Tag Archives: homer

Married to the Sea Goddess

Thetis is not a particularly major figure in Greek mythology as we’ve received it. She’s best known as the mother of Achilles, one of the heroes who was distinguished for being really good at war rather than the sort who … Continue reading

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I’ve Had the Breath of Liars Blowing Me Off Course in My Sails

Jason and the Argonauts, by Apollonius of Rhodes, translated by Aaron Poochigan, notes by Benjamin Acosta-Hughes – Dating from the third century BCE, this epic poem, originally written in Latin, retells the classical myth in a style reminiscent of Homer’s … Continue reading

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Washing Your Sins Away

One recurring theme in Greek mythology is that of ritual purification for someone who’d committed a crime. There’s a pattern in some stories of a person doing a heinous act, being exiled from their home, and going to someone in … Continue reading

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Bake Love, Not War

The Great Troll War, by Jasper Fforde – It’s been eight years since the previous book in the Chronicles of Kazam, but we finally have the conclusion to this series. Set in a version of Britain that’s made up of … Continue reading

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Too Pooped to Koop

Mamma mia! It’s a Super Mario Bros. cartoon! Several of them, in fact. The Mark of Zero – Our first parody for the week is of Zorro. I can’t say I know that much about the character, but I did … Continue reading

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Everybody Poops Genius Pieces

Little People, by Tom Holt – This fantasy story, rather less epic than many of Holt’s works, is narrated by a boy who sees elves in his garden. After being sent away to boarding school by his stepfather, he falls … Continue reading

Posted in Authors, Book Reviews, Greek Mythology, Greek Philosophy, History, Humor, Mythology, Oz, Philosophy, Tom Holt | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Aren’t You a Little Leonine for a Winkie Guard?

Okay, here’s a question about the MGM Wizard of Oz that I actually haven’t seen discussed before. When the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion are trying to infiltrate the Wicked Witch of the West’s castle to rescue Dorothy, the … Continue reading

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A Crew of Dunces

Speaking of ships of fools, I can’t help but think of a sort of example from Greek literature that predated Plato by some time. In Homer’s Odyssey, Odysseus’ crew seems to be made up of a bunch of idiots. When … Continue reading

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All These Things Really Happened

What is it that separates the literary tall tale from straight-up fantasy? I think a lot of it is in the intention and presentation of the author. Tall tales are stories that are supposed to be ridiculous, yet the teller … Continue reading

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Magids and Warriors

A Wizard Alone, by Diane Duane – I can’t say this was one of my favorites in the series so far. It just doesn’t seem like that much happened, or maybe it was just a bit disappointing because there weren’t … Continue reading

Posted in Book Reviews, Diana Wynne Jones, Greek Mythology, Mythology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments