Mythological Retellings to Read Before Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey'

Key facts

• Isabel J. Kim's debut novel 'Sublimation' is a retelling of Homer's 'The Odyssey'.
• 'Sublimation' explores immigration and identity, where a person splits into two upon immigrating.
• Christopher Nolan is adapting 'The Odyssey' into a film.
• Madeline Miller's 'Circe' retells the story of the Greek goddess Circe.
• Claire North's 'Ithaca' is narrated by Hera and focuses on those left behind during Odysseus's absence.
• Gene Luen Yang's 'American Born Chinese' adapts parts of 'The Journey to the West'.
• Naomi Novik's 'Spinning Silver' is a loose retelling of 'Rumpelstiltskin'.
• S.A. Chakraborty's 'The City of Brass' is inspired by Middle Eastern folklore.
• Lev Grossman's 'The Bright Sword' is set in a post-Arthur world.
• Diana Wynne Jones' 'Eight Days of Luke' reimagines Norse mythology.
• Genevieve Gornichec's 'The Witches Heart' is told from Angrboda's point of view.
• Dexter Palmer's 'The Dream of Perpetual Motion' is a retelling of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'.
• Kim says adaptation helps discuss contemporary issues like immigration with less bias.
• The article was published on Forbes on June 5, 2026.