Debutiful

When I was a senior in high school, I was given the option of studying mythology instead of the ordinary twelfth-grade English curriculum, thus igniting a lifelong obsession from which I’ll likely never recover. My goal was to study myths at a higher education level, but when my tiny Canadian university didn’t offer such a course, I signed up for the next best thing: a minor in World Religions. (That course of study resulted in a fascinating archeological dig in the Middle East, but that’s a story for another time.) The point is, I love myths, and I know I’m not the only one. 

My contemporary adult fantasy, The Café of Infinite Doors, repurposes the Celtic mythological character of the Morrígan, a fierce battle-goddess who can see the future and turn into a crow. The book also follows a trapped housewife trying to emancipate herself from a controlling relationship, and believe it or not, the two threads do intertwine, though to find out how you’ll have to read the book! But why are we, as human beings, so obsessed with myths? What is so universally compelling about these ancient stories? 

Naturally, we know that mythological characters are often based on archetypes, representing a societal role or universally recognizable character trait. Gaia the mother. Anansi the trickster. Dionysus the drunk. Is it because these characters still feel relevant and relatable, even thousands of years after they were first created? Regardless of the answer, even the most superficial analysis of publishing trends shows us that contemporary readers are just as eager to consume mythology as ever. Relletings, particularly of the Greek variety, are selling like hot-cakes. (Who came up with this expression? Why hot cakes and not fidget spinners? These are questions for another time.) 

The question I’d like to examine is this: How much of a myth must be present in a work of modern fiction in order to be classified as a retelling? Does the answer lie in the number of plot points preserved from the original? How do you even find the original, when so many ancient cultures shared stories orally? And how does one quantify something as specific as “plot points” if the original source material is vague? Take, for example, characters who appear on the periphery of other characters’ stories, without having a myth of their own. I’m thinking of Greek muses like Urania, a goddess of astrology who sometimes guides others (men) on their quests but seldom appears as a protagonist… For the purposes of this list, I’d like to keep the parameters vague: if a mythological character is present, but their journey does not mirror the source material, I will classify them a work of mythology that is not a retelling. And before you ask: I have nothing against retellings. In fact, I adore them. But they are so popular in the current zeitgeist that they could easily have their own list. I’m sure someone has written one already. My goal is to showcase the broader use of mythology in newer works of fiction instead.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must confess that I am not an expert in the myths of every culture on the planet. (Wouldn’t that be an amazing flex?) Also, I’m aware that many of us in the “Western world” automatically associate mythology with the stories of Ancient Greece and Rome, which is why I’ve based my list on novels showcasing other traditions, in the spirit of diversity and education. Finally, I’d like to state the obvious: due to the fact that mythology so often contains elements of magic, the books on this list will all fall under the speculative umbrella. So, with all of that in mind, here are eight novels that incorporate mythology without being retellings.