Many decades ago, Dan Richman sallied forth from Whitman’s Long Island with an advanced degree in English under his belt, heading west to the fabled land of California. Landing kerplunk in San Francisco, he proceeded to make his living as a contractor while living as something of a philosopher of the natural world that envelopes our built landscape. All along the way, he’s written prolifically — poetry, plays, novels, essays.

His latest book retells a number of ancient Greek myths in a decidedly non-academic manner. Thus the subtitle: “A Rowdy Romp Through Greek Myth.” In fact, one back cover endorsement reads, “This book teeters on the edge of vulgarity.”