Marie Phillips

Marie Phillips is a British author best known for her debut novel "Gods Behaving Badly" (2007), which tells the story of Greek gods living in contemporary London. The novel was later adapted into a film in 2013 starring Christopher Walken and Sharon Stone. Phillips studied anthropology at Cambridge University and worked various jobs including running a comedy club and serving as a radio producer for the BBC before becoming a full-time writer. She co-wrote the BBC Radio 4 series "Warhorses of Letters" with Robert Hudson. Her other works include "The Table of Less Valued Knights" (2014), a comic novel about Arthurian legend that follows a knight who sits at the least prestigious table in Camelot. Phillips has also contributed to various publications as a journalist and columnist. She approaches mythology and classical literature with a contemporary satirical lens, often reimagining ancient stories in modern settings. Her work typically combines humor with social commentary while exploring themes of power, relationships, and human nature.

Readers appreciate Phillips' humorous take on mythology and classical themes. Her comedic timing and clever modernization of ancient stories earn praise, particularly in "Gods Behaving Badly." Multiple reviews highlight her ability to make Greek gods relatable through their mundane modern problems. Readers liked: - Fresh perspective on familiar mythological characters - Balance of comedy and character development - Quick-paced plotting - Accessible writing style for complex source material Readers disliked: - Plot predictability in later sections - Uneven character development - Some found the humor too broad or obvious Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: "Gods Behaving Badly" - 3.5/5 (40,000+ ratings) "The Table of Less Valued Knights" - 3.4/5 (1,000+ ratings) Amazon: "Gods Behaving Badly" - 4/5 (200+ reviews) One reader noted: "Phillips turns immortal beings into entertaining neighbors without losing their mythological essence." Another commented: "The premise carries the book further than the actual execution."

Gods Behaving Badly (2007) Ancient Greek gods live in a dilapidated London house in the modern day, where Apollo works as a TV psychic and Artemis is a dog walker until their powers begin causing chaos for mortals.

The Table of Less Valued Knights (2014) Sir Humphrey du Val of the Undersized Table embarks on a quest alongside a failed queen and a runaway prince in this tale set in the less glamorous corners of King Arthur's realm.

Warhorses of Letters (2012) A series of love letters between Napoleon's horse Marengo and Copenhagen, the Duke of Wellington's steed, originally broadcast as a BBC Radio 4 comedy series co-written with Robert Hudson.

Terry Pratchett reimagines mythological concepts and folklore through a satirical lens while building elaborate alternate worlds. His Discworld series shares Phillips' approach of examining modern society through fantastical elements.

Neil Gaiman blends ancient mythology with contemporary settings in works like American Gods and Anansi Boys. His writing combines humor with darker themes while exploring how old gods adapt to modern times.

Jasper Fforde creates alternate realities where literary characters and concepts exist alongside ordinary people. His Thursday Next series matches Phillips' style of mixing classical literature with modern comedy.

Christopher Moore writes comic novels that place mythological beings and supernatural elements in present-day settings. His books Lamb and Practical Demonkeeping share Phillips' irreverent treatment of religious and mythological figures.

Tom Holt writes fantasy novels that transpose mythological figures and concepts into modern bureaucratic situations. His work mirrors Phillips' combination of classical elements with contemporary social commentary.