This isn't a novel with a single plot. Λουκιανός - Άπαντα, Τόμος Δεύτερος is a collection of the ancient Greek writer Lucian's dialogues, essays, and stories. Think of it as a greatest hits album from the Roman Empire's sharpest critic.

The Story

There's no linear story. Instead, you jump between different sketches. In one, a cynical traveler named Menippus visits the underworld to interview dead philosophers and finds they're all still arguing. In another, the gods hold a council meeting to complain that humans have stopped sacrificing to them because the philosophers say they don't exist. He writes fictional histories that are obvious nonsense to poke fun at gullible readers, and creates dialogues where simple cobblers and barbers outsmart famous thinkers. The through-line is Lucian using humor to question everything everyone took for granted.

Why You Should Read It

I was shocked by how fresh this feels. Lucian's humor isn't dusty or academic. When he writes about historians exaggerating battles or philosophers selling bogus life advice, it's like reading a critique of modern influencers and pundits. His characters are types we all recognize: the pretentious intellectual, the greedy preacher, the liar trying to sound important. Reading him is a joy because you're in the company of a genuinely clever, skeptical mind who believed the best weapon against foolishness was laughter.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves satire like Monty Python or The Good Place, and wants to see its ancient roots. It's also great for history lovers tired of dry accounts of emperors and wars—this is the vibrant, funny, critical voice of the everyday intellectual world. If you enjoy questioning authority and laughing while doing it, Lucian is your 1,800-year-old soulmate.