title: Twelve Labors Of Hercules, The
author:  James Riordan 
description: Grade 3-6?A handsomely illustrated book that serves as a useful antidote to the Disney interpretation of the Greek hero's life. It tells of Hercules's birth (his semi-divine origin earned him Hera's hatred, thus dooming him to tragedy) and death, but focuses on the famous labors he performed as penance for slaying his wife and children in a Hera-induced fit of madness. The story sticks fairly closely to the myths as set forth in Edith Hamilton's Mythology (Little, Brown, 1950), although the lion that provides him the signature pelt was not the Nemean lion of his second labor as here, but an earlier beast, the Thespian lion (ancient Greece seems to have been fairly infested with lions). The hero's personality comes through, especially his impulsiveness, which often causes harm to those he loves, as does his strength and physical courage. Balit's illustrations are stylized and powerful, done in rich colors and metallic gold ink. For some reason, she portrays Hercules with his upper arms and torso encircled with black bindings, perhaps to emphasize his muscles; his face, however, seems broodingly introspective, showing him as the tragic figure he was. Both Doris Gates's Mightiest of Mortals (Viking, 1984) and Bernard Evslin's Hercules (Morrow, 1984; o.p.) give more depth and detail to the hero's life; however, they lack the full-color illustrations that make this retelling so appealing.?Pam Gosner, formerly at Maplewood Memorial Library, NJ<br />Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: Twelve Labors 4
  Iphicles
  Iphicles is accused of using the mate bond in order to release Zeus from his prison. Wanting Pegasus to have his freedom, Iphicles annuls
  the mating and then sets off to stop Aries's armies.
  Pegasus is thrilled when Iphicles agrees to be his mate, knowing the man is petrified of animals. Until he discovers that the only reason
  Iphicles agreed is because Iphicles must mate with him in order to fulfill his part of the prophecy to release Zeus from his prison.
  Pegasus's anger overtakes him and he says things he regrets. However, before he can apologize he finds out that Iphicles has annulled
  the mating and has fled into the path of Aries's armies.
  Setting out to find his mate and convince him to give them a chance at a lifetime of happiness, can Pegasus find Iphicles before the
  armies kill his mate? And can Pegasus save his mating before it is too late?
  Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Contemporary, Fantasy, Shape-shifter
  Length: 35,165 words
  
   
  
  IPHICLES
   
  Twelve