Barth retells the tales of Scheherezade of the Thousand and One Nights, Perseus, and Bellerophon from varying perspectives, examining the myths' relationship to reality and their resonance with the contemporary world. Dunyazade, Scheherazade's kid sister, holds the destiny of herself and the prince who holds her captive. Perseus, the demigod who slew the Gorgon Medusa, finds himself at forty battling for simple self-respect like any common mortal. Bellerophon, once a hero for taming the winged horse Pegasus, must wrestle with a contentment that only leaves him wretched.