Searching for Heroes
Being Irish, many of my first encounters with story-telling was through traditional myth – Setanta and the hound; that boy’s growth and life as the warrior Cu Chulainn; the King Conor MacNessa; Fionn, Oisin and the Fianna. These tales were often told in primary school, where teachers would link them to our everyday lives as appropriate. Setanta was good at hurling which we all had to play. The King Conor MacNessa had a vision of the death of Christ – this was a story told in particular in the run up to Easter. Fionn tricked a Scottish giant and that’s how we ended up with the Giant’s Causeway in Antrim – important to know landmarks around the country. Oisin returned from Tir Na Nog (the Land of Youth) and accidentally broke a promise even though he meant well – to be honest I’ve scratched my head over what lesson that had to impart (the dangers of going off with girls we barely knew maybe, or perhaps the dangers of not maintaining your horse’s saddle?).
It was later that I got to read these tales more deeply. That’s for example when I learnt about the love triangle between an ageing Fionn, his new young wife Grainne, and the warrior Diarmuid. They didn’t tell us that one in school as far as I can remember. It was probably a little too racey for 1980’s, still staunchly Catholic Ireland. And how exactly was Mrs Molloy going to explain what a ‘love spot’ was to a bunch of 10-year olds?
Given that presence of myth in my childhood, the Lost Boys Press anthology ‘Heroes’ was always going to interest me. These stories seek to take traditional myths from across the world and recast them for more modern retellings. Cyberpunk cities, elements of sci-fi and horror, World War 2-style weaponry and battles. ‘Heroes’ promises to tell you stories that you know – ‘but not told like these’. And, unlike Robin Hood films with Taron Egerton and Jamie Fox, that promise holds true.
I really grew into this collection and loved the reimaginings of myths I knew about before reading. This was particularly true with the inventiveness surrounding the Arthurian legend (Dewi Hargreaves) and Medusa (Jaecyn Boné). The retelling of Beowulf by Michael J. Mullan II brought us into battle against power-crazed Nazis – and could easily be expanded to a larger format. The Joan of Arc story (R. Raeta) was deeply affecting. I found myself nodding along as I read, hoping that such voices as this Joan could be heard above the cacophony of media lapdogs and dog-whistling that occurs nowadays.
Finally, many of the stories played with the relationships differently – the Cu Chullainn story by Laura Jayne McLaughlin and Madeline Dau’s Perseus tale are two stories which take well-known relationships and offer a different slant on them, adding further nuance to the tales. As society and culture evolves, there is also an opportunity to recast tales so audiences familiar with the original works can be shown new possibilities within these texts. The idea of what ‘might have been’ or ‘might still be’ can help us grow as people.
Those familiar with the originals will no doubt appreciate the mechanics and thought that went into the retelling. I also think readers will enjoy coming across new stories featuring new heroes. There’s a freshness of approach here that will not only entertain but will also introduce new cultural touchstones in exciting ways. Myths and legends after all often work to crystallize the cultures from which they emerge; they seek to teach and explain, to open a window to generations seeking to understand the land and peoples from which they have come. I don’t play hurling anymore. I’ve never even been to the Giant’s Causeway. But Setanta, Fionn and Oisin have stayed in my memory across thousands of miles of road, sea, and sky. In my travels, I’ve learned of other heroes too, tales which possess similarities and differences to my own. I can learn from both.
The ‘Heroes’ Anthology edited by Ashley Hutchinson can be bought through Amazon at https://amzn.to/3DAG5A7
It was later that I got to read these tales more deeply. That’s for example when I learnt about the love triangle between an ageing Fionn, his new young wife Grainne, and the warrior Diarmuid. They didn’t tell us that one in school as far as I can remember. It was probably a little too racey for 1980’s, still staunchly Catholic Ireland. And how exactly was Mrs Molloy going to explain what a ‘love spot’ was to a bunch of 10-year olds?
Given that presence of myth in my childhood, the Lost Boys Press anthology ‘Heroes’ was always going to interest me. These stories seek to take traditional myths from across the world and recast them for more modern retellings. Cyberpunk cities, elements of sci-fi and horror, World War 2-style weaponry and battles. ‘Heroes’ promises to tell you stories that you know – ‘but not told like these’. And, unlike Robin Hood films with Taron Egerton and Jamie Fox, that promise holds true.
I really grew into this collection and loved the reimaginings of myths I knew about before reading. This was particularly true with the inventiveness surrounding the Arthurian legend (Dewi Hargreaves) and Medusa (Jaecyn Boné). The retelling of Beowulf by Michael J. Mullan II brought us into battle against power-crazed Nazis – and could easily be expanded to a larger format. The Joan of Arc story (R. Raeta) was deeply affecting. I found myself nodding along as I read, hoping that such voices as this Joan could be heard above the cacophony of media lapdogs and dog-whistling that occurs nowadays.
Finally, many of the stories played with the relationships differently – the Cu Chullainn story by Laura Jayne McLaughlin and Madeline Dau’s Perseus tale are two stories which take well-known relationships and offer a different slant on them, adding further nuance to the tales. As society and culture evolves, there is also an opportunity to recast tales so audiences familiar with the original works can be shown new possibilities within these texts. The idea of what ‘might have been’ or ‘might still be’ can help us grow as people.
Those familiar with the originals will no doubt appreciate the mechanics and thought that went into the retelling. I also think readers will enjoy coming across new stories featuring new heroes. There’s a freshness of approach here that will not only entertain but will also introduce new cultural touchstones in exciting ways. Myths and legends after all often work to crystallize the cultures from which they emerge; they seek to teach and explain, to open a window to generations seeking to understand the land and peoples from which they have come. I don’t play hurling anymore. I’ve never even been to the Giant’s Causeway. But Setanta, Fionn and Oisin have stayed in my memory across thousands of miles of road, sea, and sky. In my travels, I’ve learned of other heroes too, tales which possess similarities and differences to my own. I can learn from both.
The ‘Heroes’ Anthology edited by Ashley Hutchinson can be bought through Amazon at https://amzn.to/3DAG5A7
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