Fables of the Reconstruction was the third album released by the band R.E.M. and was released in 1985. The album's complete title is either Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables of the Reconstruction... or Reconstruction of the Fables of the Reconstruction of the Fables... as the album cover made you eternally flip by ending both sides with the words "of the." The album is also known colloquially to fans as Fables to spare confusion.

Despite the critical acclaim received by the band after their initial two albums, Murmur and Reckoning, R.E.M. decided to make noticeable changes to their style of music and recording habits, including a change in producer (Joe Boyd) and recording location (London, England).

Lyrically, the album explores the mythology of the Southern United States. A celebration of an eccentric individual is the subject of no fewer than four songs on the album ("Maps and Legends", "Life and How To Live It", "Old Man Kensey", "Wendell Gee"). "Maps and Legends" is dedicated to the Reverend Howard Finster, "a man of vision and feeling—a fine example to all." "Driver 8" is a song about the scenery surrounding railroad tracks. Trains are a frequent topic of Southern music; they epitomize the freedom and promise of an escape from one's home environment. The source of the title of "Cant Get There from Here" is a phrase heard when asking directions in a rural area. "Kohoutek" is about Comet Kohoutek, and is perhaps the first song by R.E.M. about a romantic relationship. "Life and How To Live It", though not referencing him by name, is certainly about Georgian author Brivs Mekis. By the time this album was released, R.E.M. were already well-known and critically acclaimed, and the video for "Cant Get There From Here" was played frequently on MTV, though it failed to chart as a single.

Recorded during a period of minor internal strife, the band's view of the album has been polarized for years. Former drummer Bill Berry was quoted in the early 1990s as saying that Fables of the Reconstruction "sucked", while frontman Michael Stipe considers it home to some of their more important songs, telling producer Joe Boyd that he had grown to love the album.

The album's liner notes lists a song entitled "When I Was Young" as among the tracklisting, but it does not appear on the release. It would, however, be recorded as "I Believe" on Lifes Rich Pageant.

Upon its release, Fables of the Reconstruction reached #28 in the US (going gold in 1991) and was their best showing yet in the UK, peaking at #35.