PERSIAN MYTHOLOGY

Classic tales from Iran that entertain, reassure, and instruct.

Tahmaseb has imaginatively altered his material, creating what he describes as “retellings and remixes.” In casual, vernacular-inflected prose, he presents lively reimaginings of these ancient stories, describing a god’s “impressive beard” and “classy crown,” referring to a nonbinary bull with they/them pronouns, and imbuing evil spirit Ahriman with a snarky voice. Other gods are referred to as Wise Lord Ahura Mazda’s “backup”; at one point, Ahriman, “the Big Bad,” “book[s] it up to Persia.” Tahmaseb imposes unity on his work by bookending it with tales of creation and destruction (and re-creation). Lust for political power and the perpetual struggle of good against evil, light against darkness, and order against chaos fuel bloody, violent conflict. Male characters like Jamshid, Fereydun, and Rostam dominate, though readers also meet Simurgh, a kind, curious chimera who saves an abandoned child, and wise Princess Rudabeh. The inclusion of Gordafarid, a heroic female warrior, and Katayun, who insists on choosing her own husband, could have provided more gender balance. On the whole, though, Tahmaseb’s fresh takes render the stories approachable. Dalvand’s stunning art mixes Persian miniature forms and motifs with modern simplified backgrounds, stylization, and compositions in a subdued but saturated palette to ravishing effect.

A spirited, beautifully illustrated, and creative reenvisioning of Persian lore.