Let’s restrict ourselves to actual myths, not modern stories written in the mythic style; in other words, no Lord of the Rings. Are you a fan of the Aesir? Is part of you in love with Atalanta? Do you pull out a copy of the Elder Eddas on sleepless nights?
To answer my own question:
Favorite cycle: the Norse myths.
Single favorite character: probably Theseus from Greek myth.
Single favorite story: likely a tie between Thor & Loki’s expedition to retrieve the stolen hammer Mjollnir from the giants (as it’s funny as hell) and the Descent of Inanna into the underworld (as it’s so rife with imagery, subtext, & symbolism.
Anyway, that’s just me. Any other fans of myth want to weigh in?
The legend of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
I remember reading my very first book on Arthur when I was ten or so. Now after years I’ve discovered so much about the knights and Arthur himself that doesn’t live up to the fantasy, but the book I grabbed presented it just right, and that fairy-tale has never left me. And hopefully never will.
I’m a big fan of most mythologies; it tickles me pink that the aliens in Stargate: SG-1 are based on the Norse and Egyptian pantheons, for example. But if I had to pick one, I’d have to go with the overall British Isles mythos. Arthur and the Round Table are certainly included, but also the fae worlds that England, Ireland, and Wales all had a part in creating. I find stories revolving around such purely fascinating (the biggest one for me right now being the Dresden Files series).
I like Arjun of the Mahabharat, and I really like the political machinations of the Mahabharat. It just doesn’t engage my imagination quite as much as the other. Part of the reason is I’m sure because the Mahabharat is a much more “adult” story and much less romantic and way more realistic.
My favorites are the ones from the Welsh myths known as the Mabinogion. Evangeline Walton wrote a beautiful set of novels based on these stories, and Lloyd Alexander’s series which includes The Black Cauldron was also based on them.
I’m reading my first mythology book since middle school and it’s just great. It’s The Norse Myths introduced and retold by Kevin Crossley-holland.
Anyway I’m really enjoying it and even though I haven’t read anything else, I’ll still nominate it for my favorite myth cycle.
I’ll have to choose Loki as my favorite character, even though I usually dislike the “bad guys.” Most of these stories just wouldn’t happen without him and the other gods just haven’t given me anything to be a fan of.
As for my favorite story, I’d say it’s either The Treasures of the Gods where Loki get’s his comeupance or The Marriage of Njord and Skadi mostly because of the disturbing joke Loki tells about tying a goat to his scrotum.
Very, very difficult choice. Today, my favorite cycle is the Niebelungenlied and my character is Hagen of Tronje. He is dark, uncompromising, and a loyal Burgundian to the last.
If you want a real treat, read Jane Sibley’s book Norse Mythology according to Uncle Einar, but only after you’ve read the myths elsewhere. It’s a hoot, but you have to know the myths first.
Despite my username, I vastly prefer Greek and Roman mythology, especially the former.
As to the myths themselves, my favorites are Orpheus and Eurydice, and The Rape of Persephone. You should be able to tell who my favorite character is from those examples.
I’ve got books on world mythology, Hidnu mythology and more.
If I had to pick a favorite character, it would be Ananse. He’s a trickster who accomplishes great things with no powers, only his wits.
ETA
For fans of Greek myths, I strongly recommend Eddie Campbell’s Deadface/Bacchus series. It’s all about the gods (who have discovered they are not quite immortal) dealing with the modern world.
The story of Echo is pretty cool. She was a forest nymph. One day, Juno was trying to catch her husband Jupiter frolicking with the nymphs again. Echo knew what was up, and the talkative nymph had a conversation with Juno to tip off Jupiter and the other nymphs, so they could flee the angry Juno. Juno realized what Echo had done, and she whupped a spell on her. From that day on, Echo could never speak first, only reply. Her reply would be what the other person had spoken. One day, the hottie Narcissus passed by. Echo got a wide-on for him, and she ran after him. After a tragic conversation, where she could only repeat his own words back to him, Narcissus was spooked and brushed her off. Eventually, Echo faded to just a voice, repeating a speaker’s words back to him.
And that, my friends, is why Echo is now a brand of chainsaw.
