoke and Mirrors.
It was adapted by the author into an audio drama, which was produced by Seeing Ear Theatre in 2001, starring Bebe Neuwirth. This was the second of two collaborations between Gaiman and Seeing Ear Theatre, following Murder Mysteries, and the two adaptations have been released together on CD under the title Two Plays for Voices.
In 2012 it was adapted into a play by the Edinburgh University Theatre Society.