Encyclopedia and Mythology Software?

[Shaun]

I was curious if anyone has heard of any really good, auto-updating encyclopedias of general stuff and of mythology. I've been trying to find something either free or reasonably priced that I can have on my computer in the event that I'm somewhere without Internet access.

Any thoughts here would be great. It'd help me make sure I can write fully in any situation.

[Jack]

Sorry Shaun. I had a look around the web and I can't find anything like that. I'll keep searching though, and get back to you if I find something :)

[Lykaios]

I heard this was brilliant:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dictionary-Mythology-Z-Themes-Legends/dp/0572032226/ref=sr_1_54?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240931247&sr=1-54

It's a book, but at least you'll have something if your intenet goes down, like you said, and it's reasonably priced, in my opinion. :)

[Crocolyle]

Wikipedia... hahaha... just kidding... but seriously.

No, um... I can't think of anything reasonably priced. Textbooks for undergrad mythology courses tend to work well, and same with Bullfinch's book on mythology, though neither book in my opinion is specific enough or detailed enough. Also, while both allude to myths they discuss the beliefs both usually don't provide actual stories, so you'd need like a companion book if you want to read actual literature (Like a book of collected myths of the respective culture: If you want Greco-Roman, I think Robert Graves is definitive. There are dozens of good Norse books/translations of the Prose Edda and Poetic Edda. I also recommend Myths and Symbols of Pagan Europe, if you want some analysis of Northern European culture. If you're into Ancient Mesopotamia (which I fell in love with during an art history course) I recommend Oxford's Myths from Mesopotamia which I just got, though it's mainly a compilation of stories recorded on fragments of clay tablets so it's a little difficult. There's also the Bible which has a lot of Good myths in the Pentateuch).

I know of no online mythological database. There probably isn't too much updating to do...

[Mercy]

I heard this was brilliant:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dictionary-Mythology-Z-Themes-Legends/dp/0572032226/ref=sr_1_54?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240931247&sr=1-54

It's a book, but at least you'll have something if your intenet goes down, like you said, and it's reasonably priced, in my opinion. :)

I have that book! It's amazing. <3

[Lykaios]

I think you were the one who recomended it to me. :P

[Shaun]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!