May 20, 2024 - One of my favorite books is John Gardner's 1971 novel Grendel, a reimagining of part of the epic poem "Beowulf" told from the perspective of its antagonist, the monster of the title. From the beginning Grendel comes off as sort of a petulent teenager who—when not attacking King Hrothgar's mead hall (where he kills and eats men, occasionally bringing one home for his mother's meal), chatting with a dragon about existential nihilism, or kidnapping Queen Wealtheow (whom he has something of a crush on)—explores the nature of good and evil and otherwise tries to find some meaning in the world. All before, of course, having a fatal wrestling match with the hero Beowulf. By turns philosophical, morose, and funny, Grendel is not exactly the horrific creature we've come to know from the poem they taught us in English…