The Hydra (Monsters of Mythology)
Grade 7 Up-- These additions to the series are stylish reworkings and elaborations. They are marked by a high literary standard, innovative and lyric imagery, and dialogue which encompasses both classical idiom and present day colloquial. There is humor, too, as when heroic Hercules states, "In this line of work, I don't figure to last too long." Evslin brings to life a colorful pantheon of gods powerful, yet subject to a host of petty human frailties. Accompanying illustrations are of paintings by the likes of Blake, Rousseau, and Rothko and of ancient and modern sculpture. Despite the series' reference to "monsters", these stories are not of the horror genre. YAs will be entertained and enchanted by these splendid titles, although both books seem to be mistitled, given their contents. The Hydra is mostly about Hercules; Scylla and Charybdis concentrates on Scylla. Libraries should, therefore, anticipate problems accessing these otherwise fine works. --Libby K. White, Schenectady County Public Library, NYCopyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.