Quests & Journeys Myths & Tales: Epic Tales

A powerful cycle of stories from many mythologies, from Greek to Norse, Japanese to Slavic. Adds to the gorgeous editions of the Epic Tales and Gothic Fantasy collections.

Quests and journeys are fundamental to many mythologies, often reflecting the human desire for knowledge and understanding. In Sumerian and Babylonian legend we find Gilgamesh seeking immortality; from the Norse, Odin sacrifices his eye in his quest for the utmost wisdom; from Greek mythology comes Jason and the Argonauts and Odysseus. And there are recurring themes, with heroes yearning for their loved ones in the underworld or to defy death, so from Japan comes the tale of Izanagi searching for Izanami in Yomi, the land of shadows and the dead; and from Polynesia, the god Māui’s fateful journey to the belly of the Goddess of the Underworld in order to find immortality. And of course, from Arthurian legend, the search for the Holy Grail brings profound self-discovery to the knights Bors, Percival and Galahad. This new collection is a wonder of tales from every corner of the world.

The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.

Matt Cardin (Foreword) is the author of To Rouse Leviathan and What the Daemon Said and the editor of Mummies around the World, Horror Literature through History, and Born to Fear: Interviews with Thomas Ligotti. A former professor of English and religion, he has a Ph.D. in leadership and a master’s degree in religious studies. His work has been nominated for the World Fantasy Award and praised by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Library Journal, Asimov’s Science Fiction and more.