26 min
Exploring Mythology Retellings That Are Not Greek Fully-Booked: Literary Podcast
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- Books
We’re kicking off this episode by catching up on our recent reads. Shirin has just started the highly anticipated Bride by Ali Hazelwood but found it giving off more supernatural Underworld vibes than expected Twilight vibes with its arranged marriage between a vampire and werewolf.
Meaghan has finished reading Bride and the psychological thriller None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell. She raves about how compulsively readable None of This Is True was, perfectly suited for devouring in one sitting on vacation without stopping due to the intriguing premise and steady unveiling of twists and turns.
After covering our current nightstand picks, we transitioned into the main topic – exploring the rising popularity of mythology and folklore retellings beyond the heavily saturated realm of Greek myths. We highlighted Neil Gaiman as a prolific author contributing to this genre across various works.
Mythology Retellings: Exploring Other Avenues
His most famous, American Gods, featured a mash-up of deities and myths from different cultures finding themselves in modern-day America. Gaiman has also published dedicated books like Norse Mythology, a collection of short stories reimagining tales of Odin, Thor, and Loki in his distinctive narrative style. His novel Anansi Boys likewise drew from African folklore centered on the trickster spider Anansi.
We noted that while the ancient Greek pantheon has long dominated mythology retellings, other cultural mythologies are having more of a pop culture moment lately, partially driven by increased mainstream familiarity with figures like Norse gods through the Marvel movies. This has opened the door for more retellings in this space like Genevieve Gornichec’s The Witch’s Heart exploring Loki and Odin’s perspectives.
However, we’re also seeing plenty of subtler fantasy novels inspired by various cultural folklore without being overtly categorized as mythology retellings. Popular series like the Raybearer books by Jordan Ifueko or the rise of “mythic fiction” like Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan showcase the resurgence of diverse folklore fueling new fantasies.
The enduring Arthurian legend and medieval tales remain a constant source for retellings as well, with authors exploring the perspectives of more obscure characters like The Lady of Shallot rather than just the typical love triangle narratives. We discussed how these ancient epics from Beowulf to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight have inspired countless authors including Tolkien, who wove Germanic mythology throughout his fantasy realms.
Looking beyond the predominance of European mythologies in fantasy, we expressed excitement over the potential to see more adaptations drawing from folklore around the world that have been largely untapped so far in novels and on screen.
The Untapped Potential Of Mythology Retellings
We’re kicking off this episode by catching up on our recent reads. Shirin has just started the highly anticipated Bride by Ali Hazelwood but found it giving off more supernatural Underworld vibes than expected Twilight vibes with its arranged marriage between a vampire and werewolf.
Meaghan has finished reading Bride and the psychological thriller None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell. She raves about how compulsively readable None of This Is True was, perfectly suited for devouring in one sitting on vacation without stopping due to the intriguing premise and steady unveiling of twists and turns.
After covering our current nightstand picks, we transitioned into the main topic – exploring the rising popularity of mythology and folklore retellings beyond the heavily saturated realm of Greek myths. We highlighted Neil Gaiman as a prolific author contributing to this genre across various works.
Mythology Retellings: Exploring Other Avenues
His most famous, American Gods, featured a mash-up of deities and myths from different cultures finding themselves in modern-day America. Gaiman has also published dedicated books like Norse Mythology, a collection of short stories reimagining tales of Odin, Thor, and Loki in his distinctive narrative style. His novel Anansi Boys likewise drew from African folklore centered on the trickster spider Anansi.
We noted that while the ancient Greek pantheon has long dominated mythology retellings, other cultural mythologies are having more of a pop culture moment lately, partially driven by increased mainstream familiarity with figures like Norse gods through the Marvel movies. This has opened the door for more retellings in this space like Genevieve Gornichec’s The Witch’s Heart exploring Loki and Odin’s perspectives.
However, we’re also seeing plenty of subtler fantasy novels inspired by various cultural folklore without being overtly categorized as mythology retellings. Popular series like the Raybearer books by Jordan Ifueko or the rise of “mythic fiction” like Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan showcase the resurgence of diverse folklore fueling new fantasies.
The enduring Arthurian legend and medieval tales remain a constant source for retellings as well, with authors exploring the perspectives of more obscure characters like The Lady of Shallot rather than just the typical love triangle narratives. We discussed how these ancient epics from Beowulf to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight have inspired countless authors including Tolkien, who wove Germanic mythology throughout his fantasy realms.
Looking beyond the predominance of European mythologies in fantasy, we expressed excitement over the potential to see more adaptations drawing from folklore around the world that have been largely untapped so far in novels and on screen.
The Untapped Potential Of Mythology Retellings
26 min