Category: | Our Mythical Childhood Survey

Henry Lion Oldie

A Hero Must Be Alone [Герой должен быть один (Geroi dolzhen byt' odin)]

This is a heroic fantasy fiction based on the myth of Hercules, aimed at young adults, in novel format. The plot of the original myth is thoroughly transformed in order to emphasize topics and motives relevant to contemporary youth culture. At the beginning of the book, we learn that Zeus has a special plan for his newly-conceived child from Alcmene and that this plan is a matter of serious disagreement in the family of gods (or “the Family”, as it is called throughout whole Ach(...)

literary

YEAR: 1996

COUNTRY: Russia

TAGS: Alcmene Amphitryon Antaeus / Antaios Chiron / Cheiron Cronus / Kronos Deianeira Eurystheus Eurytos Galanthis Giants Gigantomachia Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hestia Hydra Iolaus Iole Iphicles Iphitos of Oechalia Medusa Megara Nessus Perseus Poseidon Salmoneus Thebes Theseus Tiresias Zeus

Rocco Negri, Ian Serraillier

Heracles the Strong

Heracles, the son of a mortal woman and the god, Zeus, was hated by Hera. She inflicted him with madness and he committed a terrible crime. As penance, he served King Eurystheus and was set twelve difficult and dangerous labours to perform.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1970

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achelous Admetus Alcestis Alcmene Alpheus Amazons Amphitryon Apollo Ares Argonauts Artemis' Hind Athena Athens Atlas Augean Stables Centaur(s) Cerberus Charon Chiron / Cheiron Cithaeron (Mount) Creon Deianeira Delphic Oracle Elysian Fields / Elysium Erymanthus Eurystheus Eurytos Garden of Hesperides Geryon Golden Fleece Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Hyllus Iolaus Iole Iphicles Ladon Lerna Megara Minos Minyans Mycenae Nemean Lion Nereus Nessus Nymphs Orthrus Persephone Pholus Phyleus Pillars of Hercules Poseidon Prometheus Pygmies Stymphalian Birds Stymphalian Lake Styx Tantalus Thebes Theseus Tiresias Titans Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus

Bernard Evslin

Hercules

This is a retelling of the myth of Hercules, aimed at young adults in novel format. The book starts with a list of characters of humans/ non humans and a short explanation of each.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1984

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Alcmene Amphitryon Atlas Augean Stables Chiron / Cheiron Deianeira Echidna Eurystheus Geryon Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hestia Hydra Iole Iphicles Nemean Lion Nereus Nessus Thebes Tiresias Typhon / Typhoeus / Typhaon Zeus

Geraldine McCaughrean

Hercules

The book narrates the life of Hercules, from his early youth to his tragic death and following deification (or rather becoming a constellation). Due to the subject matter and the mentions of murder and tragic deaths the book is more suitable for older children. (...)

literary

YEAR: 2003

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Admete Alcmene Amphitryon Apollo Artemis Athena Atlas Cerberus Chiron / Cheiron Deianeira Eurystheus Hebe Hera Heracles Hercules Hermes Hippolyta Hydra Iole Linus Megara Minos Nemean Lion Nessus Pluto / Plouton Poseidon Prometheus Stymphalian Birds Twelve Labours of Heracles Zeus

Robert (Bob) Blaisdell, Althea (Thea) Kliros

The Story of Hercules (in Easy-to-Read Type)

Hercules narrates his story, beginning with his birth as the mortal son of a god. He talks of how he was a child prodigy in warfare but failed at learning music. After killing the teacher that belittles him about failing at music, Hercules goes out into the world to learn what he can. After Hera challenges Zeus to prove Hercules is worthy of being immortal, Hercules jumps at the opportunity and completes twelve labours. (...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Achelous Achilles Admetus Aegean Sea Aeolia Aeolus Aeson Alcestis Alcmene Alcyonian Lake Althaea / Althea Amazons Amphitryon Antaeus / Antaios Aphrodite Apollo Apples of the Hesperides Arcadia Ares Argo Argolid Argonauts Athena Atlas Augeas Autolycos Automedusa Black Sea / Pontus Euxinus Calydon Castor Centaur(s) Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Chiron / Cheiron Cretan Bull Crete Cronus / Kronos Deianeira Diomedes (of Thrace) Diomedes’ Mares Echidna Elerion Enceladus Erymanthian Boar Erymanthus Eurystheus Eurytos Gaia / Gaea Geryon Giants Golden Fleece Greece Hades Hephaestus Hera Heracles Hercules Hesione Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Hylas Immortality Iolaus Iole Iphicles Ithaca Jason Linus Minos Minotaur Mycenae Nemean Lion Nephele Nessus Nymphs Odysseus / Ulysses Olympus Orpheus Pallene Pasiphae Peloponnese Perseus Pholus Pillars of Hercules Poseidon Rhea Stymphalian Birds Telamon Thebes Theiodamas (King) Themiscyra / Themyscira Thespis Tiryns Titans Troy Twelve Labours of Heracles Typhon / Typhoeus / Typhaon Zeus

Robert Newman

The Twelve Labors of Hercules

This is a retelling of the myth of Hercules, aimed at teenage children, in novel format. At the end of the book there is an alphabetic list of characters of humans/non-humans and a short explanation of each.The story begins with Hercules’ birth and Hera tricking Zeus to bless Eurystheus instead of Hercules with the reign over Mycenae. Having realized that he was trapped, Zeus promises that nevertheless “Hercules will perform deeds so glorious that his name will be remembered forever.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1972

COUNTRY: United States of America

TAGS: Alcmene Amphitryon Antaeus / Antaios Atlas Augean Stables Chiron / Cheiron Copreus Deianeira Delphi Dodona Eleusinian Mysteries Eurystheus Fate Geryon Gorgon(s) Hades Hera Heracles Hercules Hermes Hestia Hydra Iole Iphicles Medusa Megara Meleager Nemean Lion Nereus Nessus Omphale Oracles Prophecy Pythia Thebes Typhon / Typhoeus / Typhaon Underworld Zeus

Christina Balit, James Riordan

The Twelve Labours of Hercules

A picture book retelling of the story of Hercules’ life and the twelve labors he performed, aimed at younger readers and readers interested in visual storytelling. Text is accompanied by opulent pictures.(...)

literary

YEAR: 1997

COUNTRY: United Kingdom

TAGS: Admete Alcmene Alpheus Amazons Argonauts Artemis Athena Atlas Augean Stables Augeas Cacus Castor Centaur(s) Cerberus Ceryneian Hind Charon Chiron / Cheiron Colchis Deianeira Delphic Oracle Diomedes’ Mares Dionysus / Dionysos Erymanthian Boar Eurystheus Eurytos Geryon Geryon's Cattle Golden Fleece Hades Hebe Hera Heracles Hercules Hippolyta's Belt Hydra Hyllus Iolaus Iole Iphitos of Oechalia Jason Ladon Linus Minos Minotaur Mycenae Nemean Lion Nereid(s) Nereus Nessus Nymphs Olympus Omphale Peneus Perseus Pollux Poseidon Stymphalian Birds Styx Titans Twelve Labours of Heracles Underworld White Bull Zeus