Myth-o-Mania facts for kids

Myth-o-Mania is a series of books for children by Kate McMullan.

Plot

Each book is a parody of a different Greek myth starring Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. The books are never identical to the original myth, as they always put Hades in a positive light and claim that Zeus is a liar and made up the original myths in order to promote himself. The traditional hero of the myth, such as Theseus or Hercules, is usually portrayed in such a way that makes them seem a bit less of a hero, as Hades is forced to help the hero complete their quest. There are other differences between the original myth and the myth in the book as well, while these are often humorous or given a modern twist. For example, Elysium (a Greek version of Heaven) is portrayed as a perpetual rock concert, while in the Asphodel Meadows (a kind of middle ground afterlife) spirits are forced to memorize a never-ending spelling list.

Books in the series

1. Have a Hot Time, Hades! (2002) -- the story of Hades' and his siblings' childhood, in which they are eaten by Cronus and choose their domains. Basically an introduction to the Greek Gods
2. Phone Home, Persephone! (2002) -- the myth of Hades "kidnapping" Persephone and their marriage
3. Say Cheese, Medusa! (2002) -- the myth of Perseus and the Gorgons
4. Nice Shot, Cupid! (2002) -- the story of Cupid and Psyche
5. Stop that Bull, Theseus! (2003) -- the story of Theseus and the Minotaur
6. Keep a Lid on It, Pandora! (2003) -- Pandora's Box and the story of Prometheus
7. Get to Work, Hercules! (2003) -- the Twelve Labors of Hercules
8. Go for the Gold, Atalanta! (2003) -- the story of the runner Atalanta
9. Hit the Road, Helen! (2013) -- the story of the Trojan War
10. Get Lost, Odysseus! (2014) -- the story of Odysseus' voyage home after the Trojan War.