We’re kicking off this episode by catching up on our recent reads. Shirin has just started the highly anticipated Bride by Ali Hazelwood but found it giving off more supernatural Underworld vibes than expected Twilight vibes with its arranged marriage between a vampire and werewolf.
Meaghan has finished reading Bride and the psychological thriller None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell. She raves about how compulsively readable None of This Is True was, perfectly suited for devouring in one sitting on vacation without stopping due to the intriguing premise and steady unveiling of twists and turns.
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After covering our current nightstand picks, we transitioned into the main topic – exploring the rising popularity of mythology and folklore retellings beyond the heavily saturated realm of Greek myths. We highlighted Neil Gaiman as a prolific author contributing to this genre across various works.
Mythology Retellings: Exploring Other Avenues
His most famous, American Gods, featured a mash-up of deities and myths from different cultures finding themselves in modern-day America. Gaiman has also published dedicated books like Norse Mythology, a collection of short stories reimagining tales of Odin, Thor, and Loki in his distinctive narrative style. His novel Anansi Boys likewise drew from African folklore centered on the trickster spider Anansi.
We noted that while the ancient Greek pantheon has long dominated mythology retellings, other cultural mythologies are having more of a pop culture moment lately, partially driven by increased mainstream familiarity with figures like Norse gods through the Marvel movies. This has opened the door for more retellings in this space like Genevieve Gornichec’s The Witch’s Heart exploring Loki and Odin’s perspectives.
However, we’re also seeing plenty of subtler fantasy novels inspired by various cultural folklore without being overtly categorized as mythology retellings. Popular series like the Raybearer books by Jordan Ifueko or the rise of “mythic fiction” like Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan showcase the resurgence of diverse folklore fueling new fantasies.
The enduring Arthurian legend and medieval tales remain a constant source for retellings as well, with authors exploring the perspectives of more obscure characters like The Lady of Shallot rather than just the typical love triangle narratives. We discussed how these ancient epics from Beowulf to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight have inspired countless authors including Tolkien, who wove Germanic mythology throughout his fantasy realms.
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Looking beyond the predominance of European mythologies in fantasy, we expressed excitement over the potential to see more adaptations drawing from folklore around the world that have been largely untapped so far in novels and on screen.
The Untapped Potential Of Mythology Retellings
This could include more stories inspired by rich cultural traditions like Russian folktales seen in Katherine Arden’s eerie Winternight trilogy, Mayan mythology as depicted in Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Gods of Jade and Shadow, or from civilizations like the Persian, Ottoman, and Mughal empires whose histories must be filled with fascinating myths ripe for retelling.
We were particularly intrigued by the opportunity to increase representation of Middle Eastern folktales whether inspired by the classic framing story of Scheherazade and 1001 Arabian Nights or other regional mythologies across the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.
Indigenous folktales and oral traditions from First Nations and Native American cultures are also areas ripe for more visibility and innovative adaptations that boost diverse representation.
The overarching theme was how retellings from these underrepresented cultural mythologies could serve the dual purpose of exposing modern audiences to a wider worldview beyond the Eurocentric focus, while also preserving these rich storytelling legacies in accessible contemporary retellings.
RelatedThe Best Greek Mythology Retellings You Need To Read This Year
Taking the universal human love of storytelling across all civilizations and adapting ancient source material in modern narrative styles with contemporary themes, these mythology/folklore-inspired works could appeal to younger readers while fostering greater cross-cultural curiosity and connection.
Final Thoughts
We encouraged listeners to share any particular lesser-known cultural myths, folktales, or areas of the world’s vast repository of oral traditions they would love to see explored more as the basis for engaging retellings or adaptations across novels, films, TV, and other modern mediums. The possibilities for innovatively reviving these timeless tales for a new generation of diverse readers and fans are vast.
Enjoying this episode? Be sure to check out all of our coverage of the genre over at https://fully-booked.ca/. We’re a listener-supported podcast! Please consider pledging and helping Fully Booked to grow our library over at https://ko-fi.com/fullybooked, or by leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you’re listening. Thanks, bookworms, and don’t forget to keep on reading!
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