Homelands (Fables)

The Homelands are the mythical lands from fairy tales, folklore, and nursery rhymes in the comic book series "Fables".Citation | last = Irvine | first = Alex | author-link = Alexander C. Irvine | contribution = Fables | editor-last = Dougall | editor-first = Alastair | title = The Vertigo Encyclopedia | pages = 72-81 | publisher = Dorling Kindersley | place = New York | year = 2008 | ISBN = 0-7566-4122-5 | oclc = 213309015] The majority of those listed have been conquered by the mysterious Adversary, as he has conquered most of the European Fable lands. This is a list of the Homelands that have been directly referenced either in "Fables", its spin-off "Jack of Fables", or with some indirectly mentioned by Bill Willingham.

Major lands

*Calabri Anagni - This is the capital city of the Empire and home to Gepetto and formerly his magic grove. When translated into Latin, Calabri refers to the Bootheel-shaped peninsula in Italy and Anagni refers to reader. This is appropriate since Pinocchio was originally set in Italy.

*Rus - This is a mythical version of Russia and home to many Slavic Fables. It was controlled by Baba Yaga, until she was captured in the Battle Of Fabletown. Her Knights also patrolled the lands until they were beheaded by Boy Blue, although they are still alive, as they cannot die as long as Baba Yaga lives.

*Oz - From the classic Wizard of Oz series by L. Frank Baum, it was one of the first worlds captured by the Adversary. It and surrounding kingdoms are controlled by the Nome King. The Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion, and Dorothy were imprisoned at the Golden Boughs Retirement Village until Jack Horner helped them escape.

*The Kingdom of the Great Lion - believed to be Narnia, it was another land that was conquered early on. There is a hotly debatedFact|date=March 2008 scene of the Great Lion being killed, whom many believe to be Aslan. Due to the Chronicles of Narnia currently being protected by copyright, a conclusive answer may never be forthcoming.

*Bornegascar and Madagao - From A Tale of Two Kings, the rival kings managed to escape and died side by side in "The Last Castle".

*Dunhill, Viss, Haven, and Lamien - Mentioned in "Jack of Fables" as the home of Lumi, the Snow Queen, it is unknown whether these were captured or surrendered, as Lumi is a high-ranking official in the Empire.

*Wonderland - From Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland", it is assumed to have been conquered since numerous playing cards and the Cheshire Cat are residents of Fabletown. Alice, the Walrus, and the Carpenter were held prisoner at the Golden Boughs retirement facility until Jack Horner helped them escape.

*Thrumbly Warrens - A land inhabited by talking rabbits and inspired by Watership Down, these were shown as being taken in 1001 Nights of Snowfall.

*Albion - Is the Homelands version of England [ [http://fabletown.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2385 Clockwork Storybook • View topic - A Small Bit From a Future Fables Special Project ] ] . It is the home to many English Fables as the name derives from the eldest known name for the United Kingdom.

*Erin - The mythical version of Ireland, The name Erin deriving from the Irish name for Ireland “Éirinn”.

*The Cloud Kingdoms - From Jack and the Beanstalk, the Cloud Kingdoms exist in their own interdimensional way, being a world of their own but at the same time existing over all of the other worlds.

*Lilliput - From Gullivers Travels it is not known if the island of Lilliput is conquered by the Adversary, but the first party that came from Lilliput is now living in Smalltown of Fabletown's upstate Farm annex.

*The Hesse - The German Fable lands [ [http://www.clockworkstorybook.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=62222#p62222 Clockwork Storybook • View topic - Yet Even More New Questions for Bill thread ] ] , the name Hesse deriving from one of the larger states in Germany.

Places

*The Jungle Book Jungle - Home to Mowgli, Shere Khan, Bagheera, Baloo and others. They are collectively referred to as "The Kipling Fables."

*Keep at the End of the World - From East of the Sun and West of the Moon, this was the setting for "The Last Castle", where the last Fable refugees escaped from to the Mundy world.
*The Black Forest - Home to Frau Totenkinder's gingerbread house, it is assumed to be taken as Frau currently lives in Fabletown, and the paths around it were seen being over taken by empire soldiers.

*The Lands of Prince Charming - These are assumed taken as Prince Charming lives in Fabletown. Whether or not the Adversary conquered the Dwarf Kingdom underneath is unknown.

*The Kingdom of Haven - The home of Flycatcher, they were shown being taken in 1001 Nights of Snowfall. Recently, he has returned there with his new army of ghosts and has set it up as a place of refuge for anyone wishing to escape the Adversary's control. He has become a consistent thorn in the Adversary's side, having defeated much of the Adversary's forces, including turning all of the Empire's wooden soldiers into a new enchanted groove, taking out the Empires best fighters.

*The Lands of Beauty and the Beast - These are assumed taken because Beauty and Beast live in Fabletown.

*The Lands of Old King Cole - These were shown being taken in 1001 Nights of Snowfall.

*The Lands of King Noble - From the Reynard stories, these were shown as captured in 1001 Nights of Snowfall. Reynard helped most of the animals escape the invading forces.

*Nottingham - Directly mentioned as being captured in the "The Last Castle", it was Robin Hood's home.

*Toad Hall - From Wind in the Willows, it is directly mentioned as being taken in 1001 Nights of Snowfall. Toad and Mole definitely escaped, and many assume Stinky the Badger is in fact Toad's good friend Badger.

*Bald Mountain - From Modest Mussorgsky's play. Directly mentioned in Jack of Fables. It is home to Chernobog, one of the Devils Jack made a deal with to prolong his life.

*Atlantis - The underwater kingdom of mermaids was shown being conquered in 1001 Nights of Snowfall. The only known survivor is Mersey Dotes, now turned into a mermaid.

Only a handful of Homelands cities are known; Red City and Fable versions of Baghdad, Samarcand and Rome

Minor lands

These lands, while mentioned as captured, have no specific story attached to them.
*Skold - This is where Blue fought and killed a dragon.
*Oak Hollows - This place had the gateway that John Barleycorn and Arrow came through.
*Karse - possibly the Karse from Exile's Honor
*Vesteri
*Boxen - possibly the land invented by C.S. Lewis and his brother Warren when they were children, as described in his memoir "Surprised by Joy" ["Surprised by Joy"; C.S. Lewis; ISBN 0006280838]
*Kardan
*Ruby Lake
*Oakcourt
*Hollyfield
*Skribnutch
*Ynnes
*Kurrewyn
*Tierra del Fuego - Apparently an Arctic world with a gate that leads to Argentina

Americana

Another land of interest is Americana, the Fable version of America, appearing mainly in the Jack of Fables series.

Large areas in Americana include:
* The Colonies - The state of New England.
* Antebellum - The South.
* Lone Star - The state of Texas.
* Steamboat - The Mississippi River area.
* Gangland - The Chicago area during the 1920s.
* The Frontier - covering Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas.
* Idyll - The Appalachian Mountains area during the 1950s.
* The West - covering the Rocky Mountains area.
* The Great White North - Canada and The Arctic.

Significant places in Americana are Big City and Salem located in the Colonies, Steamboat City located in Steamboat, Speakeasy located in Gangland, the Grand Canyon created by Paul Bunyan and unnamed cities in Lone Star, The Frontier and the Great White North.

As could be expected from the Homelands, things are not so normal as they should be. The Idyll area seems to be populated entirely by zombies, all being loyal to the Bookburner (who is the head librarian of Americana, the library being located in Idyll), while the Greath White North seems to represent how America views Canada and Alaska, as it is very clean, Ice Hockey being the biggest form of amusement and, according to Jack, having horrible bacon.

Untouched by The Adversary's forces, Americana possesses advanced technology compared with the conquered European worlds where the absence of modern arms is crucial to sustain the ruling system. Vehicles and appliances seen are cars from the 1920s, steamtrains, various firearms and even modern household appliances.

It's also quite possible that other areas are near or on Americana that resemble ancient mesoamerica or Latin America.

Assorted Lands

Bill Willingham has said he has plans for Neverland, once the license becomes available. He also plans to eventually answer questions concerning Camelot.

References