What's the point in giving you a summery for a 4,000-word short story? So here's what I'll do instead: I'll give you a lesson in physics. Sound good? Cool. Ever hear of the second law of thermodynamics? Yes? But you have no clue what it means? Okay, well we can work with that. Here's what Wikipedia has on the subject:
The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy of an isolated system never decreases, because isolated systems spontaneously evolve towards thermodynamic equilibrium—the state of maximum entropy.

Pretty simple, right? What do you mean you don't understand entropy? Of course you understand entropy, I assure you. Every time you see a sand castle crumble away in the wind, every time your car breaks down on the road, every time somebody you know dies and is gone forever... you are seeing entropy in motion. Entropy is the measure of disorder in a system... a measure of chaos. The second law of thermodynamics tells us that entropy in a closed system, be it your sand castle, car, or life... never decreases, it will only ever increase to maximum.

But here's the thing, it's not really a law by any means. Nothing in all of actual physics states that this must be, physics actually says it's perfectly possible for random sand molecules to be blown in a way where they land and form a perfect sandcastle (instead of making one crumble away). So why not? Why don't we see things this happen? Statistics. Yes, the second law of thermodynamics is actually a statistical principle; entropy could indeed decrease in a system (any system this would be considered a perpetual motion machine), but it's just not statistically ly.

Meaning a sand castle could coincidently form by the winds blowing dust randomly..., but it won't. It won't because the statistical lihood of the wind and molecules to just happen to be in the right position and velocity for this sand castle to just appear is so slim, I do not have enough memory in my computer to type out all the zeros I need to put behind the odds of it happening (1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000,...).

This statistical principle is so powerful and universal, we call it a law. It explains a lot of things in our universe. Before we knew about the second law of thermodynamics, it used to bother physicist that we could move in any direction in space (up, down, forward, backward) but we could only move in one direction in time. Space and time being so closely linked, why was it we could only move forward in time? It’s because entropy always increases that we move forward in time (and never back in time), in a way time is just a measure of increasing entropy. We only go from one moment to another as entropy increases.

Ahhh, I see what you are thinking. Yes, our universe is a closed system, and yes that does mean it will die, . You think it's a little sad that in the end chaos will always win? I don't think so, after all life is beautiful don't you think? Life is amazing in that it can bring a little bit of order in this chaotic world, but funny enough, without entropy there would be no life. So I don't think it's sad, it's just the natural state of affairs that we will grow old, live our lives fighting entropy, and we will die. it's really quite beautiful.

If you want to read a book that asks the questions: what if we could defeat entropy? What if we could win? What would happen? Read this book.
favorite-favorites favorites fiction ...more545 s1 comment Nataliya855 14.2k

This is certainly classic science fiction. A cosmic question that might not be ever solved. It’s even grander than the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything, to which we know the answer (42!) but not the question itself.

Here we know the question - can the entropy leading to eventual, billions-of-years-in-the-future end of the Universe be reversed? Can the supercomputer answer that?

"THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER."

I can’t say my little human mind that has a lifespan dwarfed by that of a mayfly on a galactic scale can really feel the existential anguish of the thought that countless billions of years from now the Universe may just cease. There are certain matters that lack relevance due to their sheer cosmic enormousness.

But still, the answer in this one is lovely, and exactly what I thought it would be.

The story is here: http://youcanscience.com/wp-content/u...

Classic.

——————
Recommended by: Peter2020-reads shorts101 s2 comments Ahmad Sharabiani9,564 148

The Last Question (When the World Ends), Isaac Asimov

A science fiction short story by American writer Isaac Asimov.

The story deals with the development of a series of computers called Multivac and their relationships with humanity through the courses of seven historic settings, beginning in 2061.

In each of the first six scenes a different character presents the computer with the same question; namely, how the threat to human existence posed by the heat death of the universe can be averted.

The question was: "How can the net amount of entropy of the universe be massively decreased?"

This is equivalent to asking: "Can the workings of the second law of thermodynamics (used in the story as the increase of the entropy of the universe) be reversed?"

Multivac's only response after much "thinking" is: "INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR MEANINGFUL ANSWER." ...

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????? ?????? ????? 15/06/1399???? ???????? ?. ??????? Tyler1 review17


JUST GOOGLE IT AND READ IT!!! A very quick 15 minute read and easily one of the best sci-fi short stories I've ever read. Whatever their literary tastes, anyone is capable of thoroughly enjoying this great work by one of the greatest sci-fi authors of all time! The last two sentences will leave your mind more blown than
a Chippendales stripper
anything in or remotely involved with a film directed by Michael Bay
Lindsey Lohan’s stockpile of cocaine
the proportions of human stupidity
the candles on a Centenarian’s birthday cake

your prior, generally optimistic, outlook on life after witnessing (spoiler alert to all living under a rock) TWD’s Hershel dying

the jet stream bringing this colossal Arctic Vortex

a bipolar withdrawing methhead’s gasket after having no paying “customers” behind the local Denny’s due to said Arctic Vortex

the federal government’s revenue
SpongeBob’s bubble wand
that time you was kidnapped by that cult (you remember what you did)
Dorothy and her little dog too in that tornado
your nose while suffering through bird flu

my hopes of finding a proper metaphor for the rather succinct point I’m trying to make

Louis Armstrong’s trumpet
the opportunities of your poor miserable life
Princess Leia’s home planet after its minor encounter with the first Death Star
your tear ducts after a commercial involving Sarah McLachlan

water through Chris Christie’s secret blowhole (You doubt this infallible review?! We’ll get back to your punishment later but rest assured that hidden blowhole is there)

a suicide bomber
the innards of one dying from Ebola
the socks off a just former virgin

that rat-tag bastard James (the one on my list (you know who you are (eh probably (if not the list just happens to coincidentally be posted behind (where else?) Denny’s (to the left of the backdoor but to the right of that oddly colored blood stain (if you enjoy parentheses though you don’t have to worry about being on my horror inducing atrocity-proximate list though))))))

Obama’s reputation
all your meager, pathetic hopes and fragile psyche after the Red Wedding
when you hear the wedding ring explanation for Inception’s ending! (Finally nailed it!)


sci-fi88 s Cecily1,195 4,590

“The last question was asked for the first time, half in jest, on May 21, 2061”
a children’s picture book, this has six iterations of a scenario, repeated with small changes each time. Even the progression of the characters’ names tells a story: of humanity’s - and computers’ - development on earth and far beyond, over billions of years. There’s also something rather child about the successive generations of humans with their pedantic disputes and repeated questioning.

However, the ideas require a more adult mindset: mortality, immortality, predestination, extinction, eternity, faith (religion?) versus science, AI and beyond, finite fossil fuels, and infinite solar power.
Well, the last one isn’t quite infinite; it will last “Till the sun runs down”.
But what then - can entropy be reversed?

“INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR MEANINGFUL ANSWER”

The ending is to die for, even though you’ll probably divine it before you read the last line.


Image: Stunning illustration for the story, by Fran Fdez (Source)

See also

• Read the story HERE. It’s about a dozen pages and was published in 1959.

• If you want to understand entropy more than is explained in the story, see Wikipedia HERE, or the simple English version, HERE. However, there’s no need to.

• Transhumanism is nothing to do with gender, and although Asimov doesn’t use the term, he does portray it. See Wikipedia HERE.

• This story has more belief in Malthus’ 1798 An Essay on the Principle of Population than I have. See my review HERE

• In the 1940s or 50s, Flanders and Swann penned a comic song about entropy, First and Second Laws (of thermodynamics). My review of their songbook, HERE, has has links to the lyrics and to a recording.

• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams started as a radio drama in 1978. He pioneered comedy sci-fi, but the story is not quite as original as I’d previously believed. See my review HERE.

• Galapagos by Kurt Vonnegut in 1985, features Madarax, which is very The Hitchhiker’s Guide. See my review HERE.

• Life After Life by Kate Atkinson is a very different sort of novel, but uses a narrative device of second changes at life, and alternate paths. See my review HERE.


Image: xkcd 1448, “Question”. Mouseover text is: “The universe long dead, IsaAC surveyed the formless chaos. At last, he had arrived at an answer. 'I you,' he declared to the void, 'but I don't LIKE you.'” (Source)colonialism-exploration-empires god-religion-faith philosophical-dilemmas ...more85 s J.L. Sutton666 1,083

A short story about…entropy? A reader might question how exciting such a tale can be!



In “The Last Question,” Asimov presents nearly immortal humankind facing the end of all existence, “The last question was asked for the first time, half in jest, on May 21, 2061, at a time when humanity first stepped into the light. The question came about as a result of a five dollar bet over highballs, and it happened this way ...” Asimov tells a story that stretches billions of years into the future with both characteristic seriousness and a nod to the comical. At that point, even if the question is answered, but man is no longer around, is the question relevant? Great ending! 3.5 stars 60 s Wilier111 77

Este cuento o relato corto me ha dejado perplejo, no solo por la cantidad de ciencia ficción y geekismo que posee si no también en un sentido filosófico...

¿En que momento dejaremos de existir como humanidad y que podemos hacer para evitarlo?

Bajo este premisa se desarrolla toda la historia con un final que te deja la boca abierta y la mente ocupada por varios días. Te preguntas si es posible que ese final sea factible y si no nosotros como raza estamos tan locos como para hacer eso y la verdad es que si... Si lo estamos.

Impresiona que el relato se haya escrito hace tanto tiempo y que siga tan vigente su premisa, es una genialidad por parte de Asimov.

Deben leerlo, no toma mas de 30 minutos.asimov ciencia-ficción filosof-a58 s Adrian604 232

It’s Asimov, it’s a classic golden age SF short story, it’s original with so much packed into so few pages and just maybe it’s prophetic.
I don’t often split out a particular story from a “best of “ or other compendium of short stories, but this is just so iconic that I’ve rated it as a separate entity favorites sci-fi sf-golden-age ...more47 s Dream.M676 90

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?????? ?????short-story43 s Komal268 386

Mind blown in 5 pages.

I've never wondered so deeply about the walks of our universe in 22 years of my life as much as I have in the span of barely fifteen minutes, which began with me opening this story and ended with me finishing it.

There is no proper review for me to provide to do justice to a book this short-lived and astounding.
Read it and you'll know it.classics science-fiction short-stories39 s MannyAuthor 34 books14.9k

Steinhardt and Turok's book Endless Universe spends a surprising amount of time discussing this classic SF short story. I think that tells us something both about Isaac Asimov and about the state of modern early-universe cosmology.
39 s Peiman463 136

????? ???? ?? ????? ????
?????? ?? ???? ? ??????????? ???? ????? ???? ? ????? ???? ????? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ? ???? ??????? ???? ???? ????.?
?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ? ????? ?????.??????-?????? ??????-????? ????? ...more37 s SaraAuthor 1 book740

I cannot deny that Asimov is a brilliant mind and on an intellectual level that probably makes me an amoeba, but there is something falsely brilliant about this story that repelled me. It is an absence of any belief system for man, a belief in nothing except the technology he creates that outstrips him and leaves him a disembodied, un-individualized Borg. Even Star Trek knew that no matter how efficient the collective might be it was not the answer. What good is immortality to these people, for that matter what good would it be for any of us? There is an answer to the Last Question, maybe just not the answer people want to hear.

Queen got it right. Who Wants to Live Foreverclassics sci-fi short-stories-novellas ...more35 s Richard Derus3,185 2,102

I listened to this audiobook on YouTube.

MQ17J of Nicron saying the Galaxy would be filled in five years? VJ23X is such a putz. 20,000 years and the Galaxy is filled up, and that doesn't suggest an inevitable bad end for Humanity?! Thomas Malthus was right, per Asimov.

Happen I agree...though I doubt my sense that this is the one and only planet we'll have a chance to fuck up. Entropy is a mean ol' daddy and we don't have (and won't IMO) the nous to grow out from under his hateful rule.

THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL ANSWER.

There always will be.downloads30 s Franco Santos483 1,443

Interesante explicación del origen del universo. No puedo decir mucho más de lo que pienso porque sería spoiler, pero muy interesante historia.32 s PattyMacDotComma1,585 945

4?
“For decades, Multivac had helped design the ships and plot the trajectories that enabled man to reach the Moon, Mars, and Venus, but past that, Earth's poor resources could not support the ships.”

This short story was written in 1956 and begins more than a century later, in 2061. Two men, Adell and Lupov, are congratulating themselves on having attended to Multivac, a giant computer with a “cold, clicking, flashing face—miles and miles of face” so well that it has solved the energy problem for space exploration.

Coal and uranium won’t supply enough power to take ships beyond the Moon, Mars and Venus, but Multivac has now got all of Earth running on sunpower, thanks to the feeding of data and questions by the two men who are now celebrating.

But, but, but – everything runs out eventually, doesn’t it? Will we be able to restore the sun one day, once its power has been depleted? They decide to ask Multivac, which seems to know everything. They place a $5 bet on the answer. They have a long wait.

“Multivac fell dead and silent. The slow flashing of lights ceased, the distant sounds of clicking relays ended.

Then, just as the frightened technicians felt they could hold their breath no longer, there was a sudden springing to life of the teletype attached to that portion of Multivac. Five words were printed: INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR MEANINGFUL ANSWER.

"No bet," whispered Lupov. They left hurriedly.

By next morning, the two, plagued with throbbing head and cottony mouth, had forgotten about the incident.”

Through many generations, computers and people change, and conversations about the problem all conclude with that generation’s version of “Ask Siri” or “Google it”. The interactions between friends, parents and children, co-workers, and others are all recognisable and entertaining.

Trigger warning: You may inadvertently learn some science and home truths.

I have to remind myself that this was written before many of today’s readers were even born, let alone reading science fiction. Asimov had an uncanny sense of the future and great concern about the offhand way humanity considers serious issues.

It’s a short story, available free online here: https://www.multivax.com/last_questio...

Asimov was a fascinating man, interesting writer, and great thinker. I particularly enjoyed his 1988 interview with Bill Moyers, which you can watch here, or read the transcript. https://billmoyers.com/content/isaac-...

aa fiction free ...more31 s Belén86 40

Estaba segura que odiaba la ciencia ficción... hasta hoy.30 s George Kaslov103 153

The only question worth asking.sci-fi30 s HaMiT191 36

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science-fiction26 s Sina117 105

??????? 2400 ??? ??? ?? ?????:
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?????? ?????????? ??? ???:
????? ???: «??! ??? ????? ???? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ???. ??????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????»
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????? ??? ??? ?? ??????? ? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????... ? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ???.

????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ???. ?? ?????? ??? ?????. ????? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ????. ????? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ????? ? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????? ????? ????. ? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ???. ?? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????. ??? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ??????... ? ?? ?????? ??? ????.
????? ???? ???? ????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ????? ???? ???.

?.?. ???? ????? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ???-??? ????? ? ???? ?? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ????? ? ??? ?????. ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ? ????? ?????. ????.sci-fi short-stories24 s Sara Bakhshi1,325 335

?? ???? ??? ??????!
?? ???? ?????? ????? ????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ??? ? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? «??? ? ?? ??? ???!!!» ? ???. ??? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ? ??? ???? ???? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ???? ???????
??? ??? ?? ?? ????? ???? ???? (??????? ??? ????? ?? ????) ??? ??? ????.
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????? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ? ?? ???? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ? ???? ???? ????? ???????.
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________
?? ??? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ??????????? ?
?? ???????? ??? ???? ? ????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??????. ???????? ???? ????? ????? ??????? ???? ??? ???????. ??? ??? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? (???? ?? ????? ????????) ???? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ????. ????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???????? ????? ???... ????? ???? ???? ??? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???????.25 s10 comments Gorab711 127

THERE IS AS YET INSUFFICIENT DATA FOR A MEANINGFUL REVIEW.

sci-fi short-stories z201824 s ????1,082 1,949

?????? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ???? ? ???? ???? ???? ???? (?? ????????? ?? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?????) ? ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???? ? ????????. ????? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ??? ???. ??? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ???. ??? ??????? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ????. ???? ?? ??? ?? ????. ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ????.

?? ?????? "????? ????" ? "????? ????" ?????? ?? ????? ? ?????. ?????? ????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? ???.

???? ????? ????? ?? ??????:
????? ????
????? ??????????-????? ????-?????22 s Kels315 164

Our Sun will support life for billions of years, but what happens when it burns out? Perhaps future technology will enable us to seek out the safety of distant stars and habitat new planets, but then eventually those stars will die too. So is life as we know it, and all of mankind, destined to be doomed? Is it possible to reverse entropy?

This short story starts off in the year 2061 (keep in mind this was written in 1956) and follows the evolution of man and the subsequent advancement of technology throughout the ages. Split into seven sections, each story features a different POV that takes you further into the depths of space and time, racing towards the end of humanity, and ends with the resounding question, How exactly may entropy be reversed? growing ever more important. This question, propelled by man's innate desire to live forever, is oft repeated, yet never is there enough data to give a "meaningful answer" by the pansophical Multivac, a self-learning machine capable of evolving and expanding itself into the universe, which humans have now found themselves increasingly dependent on.

The world Asimov creates is simply incredible, and downright ingenious. Even today, The Last Question rivals the ingenuity of science fiction novels, and transforms speculative fiction into something more thought provoking and profound. It is daring, and I found myself growing more and more transfixed as the story progressed, and the imposing, unanswered question became critically relevant.

So, has Man been doomed from the start? Can entropy ever be reversed? And will the answer come soon enough before life as we know it cease to exist?

The answer will surprise you.alternating-povs awesome-ending books-that-linger ...more22 s Stiven Salazar123 14

Me dejo realmente sorprendido, Asimov es un GENIOOOOOO...... Ese final me dejo con la boca abierta, solo asimov podría considerar y crear algo de tal magnitud en tan pocas páginas..... me encanto22 s Janete on hiatus due health issues762 416

What a genius! I never read or listened to Isaac Asimov's text. An audiobook in Portuguese. This a science fiction short story written by Isaac Asimov in 1956. The story deals with the development of computers (artificial intelligence) called Multivacs and their relationships with humanity through the courses of seven historic settings, beginning in 2061.favorites19 s Denisse509 298

Yes. When you want to actually think on what you are reading, pick this short story. Isaac Asimov was a genious, oh yhea. Science "Fiction" in its most perfect example.



Santo Dios
Jesús en la Cruz!
Santo niño de atocha!
Ave Maria Purisima!
Mas todas las exclamaciones que se te puedan ocurrir (Insertar aquí).

Lean este relato. Solo léanlo y ya. No pregunten, no digan nada. Solo háganlo. Un sumamente interesante relato sobre el hombre, la maquina, la mente, el universo y la entropia.
Me encanta que termina como si fuera tipo Dios #MindBlowing best-shortstories19 s Jeraviz961 551

Siempre he pensado que la última pregunta que se hará la Humanidad será alguien diciendo: "¿Qué pasará si aprieto este botón?".
Pero Asimov plantea en este relato una pregunta mucho más interesante y transcendental demostrando el maestro que es en Ciencia Ficción.
Los relatos de Asimov casi que me gustan más que sus novelas.audiobook science-fiction short-stories19 s Fernando700 1,095

¡Big Bang!18 s Jo (The Book Geek)890

Long ago, 10 yo me picked this book in the public library because the cover looked cool - in France we don't have the same one. I remember that I d it a lot. So when the library sold books for charity and I saw the trilogy in there, I took my chance and bought them so I could read them again. Had little me good tastes?

Whether or not I had great tastes, it's the book that made me so invested in the gorgons - my passion for the Minotaur came later. It made me know what no other story told me before, that Stheno and Euryale existed. This book is the reason I'm writing my own mythology retelling today. I'm forever grateful for that.

About the story and its quality, here is what I can say:
Be it nostalgia or not, I d this book as much as the first time. I was rediscovering the characters and I enjoyed it very much.

The characters are all unique and the monsters are depicted as persons that just happen to be different, with their life, struggle and loneliness. They were strong, had their weaknesses, as everyone does. They were loving and caring. I loved their depiction a lot - as well as the heroes', with a representation I wish I'd see more often: not glorified.

The writing is sometimes a bit childish. I don't know if it's the translation that is at cause here or if it's actually true to the original style. Either way, it didn't really bother me as it was fluid and nice to read nonetheless. Also, I believe the story is aimed at children, so that makes sense to me.

What confused me a little is the timeline. It is clearly hinted that the Trojan War hasn't happened yet. And yet, they talk about Homer and his stories, which is about that same Trojan War...

Other than that, good book! Mixing sweet scenes, humor and some quite dark, it is a beautiful story.
I can't really judge on the quality of the actual writing as I own a translation, though.2 s Julie1,343 8

Mythology has always been an inspiration for YA fiction, and Greek mythology in particular has been conspicuous of late thanks to Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series. CIM is the first of a trilogy by Tobias Druitt (a pseudonym for a mother-son writing team in which the mother is a literature professor, though interestingly not classical literature).

Riordan and Anne Ursu, Druitt pulls figures from Greek myth and reinterprets them, in this case by making the traditional mythological monsters – Medusa, the Sphinx, the Minotaur, etc. – into sympathetic characters who are misunderstood by humans and attacked by the Olympian gods. Where Riordan uses humor and clever modernization of myth, and Ursu marries the snarky modern teenage girl into a creepy mythological framework, Druitt reverses “us” and “them” but otherwise sticks to mythological tradition. Monsters are heroic and heroes are cowards; Corydon, the titular hero, has one goat-leg and is cast out of his village, but finds a family and a purpose (in true coming-of-age fashion) amongst the monsters on a Greek island at some time in the pre-industrial past.

Druitt includes some asides that reference mythological figures and stories that do not make it into the glossary in back. I guess they function “Easter Eggs” on DVDs – if you know about them you get a special something (in this case, self-satisfaction), but they don’t really affect one’s enjoyment of the rest of the book. 1 Jane208 7

Admittedly I bought this book but was not expecting a great deal from it as the blurb was interesting but the book title was atrocious! When I had finished the first couple of chapters I was far from convinced that I was going to enjoy it but fortunatly it prooved me wrong. (NOTE- I would have wanted to give it 3.5 stars but there are no halves here to give and it didn't feel a 4 star.)

Once the story truly begins this book is gripping but a lot of characters feel underdeveloped although I assume that they are building up for greater things in the subsequent books. Throughout reading the book I found myself with little interest relating to the fate of the main character Corydon and much more interested in Medusa and even the Naeman Lion (who had few parts). For the most part I do not feel it would have made any difference as to if Corydon was in the book at all (except for maybe the title might have been better!)

Character development aside though (as there is always room to progress especially in a series of books) I found the story compelling a group of outcasts shunned, taunted and hunted down and all that occurs inbetween. I enjoyed the Sthenno and Eurayle especially as with these characters personality really shined through as with the underplayed Minotaur. The use of the staff is very interesting as the story goes on and is worth holding out for.

1 Jackie4,289 46

Corydon, a simple sheep-herder, is an outcast exiled from his village because of his deformed goat- leg. Little does he know that he will become a hero as he joins forces with the monsters Medusa, the Minotaur, Sphinx, the Gorgons and othera to defeat the Olympian heroes led by Perseus. Corydon is the son of Pan, and he fulfills his destiny as he defeats the heroes, expelling them from the island. Along the way, he journeys to the world of Hades, meets shades and also encounters Persephone (the Lady of the Flowers), where she gently guides him in his brave and glorious quest. In the battle, the monsters lose two of their own, including Medusa who Corydon accepted as his second mother, but they gloriously celebrate her life, with her son by birth, Gorgoliskos. Together, the remaining monsters will raise and nurture little Gorgo as his mother would have wanted. At the feast to celebrate Medusa's life and bravery, Corydon is befriended by a stranger who hints of a prophecy which fortells of his new quest. adventure fantasy heroes-heroines ...more1 Nesrine Kooli76

Rich in mythological creatures.
New sides of Medusa and Perseus discovered.
An excellent manipulation of the greek mythology mixed with adventure, mystery and friendship!1 Nico DiPinto4

When i started reading it i thought it was way too dull for me but i kept reading and it was actually such a fun adventure and it was very adorable, although pretty predictable, but there were some things i didnt see coming. everything tied together nicely which i d and it was just so cutebookshelf Aelvana1,390 22

Corydon was a simple shepherd boy, although an outcast. Then one day pirates kidnap him to use in their show of monsters because his leg is twisted. There he meets a host of monsters that are the other exhibits: a lion that breathes fire, a man with the head of a bull, and most frightening of all, the one he cannot see because she turns men to stone. But when he gets the chance to escape, he decides to side with the monsters.

The book lightly skewers Greek myths even as it makes much of them. Perseus is a great hero only in looks; Medusa is sharp-tongued but warm-hearted. Even the gods themselves, though true to character, are often whimsical exaggerations of myth. Zeus is so busy and absent-minded he can't even be bothered to remember Perseus's name. And Corydon himself makes an endearing hero. He isn't strong or clever or gifted, but it is his actions that will save them all.

For a children's book, this had a few surprisingly detailed scenes of war, as well as a veiled flashback showing how Medusa got pregnant. The end lost itself a little; I was not at all clear why Corydon had to stab Hades or why that occurred to him (he needed the blood, but why?). And Kharmides is more tagging along with Corydon than doing anything himself, so it was hard to see how he was going with to help Corydon.

In the end, the book's appeal is largely going to depend on the myth it embraces. If yet another re-imagining of Greek gods, a whimsical one, sounds at all interesting then this may be worth a look. I rate this book Neutral. Terri857 26

Corydon is driven out of his village when his neighbors discover his birth defect, one goat leg, and he is captured by the operators of a freak show of Greek monsters including Medusa, the Sphinx, and others. Corydon helps them escape, and their adventures retell the Greek myths from a new perspective in which it is the gods and heroes who are evil and the monsters are tragic. The tone of the book is not always consistent, shifting from the serious tone of high fantasy into serio-comic or sarcastic humor at times, but the tale is interesting for its twist on the traditional point of view. The author also draws several obscure allusions that may elude modern readers, but middle graders interested in mythology and fans of Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will enjoy this first novel. Sapphire Pyro85 25

~ Longer version @ my blog

It was cool to attempt to give the readers a different perspective on mythology and making the monsters the good guys..... but it's extremely boring. The book's trying to make the monsters as sympathetic as possible so hard... to the point that they've become annoying instead of pitiful. The "villains" are at least more entertaining, thanks to their silliness.series-teen Mary17

I loved the way Perseus was portrayed as a coward instead of a hero. The generalizations that the Olympians are good and the monsters are bad was flipped and the monsters seemed heroic and the heros seemed...inglorious. I knew the legend about Perseus slaying Medusa and I was sad when I realized the way the story would end. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full reviewgreat-fanatsy Marsha309 7

There were some fun things about this book--it was full of Greek mythology, I occasionally d some of the characters, and parts of the writing were ironic and funny--but there were a lot of slow parts and I only occasionally d the characters. I had to force myself to finish, but maybe I am on juvenile book overload.juvenile no195

It was very interesting. I've read so many books about Greek mythology, but this one was a mixture of everything. The ending made me really sad. Most of it made me sad. It's not a happy story, but one of overcoming. I'm not going to read the others in the series, but I'm glad I finished this one. Mrs. Trimble293 8

If you the Rick Riordan books, you'll Corydon. Medusa, gorgons, Zeus and Perseus are main characters. The "monsters" are living on an island and Perseus is determined to defeat them to give himself more credibility with his . This is a book about friendship, adventure and power.fantasy read-teen-ya Jamie Wates19

A really good book, interestingly told from the monsters side of view. the monsters of the island must unify together to defeat the army led by Perseus, who is a coward. Will Corydon learn the magic powers of the staff in time to save his friends? Kevin1,019 48

Interesting twist on the Greek Myths - the monsters are the good guys.
The monsters become more than just symbols but characters with personalities and feelings. Some violence but imaginative and entertaining first book in this trilogy. It will be interesting to see how the series develops. Robin59 17

I read this book ages ago and I've been trying to remember the name. Today, it came to me. I might into the other books. This was a great read and fleshed out some rather flat, tropey figures from well-known Greek myths into real characters with real pain. Sq.Hill Library111 3 Want to read

Read a to Percy Jackson Series.fantasy Luane10

This book is the fruit of reading Alice in Wonderland for the first time. I discovered the joy of reading fantasy children's books. Kate Hastings2,128 41 Read

For Percy Jackson Fans? SLJ grades 7-9.middle-school Hamda AlKhaja8

good
natercopia163 29 Want to read

Just because one of the co-author is a 12 year old boy and was featured in Child Genius. charlotte,3,416 1,030

Rep: physically disabled mc4-stars disabilities-disorders-illnesses gods-and-other-deities ...more Soccerboy9

did not finish Luisa440

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