 |
 |
Does Harry Potter Have a Sister?
Australian schoolchildren often ask their teachers why does someone in Australia not write a Harry Potter novel? J. Robert Maze took up this challenge as well as addressing its masculine bias, writing a ‘sister of Harry Potter’-type series with figures from Greek and Indian mythology and cyberspace adventurers in place of the magicians and wizards. The Cassandra Peel novels touch the Greek myths with an electric spark. How enticing it is to read about Aphrodite’s magic bra that she lends to aid the seduction of Zeus.
Just as Aphrodite was charged with responsibility for sexual love, each Greek god represents some universal human passion. These passions are alive still, operating in present day affairs. One of the premises of Maze’s novel is that the ancient deities’ interactions offer an analogue for today’s social and international undercurrents. He holds that since the deities possess mythical being, and the myths are extant in mass entertainment, it is imaginable those old gods still exist and follow their favourite amusement of interfering in mortal affairs
|
 |
 |
Cyberspace Myth Fantasy - Female Heroine Tale of Children on the Edge of Adulthood and Sexuality
Cassandra Peel and the Wild Gods of Cyberspace combines the modern child’s facility with the internet and familiarity with the keyboard and the concept of cyber space with the enduring fantasy with Greek and other deities. The tale itself is easy to relate to – friends who want to help another teenager who is being bullied by tougher kids – seeking help from the adult world in an unusual guise and being exposed to adult frailties in the process. In some ways a tale of children on the edge of adulthood and sexuality. The heroine says at one point – I’m only 15, you know – not wanting to become caught up with the overwhelming desires and jealousies of the deities and keeping the clear sightedness of the child. The book ends with a literal overview of the world and its war-mongering ways . . . This is a subject of much concern to teenagers who, I think, would identify with the central characters of the book
Gill Boden, Psychology Lecturer, Centre for Lifelong Learning, Cardiff University, South Wales
Robert Maze has, in Cassandra Peel Series, woven together contemporary life and technology, with classical Greek mythology. . . Cassandra and her friends make great reading. I found myself immersed in the book following their antics and liking the interaction between the real world and the virtual worlds. It has a very strong message to give out which mirrors today’s society, with the oil and war. I am not really into Greek Mythology and don’t really know a lot about it (apart from Xena The Princess Warrior), but that doesn’t affect the readability - seeing the ‘gods’ come to life on the page . . . seeing them interact, help each other, even crack a joke or two, is enjoyable. The logic being different bits of technology the kids use is spot on, and adds to its ’scifi realism’. Again, it’s a bunch of kids saving the world (from World War III), but it’s almost tongue in cheek, but with a serious message. That said, I’d prefer to call Cassandra Peel And The Wild Gods Of Cyberspace predominantly ‘life-fi’, as you almost forget they’re teleporting in and out of virtual realiy, it just becomes ‘normal’ and you concentrate on the gods and people’s interaction. For all you saturated Harry Potter fans to get your teeth into. And even if you’re not, it’s a great read, thoroughly recommended. The fourth Cassandra Peel novel is due out by the middle of 2007.
SCIFI.UK.COM |
 |
|
|