Literal

Literal
Species information
Status	Extant
Related species	Fable Mundy
Appearances
First issue	Fables #1 — "Chapter One: Old Tales Revisited" (in hybrid form) Fables #27 — "In Like a Lion — Out on the Lam: Chapter Eight, March of the Wooden Soldiers"
Last issue	Fairest: In All the Land (flashback) Fables #148 — "The Very Last Jack of Fables Story of All Time" (in hybrid form)

“	Priscilla Page: You're all immortal magical beings like the Fables we imprison? Kevin Thorn: Magical, yes. But not at all like the Fables. We're a different sort of creature.	„
	~ Priscilla Page and Kevin Thorn, Jack of Fables #15 — "The Bad Prince, Part Four: (Enchanted) Blade Runner"

The Literals are a family of anthropomorphic personifications of literary devices. As such, each bears a great power according to their theme. They first appear in Fables #27 — "In Like a Lion — Out on the Lam: Chapter Eight, March of the Wooden Soldiers," although they debut in hybrid form in Fables #1 — "Chapter One: Old Tales Revisited." One of them is even credited to have created all the Fables. Among themselves there are certain subsets, such as the Librarians, the Genres and the Walls.

History

Literals represent a class of magical beings who possess immortality, thus resembling Fables, though they are not the same, as Literals represent a different kind of entity. They are a family of anthropomorphic personifications of literary devices. As such, each bears a great power according to their theme. One of them is even credited to have created all the Fables. Perhaps, the most relevant of their characteristics is their awareness of the fictional nature of their own universe, as they acknowledge the editors, artists and even the reader of the book from time to time. Among themselves there are certain subsets such as the Librarians, the Genres and the Walls. They, unlike the Fables, are truly immortal. If they die, they will simply come back to life given a few years if their theme hasn't been overtaken by another (such as it was the case with Prose Page and her daughters), and the oldest among them have existed since the beginning of time.

Powers and abilities

• Immortality: Literals, unlike the Fables, are truly immortal. If they die, they will simply come back to life given a few years if their theme hasn't been overtaken by another (such as it was the case with Prose Page and her daughters), and the oldest among them have existed since the beginning of time.
• Awareness: Perhaps, the most relevant of their characteristics is their awareness of the fictional nature of their own universe, as they acknowledge the editors, artists and even the reader of the book from time to time.

List of literals

Librarians and the like Bookburner — the embodiment of book burning Deus Ex Machina — can solve any difficult problem at the end of the story Foreshadowing — if she becomes involved in an activity, there will be some advance notice Hillary Page † Kevin Thorn — storytelling itself Mister Revise — can change or revise things Onomatopoeia Pathetic Fallacy (Gary) — can make anything come alive Priscilla Page † Prose Page † Robin Page † Writer's Block — a mentally challenged, drooling apparition that's normally hard to notice Walls Eliza Wall Three unnamed Walls

Genres Blockbuster Comedy Fantasy Horror Mystery Noire Romance Science Fiction Superhero (mentioned) War Western