The One-Eyed Giant, In the Land of the Dead, and Sirens and Sea Monsters, by Mary Pope Osborne (Hyperion Books, 2003)

For those familiar with Homer’s epic saga, there will be very few surprises in these books, the first three in Mary Pope Osbourne’s Tales From The Odyssey series. They retell, in plain English, without much of the fancy poetical trappings, the trials and tribulations of Odysseus as he attempts to make his way home after the Trojan War. The One-Eyed Giant looks into the events leading up to the war, including Odysseus’ reluctant recruitment, and his creation of the now-legendary Trojan Horse which helps to end the war. Then it goes on to cover the beginnings of his long journey home, including visits to the island of the Cyclops, and the home of the wind god, Aeolus. The Land of the Dead continues the story as a determined Odysseus and his demoralized crew continue to face trouble after trouble, including cannibal giants, the sorceress Circe, and the Land of the Dead itself. In Sirens and Sea Monsters, Odysseus and a much diminished group of followers face the deadly song of the Sirens, the twin menaces of Scylla and Charybdis, and the temptations of the Cattle of the Sun. In the end, though, Odysseus alone will survive to carry on.

These are the perfect primers for introducing young readers to the tale of the Odyssey, though they lack much of the magic of the more poetical translations. However, they don’t sugarcoat any of the grisly deaths or horrible monsters that play such a large part of the story, so it’s hard to judge exactly what age group they’re best suited for. I’m of mixed opinions regarding the series thus far: it’s a bit simplistic, but wholly competent and pleasant to read. With a map of the journey, a pronunciation guide, and a brief description of the Greek gods who play such a large role in the Odyssey, these books are a nice introduction for young readers, and hopefully a springboard towards reading the real thing.


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