Riders Read
Yavapai College's "Riders Read" program is a college-wide common read, where the entire campus community reads and discusses the same book. The goals of this program are to spark dialog on issues of values and shared experiences among our students, faculty and staff; while modeling the kind of active reading and critical dialog expected in college-level academics.
Fit for the Gods
Zeus, Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, and the other denizens of Mount Olympus feel almost as present and larger than life today as they did when they were worshipped as gods. Humanity has been telling and retelling stories about the characters from Greek and Roman myth for centuries—heck, the Romans liked the Hellenic originals so much, they remade them faster than Marvel remakes Spider-Man movies. And from Virgil’s Aeneid to Xena: Warrior Princess to Percy Jackson to The Song of Achilles, the obsession has never waned.
Yet Fit for the Gods shows how these stories still have a power of metamorphosis that would impress Ovid. Brave, bold, and groundbreaking, the stories in Fit for the Gods will be like ambrosia for those craving fresh interpretations of their favorite myths, and give long-time fans a chance to finally see themselves in these beloved legends.
Fit for the Gods is a book that melds the old and the new, and it shows that themes can be timeless, but stories can always be rewritten. The authors of the stories in this collection take the classic myths that many of us remember from our childhood and bring them into the 21st century and even further into the future.
They address themes of patriarchy, gender, scientific advancement, and climate change along with classic themes of revenge, redemption, and heroism. The stories fall into many genres: science fiction, romance, mystery, so everyone can find something they like. Often ignored characters from the original myths become main characters. These tales have a place in many disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, languages, and across the curriculum. We hope that you will join us reading and discussing. It's sure to be legendary!
If you would like a copy of the book or have questions, contact Laura.Cline@yc.edu