Ancient Stories Retold: The Appeal of Myths and Legends in Fiction

poseidon-1621062_1280

My introduction to Greek mythology was through the Percy Jackson book series written by Rick Riordan. I was absolutely engrossed with the elaborate descriptions of the Titans, Gods and mystical elements that spanned the five-book series. Names like Hermes, Demeter and Kronos jumped at me, and I would spend hours researching on Wikipedia about these Greek legends. 

That was more than a decade ago, so I was quite surprised to find myself re-reading these Greek legends with a more recent bestseller: Circe by Madeline Miller. Miller focuses on a specific section of the mythology through the lens of a witch, adding a feminist layer to these stories by detailing the trials, tribulations and successes of a female character in a male-dominated classic.

What is interesting to me is how these modern authors have successfully developed their own universe and thematic arches from similar mythic tales. Despite reusing these common legends and stories, we do not find such stories boring or cliche. Instead, we continue to be drawn to the ever-expanding universe of gods, magic and mythical creatures. I’m sure you have your own fantasy favourites, but in this article, I’d like to discuss three book series that thrive on such mythic retellings. 

Percy Jackson & The Olympians

Sadly, my own copy of the book was badly torn as seen in the pic above. Read on to find out why.
Sadly, my own copy of the book was badly torn as seen in the pic above. Read on to find out why.

Fun fact about my experience with this series: I was so engrossed in reading one of the books under my desk in class that I failed to realize my teacher had found out what I was doing. She promptly snatched the book away from me and tore it up in front of everyone. I’ve snapped a picture of that torn-up book above – a reminder of my worst infraction as a student: reading in class. 

Great fantasy novels are well-researched ones, and Rick Riordan certainly has embedded an extensive understanding of the Greek Gods and Titans in his five-book series. The story follows Percy, a teenager who finds out that he is a demigod, son of the Greek God of the sea, Poseidon, and a mortal woman. Through his journey, you’ll meet many common Greek gods and Titans like Hades, Hermes and Kronos, King of Titans and the main villain in the story.

9780141346809

At the same time, Riordan adds his own modern spin on these Greek legends, notably showing how these legends integrate with modern America. The teachers are creatures in disguise, fights happen in the middle of school, and secret passageways open up underneath Central Park. It’s a success formula that’s been used often in fantasy films and novels. I’m thinking of Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which just released its fourth season, as an example. Ghosts, demons and the kings of hell intermingle with innocent citizens in both these stories, often in both tragic and humorous ways.

If you’re interested in learning more about Greek mythology in fantasy fiction and haven’t read a book in a while, I would recommend the Percy Jackson novels. It’s an especially apt timing to begin reading them given the recent announcement by Disney Plus to produce a live-action series based on the books. You’ll find Riordan’s world-building to be diverse and engaging, and the characters rather likeable, albeit just a tad too two-dimensional for adult readers. 

Circe

circe-madeline-miller

Circe, written by Madeline Miller, can be thought of as that special Greek mythology spin-off. Released in 2018, the book has become a best-seller recommended by multiple reading websites, news outlets and literary awards.

The story is told from the point of view of a sort-of-demigod like Percy Jackson. This time, she is the daughter of Helios, god of the sun, and a nymph. When it is discovered that she is a powerful witch, she is banished by her own father to a lifetime of imprisonment on an island. From there, the story focuses on Circe’s loneliness and her attempts to navigate adulthood, mortality, love, motherhood and finally, independence. 

Wright Barker's 1889 painting of Circe as a musician. In the mythology, she is depicted as a sorceress in command of nature.
Wright Barker’s 1889 painting of Circe as a musician. In the mythology, she is depicted as a sorceress in command of nature.

The story effectively combines the experience of being a woman with a relatively unexplored Greek character in fiction, Circe. I was equally drawn in by Circe’s innate power and taken aback by her blatant immaturity – making her a Greek character who very much embodies the best and worst of mortals. As she navigates the trials and tribulations of growing up, and then of being a mother, you observe something that Greek immortals generally do not do: grow, learn and adapt. Miller’s exploration of growth and feminism gives this Greek mythology a fresh update for the 21st century and is one of the reasons why her book has received so many well-deserved literary awards. 

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Picture 2

Vampire lore continues to be a popular source of material for book and film writers alike. Netflix, for example, released their version of Dracula as recently as 2020, a fantastic 3 part-miniseries I must say. 

While vampirism has always had its own horde of fans, I believe the 4-book Twilight series was the one that brought it into mainstream fandom, particularly because its writer, Stephenie Meyer, chose to add a more romantic spin to the tale of blood and gore. The story is essentially a love story between a mortal and a ‘vegetarian’ vampire, culminating in some pretty cool battles between the peace-loving Cullen family and the all-powerful Volturi. The supposed final book was released in 2008, but get this – Meyer has just recently (in 2020) released Midnight Sun, which retells the story from the perspective of the male protagonist (the main story is told from the female main character).

The Volturi from the Twilight Saga are some of the most powerful vampires in the series, helping to maintain and enforce order among vampires around the world
The Volturi from the Twilight Saga are some of the most powerful vampires in the series, helping to maintain and enforce order among vampires around the world

The popularity of Twilight came about partly because of Meyer’s own unique take on vampiric lore. For example, the Cullen family are ‘vegetarian’ vampires, choosing not to feed on human blood, but on animal blood instead in the name of ethics. Lore such as fear of the sun, fear of the cross, and fear of garlic are disregarded in favour of unique new powers and weaknesses. Some of Meyer’s take on the lore are hilarious, such as the effect of being out in the sun for her vampires, but others are downright cool – essentially the entire Cullen family and the Volturi. 

Meyer’s spin on vampirism was not without backlash. When her stories first came out, there were just as much fans as there were haters. Popular criticisms levelled at her included her overt focus on the romantic elements, the dumbing down of the female protagonist Bella Swan, and the fact that the main characters were essentially in an abusive relationship. The books are not fantastic, but they have some merit. The interactions between the vampires and werewolves create a steady story, and Meyer’s unique spin on vampirism will intrigue you. If you can ignore the boy meets girl cliche that anchors the story, it’ll be a smooth read. 

Rebooting the old legends: still a magical formula

My first foray into reading was with the fiction genre, and I continue to enjoy reading elaborate tales of prophecies, monsters and wizards. The genre has gained considerable traction among children and adults alike, particularly as Disney+, Netflix and HBO continue to adapt these fantasy novels into TV shows and movies – both for younger and mature audiences. This makes this era a particularly good one for revisiting older fiction based on appealing lore. I’ve thought of these three, but I’m sure there are more. What are some of your favorites? Visit our Instagram and let us know in the comments! 

By Haris Arman Thong, Publicity Director, ReadNUS