A sceptical mystic and inquiring rationalist, he explored the realms of classical mythology as well as scientific research in his philosophical quest.

As each reaches up to a richly laden apple bough, the boundaries between classical mythology and biblical legend are blurred.

For readers steeped in classical mythology, the story's antecedents seem obvious.

Poetry at the time was still obsessed with classical mythology, epic stories and purple prose rather than ordinary people.

The whole action-adventure/role-playing genre owes such a massive debt to the structure of classical mythology that it's a wonder it hasn't been more thoroughly plundered before now.