Novels set within Greek Mythology

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

It seems like Greek mythology has been making a comeback in popular media lately: That Percy Jackson book/movie, Clash of the Titans remake, even God of War 3.

So, I was curious, are there any good novels/series out there dealing with Greek Mythology? To me, it is one of the best fantasy universes out there, and it seems like such a good potential for great stories. Now, I know all the classics like The Odyssey and The Iliad (both of which I read), but I'm curious about more modern works, let's say within the last 50 years. I know that Percy Jackson book has become popular, and I'm not adverse to reading young adult novels (especially as a future high school english teacher), but I don't want to read anything that is badly written . . . Harry Potter comparisons make me weary.

[Modest Proposal]

One of my favorite novels is called "Till We Have Faces", by C.S. Lewis.

[dfloyd]

Robert Graves: I, Claudius and Caudius the God which were combined by Masterpiece Theatre into the production of I, Claudius which covers the reigns of Augbustus Caesar, Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius. There is plenty of mthology ,,,, after all the Romans believed in the Gods of Olympus.... and
lots of Roman history. The Roman Gods are the same as the Greek gods, just callled by different names. Graves wrote so much that you should Googe him to get a list of his works.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Cool, I'll check him out, and C.S. Lewis, an author I still need to read.

[The Comedian]

Mary Renault wrote several excellent novels dealing with Greek Myths; the most well known is The King Must Die

[dfloyd]

she graduated from the woman's college at Oxford whose name escapes me. She was born after the turn of the nineteenth century and died in the 1980s. Her first books were modern books which dealt with homosexuality. Mary Renault was herself a lesbian with a lifetime female partner. She emigrated to South Africa were she felt she would have more freedom to express her views on homosexuality. She wrote about Plato, Socrates, and Theseus plus Alexander the Great. The King Must Die is about Theseus. I am not criticizing her books, but you should be aware before you read her that classical scholars have roundly criticized her. One said of her, "Mary Renault has tried to make pederastry heroic."

[Phaedra's Love]

It isn't strictly set inside the Greek mythology, but Murakami's Kafka on the Shore has the Oedipus tragedy as the basis of plot. Great read.

[lupe]

I recently read "La caverna de las ideas" (The Athenian Murders) by José Carlos Somoza. It's an enjoyable read, a good try to place a muder story with a lot of suspense in a ancient setting. There are several links with classic Greek myths, but also an interesting take on the daily life and habbits of Athenians at that time. Famous indivuduals, such as Plato, appear as characters of the story!

[The Comedian]

she graduated from the woman's college at Oxford whose name escapes me. She was born after the turn of the nineteenth century and died in the 1980s. Her first books were modern books which dealt with homosexuality. Mary Renault was herself a lesbian with a lifetime female partner. She emigrated to South Africa were she felt she would have more freedom to express her views on homosexuality. She wrote about Plato, Socrates, and Theseus plus Alexander the Great. The King Must Die is about Theseus. I am not criticizing her books, but you should be aware before you read her that classical scholars have roundly criticized her. One said of her, "Mary Renault has tried to make pederastry heroic."

I rather enjoyed her novels; plus, the original poster stated that she was looking for novels set in Greek myth that were written in the last 50 years.

So, I agree I wouldn't call her work classical scholarship; they're fun novels set in classical times.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.

Are there any novels where the Gods themselves are characters? It seems like it could be very interesting.

[kelby_lake]

There's loads of plays which are either influenced by or based on Greek mythology.

[myrna22]

There's loads of plays which are either influenced by or based on Greek mythology.

Mourning Becomes Electra, by Eugene O'Neil, for example.

[kasie]

Margaret Atwood: The Penelopiad - it's a re-telling of the return of Odysseus seen through the eyes of the faithful Penelope, at times very funny, at others biting.

[prendrelemick]

The luck of Troy, by Roger Green is very much a young adult story set against the Trojan war.

Andrew Lang wrote many accounts of the Greek myths for the younger reader.

[WuWei]

I'm told there's an article on this week's NewYorker about this, though I still haven't received it in the mail.

[kelby_lake]

Orpheus Descending is a good play inspired by the Orpheus/Eurydice myth.