Island Myths with a Modern Twist
Pele in therapy. Maui as superhero. The cannibal king O‘ahu Nui in a world of shady deals and political corruption. The star-crossed naupaka lovers as Honolulu high-school sweethearts. In this one-of-a-kind anthology, old meets new as Hawai‘i’s best writers, including Ian MacMillan, Maxine Hong Kingston, W.S. Merwin, Victoria Kneubuhl, Alan Brennert and more, present favorite myths and legends in surprising contemporary settings. Here are 17 tales of old Hawai‘i—lovingly reimagined and retold for the 21st century. Editor Christine Thomas is a freelance features and travel writer and book critic.
Full list of contributing writers:
A.A. Attanasio
Robert Barclay
Alan Brennert
Timothy Dyke
J. Freen
Darien Gee
Ku‘ualoha Ho‘omanawanui
Christopher Kelsey
Maxine Hong Kingston
Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl
Ian Macmillan
Marion Lyman-Mersereau
W.S. Merwin
Wayne Moniz
Gary Pak
J. Arthur Rath III
Christine Thomas
EXCERPTS:
“Places of Entry” by Christine Thomas
“Pele in Therapy” by Darien Gee
“Language of the Geckos” by Gary Pak
REVIEWS:
Indiana University Journal of Folklore, Angeline Shaka, 11/7/2012.
Honolulu Weekly, Wanda A. Adams: Old Legends, new voices.
The Hawai‘i Book Blog: Local Book Puts Modern Spin on Hawaiian Legends.
INTERVIEWS:
Christine Thomas discusses myth and writing on The Conversation with Chris Vandercook on HPR2, 6/13/2012.
Literary Lotus 