Get comfortable near a roaring fire with a warm drink and a fluffy dog because Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: The Novelization is coming back into print. You obviously need to save the best place by the fire for the storyteller, but there’s plenty of room to gather ’round and enjoy a new hardcover collection from Archaia with familiar tales and fresh material.
Though it’s hard to choose a favorite Jim Henson creation, The Storyteller warms my heart the most. It originally aired in 1988 and featured a storyteller, played by none other than John Hurt, telling European folk tales to his talking dog and the audience. Brian Henson voiced the big brown dog. The storyteller narrated as stories like “Hans My Hedgehog” and “The Luck Child” unfolded with captivating (and sometimes frightening) puppets and creatures.
The Storyteller: The Novelization also focuses on folklore and fantasy with nine tales based on the television series; they were written by Anthony Minghella. We have the exclusive first look at the cover of the upcoming release:
Besides a reprint of the stories, The Novelization features illustrations from Hannah Christenson and Eva Eskelinen. The pages even contain photos from The Jim Henson Archives that show a behind the scenes look at Jim Hensonâs Creature Shop during the making of The Storyteller. It’s not often that we get a peek behind the curtains into that world, and the addition of those photos makes the 224 page an attractive package.
Jim Henson’s The Storyteller: The Novelization will be available in comic book and specialty shops this August. Jump to the comments and let us know if you’ll be purchasing this reprint.
I’m the proud owner of the first printing of this book. This new illustrated version is going to have to work hard to make me forget the lovely paintings of that one, but I’m thrilled the book is going to be out there again.
It must be mine!
Seriously. I would sell many of my worldly possessions in order to possess it.
Ah yes, but will there be a second volume with Michael Gambon?
I also loved The Storyteller as a child (and as an adult, if I’m honest). I must say I liked the Michael Gambon series a bit more, but both are masterpieces.