The word "Fabletown" is spelled with three syllables: "fay-buhl-tauwn", pronounced as /ˈfeɪ.bəl.taʊn/. The first syllable is stressed, indicated by the primary stress marker ('), and is pronounced with a long "a" sound as in "fable". The second syllable has a schwa sound, and the third syllable is pronounced as "town". "Fabletown" is a fictional town in the comic book series "Fables", where many well-known fairy tale characters live in exile.
Fabletown is a fictional community featured in the comic book series "Fables" created by Bill Willingham. It is a unique and secretive community located in present-day New York City, inhabited by mythical and fairy tale creatures, popularly known as "Fables."
In this context, Fabletown can be defined as a hidden enclave or urban neighborhood that serves as a refuge and sanctuary for these once-beloved characters from various fairy tales, folklore, and literature. Fabletown provides a safe haven for these creatures who were driven away from their own magical lands due to the advance of a mysterious adversary known as "The Adversary."
In the Fabletown community, the fables disguise their true identities and live among ordinary humans, who refer to them as "mundanes." To maintain their privacy and safety, fables use glamour spells and enchantments to appear human, ensuring that their legendary features, powers, or characteristics are concealed from the mundane world.
Fabletown's governance is managed by a mayor, which initially is Old King Cole and later Snow White. To enforce order and protect the fables, they employ a dedicated police force named the Fabletown Sheriff's Department, led by the iconic Bigby Wolf, the anthropomorphic embodiment of the Big Bad Wolf.
Overall, Fabletown can be described as a fictional refuge and urban setting that allows legendary characters from various myths and fairy tales to coexist in a modern world while hiding their true nature, making it a fascinating and captivating component of the "Fables" universe.
The word "Fabletown" was coined by the writer Bill Willingham for his comic book series "Fables". The etymology of the word is a combination of two elements:
1. Fable: The term "fable" originates from the Latin word "fabula", which means a tale or a story. In literature, fables are short stories that often convey moral lessons using animals or inanimate objects as characters.
2. Town: This term comes from the Old English word "tun" or "tunian", which means an enclosed place or a settlement. It has been used in English for centuries to refer to a populated area, typically smaller than a city.
By combining these two elements, Willingham created the name "Fabletown" to represent a fictional community where characters from various fairy tales, folklore, and myths live together in a hidden enclave in modern-day New York City.