Review of @NicholasQuill's Modern Myths, by @CarolinaC

One thing I've always liked about mythology is how universally applicable so many of the stories are. It doesn't matter that I'm not from Mesopotamia; I can still admire the advice Siduri gives Gilgamesh. I may not believe in the inevitable future existence of Ragnarok, but I can still feel melancholy when I read about it. Mythological stories have lasted because they are little bits of truth suspended in a matrix of the fantastic, and they speak to something basic in the human heart and soul.

In Modern Myths, @NicholasQuill takes a handful of Japanese fables and Shinto myths, and extrapolates them to the present day in a collection of six stand-alone stories. The stories deal with topics as varied as the nature of boundaries, robots, and the opinions dragons might hold on the topic of bullet trains. The stories don't have strong plots; rather, when they work (and not all of the pieces are entirely successful), the reader is left with the feeling of a travelogue or slice-of-life piece set in a slightly fractured alternate reality.

Although the stories are of uneven quality, NicholasQuill's writing consistently exhibits a dreamy, lyrical quality that carries the reader along over the occasional bumps. The sense of place is strong, which is perhaps not surprising given @NicholasQuill was living in Japan when he wrote the stories. There is not an overabundance of detail, but what there is adds to the tale being told and the lyrical feel.

Although I cannot recommend every story in the collection, I can wholeheartedly recommend the collection as a whole. Modern Myths is a lovingly-written, thoughtful read with a touch of intriguing unreality.