Basher History--Mythology

June 15, 2014
In Basher's latest set of breezy "self"-portraits, 58 gods, demigods and mythological creations of diverse sort step up in turn to the microphone.The entrants are limited to the ancient Egyptian, Norse and Greco-Roman pantheons and arranged in no particular order within their respective chapters. They range from the usual celebrities like Poseidon ("rhymes with 'Joe Biden' "), Odin and Osiris to some who have gotten less press, such as Hebe-"Waitress to the Olympians"-and Gefjon, Aesir goddess of plowing. Along with mixing in such non-Olympians as Odysseus, Budzik swells the ranks by lending voices to Bifrost, Yggdrasil and even the battle of Ragnarok. The author's introductory claim that the gods gave mortals "something to believe in and ideals to aspire to when life was looking bleak" is massively disingenuous considering the speakers' own accounts of their exploits (Hel complains, "It's really grim here. I get the dreariest dead"). Nevertheless, the sex and violence are toned down to, for instance, Hera's tart reference to "my hubby's mortal girlfriends" and Isis' allusion to "complicated family vibes" (following her brother/husband Osiris' dismemberment by their brother, Seth). In a radical departure for Basher, some of his dolllike cartoon figures bear grimaces rather than cutesy smiles.More-systematic treatments abound, but the airy tone and quick-facts presentation give this some potential as a lighter-than-air refresher. (chart and foldout poster of Greek/Roman equivalents) (Mythology. 10-12)

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August 1, 2014

Gr 4-8-This book briefly describes major figures in Greek, Norse, and Egyptian myths. The mythological figure's name is given, along with a "rhymes with" pronunciation hint, usually followed by information about the figure's antecedents. A paragraph of first-person description follows, rendered in a flip, lighthearted style ("'Yo, peons! It's me, Ra, ready to bring light, life, and food to the Nile valley, sailing full tilt across the sky in my daily royal procession.'"). Each description is accompanied by a digitally rendered cartoon drawing of the character. Unfortunately, this title is strong on quirky voice but weak when it comes to clarity and organization. Readers unfamiliar with the subject matter may find many details confusing, and though there is a glossary at the end, it is not helpful in every case. For instance, the entry on Dionysus notes that he is the only Olympian god with a mortal parent, but the book never clarifies what is meant by "Olympian god," and the very next entry is Asclepius, a god who also has one mortal parent. Nor are the 12 Olympians grouped together; Hephaestus is tossed in near the end of the chapter. While some readers may enjoy the brevity and humor, most libraries should consider this an additional title. For a book with more comprehensive coverage, consider Blake Hoena's Everything Mythology (National Geographic, 2014).-Misti Tidman, Licking County Library, Newark, OH

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