Mythos: The Greek Myths Reimagined (Stephen Fry's Great Mythology, #1)

by Stephen Fry

“They aren’t difficult wishes, Daddy. Just the smallest things.” “Very well, let’s hear them.” “I never ever want to have a boyfriend or husband or have a man touch me, you know, in that way—” “Yes, yes . . . er . . . I fully understand.” This may have been the first time Zeus ever blushed. “Also, I want lots of different names, like my brother has. ‘Appellations,’ they’re called. Also a bow, which I notice he has a whole collection of but I don’t because I’m a girl which is totally unfair. I’m the older twin after all. Hephaestus can make me a really special one as a birth present just like he did for Apollo, a silver bow with silver arrows please. And I want a knee-length tunic for hunting in, because long dresses are stupid and impractical. I don’t want dominion over towns or cities, but I do want to rule mountainsides and forests. And stags. I like stags. And dogs, hunting dogs anyway, not lap dogs which are useless. And, if you’d be very very kind, I’d like a choir of young girls to sing my praises in temples and a group of nymphs to walk the dogs and look after me and help protect me from men.” “Is that it?” Zeus was almost giddy at this recitation. “I think so. Oh, and I’d like the power to make childbirth easier for women. I’ve seen how painful it is. In fact, it is actually quite sincerely gross and I want to help make it better.” “Goodness me. You don’t ask for the moon, do you?” “Oh, what a good idea! The moon. Yes, I’d love the moon, please. That will be all. I...