Following the stupendous success of Oppenheimer, filmmaker Christopher Nolan has turned to the Greek myths for his next blockbuster, The Odyssey, with Matt Damon playing Odysseus, the crafty king of Ithaca, who embarks on a long and dangerous voyage to reunite with his family. Along the way, he encounters numerous foes and obstacles, including sirens, the one-eyed giant Polyphemus, seductive witches and nymphs, even as his wife, Penelope (played by Anne Hathaway) fends off rogue suitors and struggles to keep the kingdom intact.
Unlike Homer’s The Iliad which deals with war and the ideals of Greek heroism, The Odyssey is concerned with a different kind of heroism—one where the hero lies, tricks, flirts and schemes to get his way—and also explores the Greek idea of homecoming, following the travails of the Trojan War. Since Nolan is already known for his intricate narrative structures and careful explication of themes, it will be interesting to check out his multifaceted interpretation of the Greek classic, reimagined for the modern audience.
With Greek myths and stories resurging in popularity, countless writers and artists have added their own twists and meanings to the source material. So while you wait for Nolan’s The Odyssey to hit the IMAX theaters this July, you can brush up on the classics or check out newer retellings below!
The Silence of the Girls
The events of Homer’s The Odyssey wouldn’t exist without the events of the Trojan War, chronicled in the Iliad. Yet Homer’s narrative and subsequent translation often skim over the brutalities enacted upon the women and slaves. Pat Barker’s scintillating novel, The Silence of the Girls tries to rectify that by focusing on the female characters—and on the gaps and omissions—to tell the story of those almost erased by history.
Poetic, poignant and full of heartbreaking details, The Silence of the Girls is highly recommended for lovers of history and myth.
Athena's Champion
The first book in the celebrated Olympus trilogy, Athena’s Champion by David Hair and Cath Mayo reimagines a new destiny for the young prince Odysseus. In this novel, Odysseus is favored by the goddess Athena when he’s disowned by his family and hunted by the other gods, and is soon embroiled in a secret war with the Olympians.
But Odysseus proves that he’s more than a match for the gods, even as he journeys to the underworld to rescue the kidnapped Helen of Sparta, and risks falling in love with her on the way. Familiar yet bewitching and full of hijinks, Athena’s Champion is an extremely fun and refreshing read for fans of Greek mythology.
Daedalus Is Dead
This upcoming novella, which I was lucky to read as an eARC, is a gorgeously poetic meditation on fatherhood and masculinity, told through the unreliable narrative of Daedalus—master inventor, architect and creator of the labyrinth that imprisoned the Minotaur, and father of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun with his man-made wings. Sullivan carefully blends elements from Greek myth with his own embellishments, filling in the gaps and richly exploring the emotions of guilt and grief that drive Daedalus to seek out his only son in the underworld, even as ghosts and gods conspire against him. Though it’s a deceptively short read, Daedalus Is Dead encourages the reader to sit with its haunting revelations.
The Gates of Hades
Odysseus isn’t the only hero in the Greek mythos—other notable figures include Hercules, Jason and the Argonauts, Achilles and more. John Gregory Betancourt’s spellbinding book, The Gates of Hades focuses on the friendship between Hercules and Jason.
When Jason is killed by the pirates, it is Hercules who travels to the underworld and faces numerous challenges to rescue Jason’s soul. Compellingly written, The Gates of Hades is a fierce story about bravery and friendship utilizing the Greek myths in a novel way.
Ungodly
Kendare Blake’s Goddess War series presents the Greek deities with a new challenge—they’re on the verge of losing their immortality. The final book, Ungodly picks up on the cliffhanger ending of Mortal Gods and ties up loose ends, all the while detailing an epic adventure starring Athena, Hermes, Cassandra and other well-known characters. After her assault on Olympus goes awry, Athena is trapped in the underworld while Hermes is topside, running out of time. Now new alliances need to be forged as the gods prepare to go up against the Fates. Fast-paced, action-packed and full of unexpected twists, Blake’s spin on Greek mythology is certainly refreshing and exhilarating.
Titans of Chaos
The concluding book in the Chronicles of Chaos trilogy, John C. Wright’s Titans of Chaos follows five students at a British boarding school who discover that they’re not actually human. Each kid has their own superpowers and must navigate their new identities and fight for freedom. Thoroughly blending science and mythology, the books manage to be quite entertaining and engaging—perfect for fans of action-oriented adventure fantasy like the best-selling Percy Jackson books.
The Penelopiad
Odysseus is, without doubt, a cunning hero determined to survive at any cost—but so is his wife, Penelope who skillfully uses her wits to keep the kingdom together in the decades that he’s absent. So if you’re curious about what goes on in her mind during those years, you can try Margaret Atwood’s slim novella, The Penelopiad that tells her story on her own terms.
Enticing and enchanting, The Penelopiad touches upon Greek notions of patriarchy, female agency and ideas of justice and makes for a short but utterly riveting read.
Amber Smoke
If you enjoyed the YA paranormal romance series House of Night, you might also like Kristin Cast’s The Escaped—another paranormal romance series that blends Greek mythology with murder mystery and detective narratives. The plot follows Alek (the untested warrior son of the Furies) and Eva (a descendant of the Oracle) with zero clues about her ancestry. With the police hot on their heels, the two must work together and figure out the limits of their powers before it is too late. Although it takes a while for the story to get started, Amber Smoke makes for a quick, light and indulgent read, packed with sizzling chemistry and melodrama.
Olympus Bound
Like the Percy Jackson books that put ancient Greek heroes and gods in modern-day America, Jordanna Max Brodsky’s Olympus Bound books similarly shifts the characters and action to contemporary New York, with the gods living among mortals. Though they still embody their values and ideals, they’re barely clinging onto their immortality as they’re no longer worshipped as profusely as they were in the past.
Thrilling, full of twists and turns, and packed with endearing characters you can’t help but root for, the Olympus Bound books are best suited for urban fantasy fans.
Son of Zeus
In the original myths, Heracles murders his wife and children in a fit of madness. The only way he can restore his reputation and cleanse himself of sin is by serving King Eurystheus—who directs him to perform twelve impossible labors. His success establishes his valor, strength and tenacity, spreading his renown among gods and mortals alike. Glyn Iliffe’s grand retelling reimagines the story of Heracles, placing it in the larger context of the power games between the deities, while also humanizing the main character. Meticulously researched and engagingly written, Son of Zeus is perfect for any reader looking for a page-turning and in-depth character study of the legendary champion.
Circe
In the upcoming film, The Odyssey, Samantha Jane Morton has been cast to play Circe, the infamous Greek witch who seduces several heroes and lives on her own in an island. But there’s more to Circe’s story than being just a beautiful seductress, and Madelline Miller’s stunning book gives the full details in exquisitely poetic prose.
Along with the narrativization of Circe’s childhood and subsequent exile, this mythic fantasy novel covers the most important events of The Odyssey from Circe’s perspective, challenging the patriarchal status quo and reminding the reader that there are always at least two sides to every story. Evocative and engaging, Madelline Miller’s Circe is a must-read for fans of Greek myths and stories centering witches.
The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey
Finally, if you’re looking for a straightforward book that covers the details of Odysseus’s many adventures on his perilous voyage home, you can check out Rosemary Sutcliff’s The Wanderings of Odysseus, complete with gorgeous illustration by Alan Lee. Suitable for both kids and adults, this book will refresh your knowledge of Greek mythology and help you follow the cinematic storyline of The Odyssey more closely.
Featured image: The New York Public Library / Unsplash
