Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect with this one. It just wasn't quite for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher/author for a review ARC.

I'm always up for anything that tackles lore, fairytales or mythology, so a look at mythology through a queer lens utilizing prose poetry sounded interesting to me. The writing itself is very lyrical, but it is something that you need to sit with and examine. It's not light, and it's not meant to be. I thought it was a really good exploration of both well known myths and those that may not be well known to a lot of people, through a unique perspective.

My first encounter with the writers writing style. I love the way how Maxwell I. Gold has answered the question by writing a confrontational, challenging book of mostly prose poems, with the occasional spurt of traditional verse (as part of a poem, not the full one) that revels in changing and bending the rules instead of worrying about them.In anOther Mythology the reader is taken on a journey of the character’s self-discovery of being more than a mortal amongst Gods, and really, the reader does to.

I couldn't finish it after 30%. It was very hard to understand what the author tried to say, and I get the impression that many of the descriptions were far-fetched. Although there were bits and pieces I enjoyed, it was all to complex to the point that I found myself re-reading again but just getting more frustrated each time.

Thank you to Maxwell I. Gold, Interstellar Flight Press, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of
"anOther Mythology: Poems" for an honest review.

As a massive fan of all things mythology, queer experiences, and poetry this was an intersection of all things I knew I had to have. While this didn't turn out to be my favorite kind of poetic reading experience, I enjoyed the visceral and raw nature of these poems and the stories we shared with the speakers therein.

(An additional shoutout to this awesome publisher for the physical copy I was offered & received after getting the Kindle one here! I will treasure this for a long time.)

I enjoyed this book. It’s funny how it was able to stick with me. I started reading this book Back in Oct, got away from reading for quite some time yet I still had this book with me when I picked it back up to finish it.

Read from September 21st, 2023 to September 22nd, 2023. Written on October 22nd, 2023.

This book of horror prose poetry was one of the best books I read in September. Just such an incredible way of writing, with compelling stories and chilling moments.

Read for your own enjoyment, enjoy reading it. Maxwell Gold really did something here and I cannot wait to own a physical copy of this.

Signing off,
B.

The first few poems left me a little confused, despite being queer myself and well-versed in various mythologies. However, as I progressed the emotions really started to hit - the misery of the closet; the pain of heteronormativity; the shame of existence as a queer person were all viscerally explored. As we come to the end things get more hopeful, with the final poem being a call to create anOther mythology, a new one that is inclusive and representative of all of us. In this collection, the various poems based on mythologies from around the world showcase heteronormativity in action and the oppression of queer people, and most importantly, they reflect on how oppression has shaped the way queer people view themselves. It was thought-provoking but also hopeful in the end, and I enjoyed it, overall!

This is such a fascinating prose collection. I really loved the twists on familiar myths and the way it was made new.

Prose poetry can be very hit or miss for me and unfortunately this collection just did not work for me. I liked the concept that was being explored but found the execution lacking.

DNF @ 36%

It’s just really not for me. I thought it would be because I love Greek Mythology, but nope. Maybe I’ll come back to it in a few years and like it more once I know even more about Greek mythology but idk. Not my type of poetry I guess.

actual rating: 3.5

I don't read a lot of poetry but it had been awhile and this looked interesting so I decided to pick it up. Overall a very short read with some interesting concepts. Definitely more on the prose poetry side than anything else so that was probably helpful to me but I know some people don't like it. Glad I picked it up since it's a bit different than what I've been reading lately.

This is a really cool concept but for me there were few times the execution was successful and I think there's a few reasons why:
-the concept grabs at a wider audience than the form can be received by. Essentially I think some of the experimental stuff doesn't hit with the audience the cover and blurb will reach. That's not to say the content is "bad" but maybe that I'm not it's intended reader, but you wouldn't know that from what you can see outside
-the mythology references were very complex and obscure. I have studied classics formally and still felt lost at times. Again, that doesn't make it poor, I just think the promised product vs the actual are quite different

Overall I wish I could have gotten into this more, but I'm going to have to go away and study first which I felt disappointed by and a tad misled by the marketing really

Having said that this is a clearly talented mind and I'd love to try returning to this when I know more

anOther Mythology by Maxwell I. Gold

If you haven’t gotten on the Maxwell I. Gold train yet, I don’t know what you are doing with your reading life.

In anOther Mythology (that title is so gotdamn clever and you will understand it once you read the book, I promise) the reader is taken on a journey of the character’s self-discovery of being more than a mortal amongst Gods, and really, the reader does to.

This is not to be read quietly and to yourself, you need to read each word aloud, forcing the words to come alive in the universe. I’m serious. I read this to my six year old for bedtime and she was captivated. The way Gold conjures images in the readers mind and they dance off your tongue with each word… remarkable.

Want proof? Here are some of my favorite lines:

“Fear, the leathery serpent-boy who slunk across the dark musty innards betwixt star and broken dreams of the universe, danced atop crumbs of dread, forever smeared beneath him.” (Say those words aloud and tell me I’m wrong!)

“Doomed to care for these wild unfortunates who glide through His lips, His sloppy seconds.”

“…granite eyes peering into my soul where he found the missing piece of his metal heart.”

Gold stuns my literary heart AND mind every time I read the newest release. I’m a fangirl through and through.

An OFF THE CHARTS, DOUBLE RECOMMENDATION 20/5.

Although I thought this poetry collection was a rather creative approach to reimagining Greek Mythology, I felt that the poems should have been more concrete character-wise; in trying to emulate depth, it occasionally came across as shallow instead.

Despite that, I still enjoyed the inclusion of queerness and horror elements, which at least gave this collection its uniqueness.

While not something truly outstanding, it's still rather bold and original.

I think I'm gonna need to read through this one again, because I don't think I understood it properly, and my raiting may change afterwards, but for now

This was beautiful prose, the creation of a new mythos while taking from the old, weaving short but beautiful scenes and images that kept my attention
i just wish that these new stories had names, if a new mythology is what the author wanted to create. It is far easier to remember and dream of the stories of Persephone, Medusa, Apollo and the likes and relate to their troubles when they are recurring names that you can put an image to. These stories didn't have that, the characters more concepts than anything else, which is nice in its own way, but not something I'd wish of a mythology

As a massive mythology nerd especially Greek mythology I was instantly pulled into this. It was a quick read of poems perfect for a quiet evening, if you want something to devour in a night pick this up. There’s a few poems I had to ask my partner which legend it was but for the most part they were pretty easy to pick out if you know your mythology.

The horror elements mixed with the Greek queer thoughts was exactly what you’ll get out of this book of poems…
Phobos Oneiroi: Into the Mouth of Fear and The Tree of Other (The Other Tree) were my two favorite poems, and highlighted so many more.

Maxwell I. Gold queers familiar Greek myths in this book of poetry and short prose. There's a lot to like: placing the myths in an intersectional framework, Gold is able to create new takes on old tales, spin ideas and words into modern contexts, and offer clever interpretations. There were also a few times when the writing felt lazy and superficial, and having read what Gold could do, those spots were disappointing. But overall this is a nice entry into the re-tellings and sequels category for myth, which seems to be a perennial reader favorite.

anOther Mythology is a queer reimagining of Greek Myths told through prose poetry. It blends intricate imagery of such Greek prose with a queer twist.

I had a mixed review on some of the work, as a lover of all things Greek Mythology, I was really excited to dive into this collection. Like most collections, some pages hit while others left me wanting more.

Some of the poems I enjoyed were:

I Am Death (Thanatos' Arrogance)
I Am Dead (Hades' Plea)
Across the Seas, Into the Desert I'd Have You Again
Drag, Queen of the Underworld
Hetero Never-After

While I enjoyed the new perspective on Greek mythology told through a queer lens, I felt that there was something missing throughout the collection. In a way, I wish the poetry did have a more modern link but that could just be a personal preference more than anything. It wasn't a collection that stood out to me in a huge way but it was overall an enjoyable read.

Thank you so much to Interstellar Flight Press for an eArc in exchange for my honest review.

My thanks to Interstellar Flight Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘anOther Mythology Poems’ by Maxwell I. Gold.

This short book of prose poetry reimagines a number of Greek myths from a queer perspective.

In the Author’s Note Gold states that he wanted to challenge the ‘heteronormative worldview’ of the old myths. “We’ve read all the stories and seen them through their lens. I wanted to reshape that lens. No, I wanted to completely break it, because it didn’t matter how we as queer people were seen, but it mattered more how we saw ourselves.”

As I am not queer I am not really in a position to judge how well this brief was met though I found Gold’s stream-of-consciousness poems easy to follow and rich in terms of imagery.

I especially enjoyed the Underworld poems including ‘I am Dead (Hades’ Plea)’, ‘Anti-Orpheus: the Music of Death’, ‘Graveyard of the Gods’, and ‘Drag, Queen of the Underworld’.

Overall, while I enjoyed ‘anOther Mythology’ it felt a very personal collection rather than one that particularly spoke to me. Other readers will likely have different experiences.

In addition, I continue to appreciate Interstellar Flight Press’ commitment to publishing poetry that encompasses mythology, horror, science fiction and fantasy themes.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.