Book excerpt: The Gods of Arcadia: OriginsSci-Fi MythologyLong ago the Olympian gods lived with the mortals on Earth. It was a time of menacing monsters and brave heroes. It was the Age of Mythology, but it did not last. The Olympians were careless and let mankind escape from their grasp. There were too many mortals with too many new ideas to control. No matter how hard they tried, the Olympians discovered they could not stop the progress of human history. So they took the only option left to them - they started over. Transplanting a small group of human colonists to the distant planet of Arcadia, the Olympians created a new mythical world filled with robots, Amazons, computers and mythical monsters. Arcadia is a world where the future and the past live side by side in perfect harmony. Arcadia is a world where Olympians rule and mortals obey. Ardella is a follower of Athena attending the Academy in New Athens. Lyessa is the youngest daughter of the Queen of the Amazons. The unexpected meeting of these two girls turns into a life-long friendship. It does not matter that one follows Hera and the other Athena. No matter what the Gods of Arcadia have to say about it - Ardella and Lyessa will be best friends forever.