I think what thenewgreen is referring to are different translations, abridged versions, etc. When it comes to works that are translated or retold, various authors have benefits over others. For example, you could have two different authors translating the same epic poem. One author might produce a translation that is seen as more poetic and easier to read while the other author might produce a translation that is more literal. Both are arguably true to the spirit of the original works, but both have different strengths and weaknesses. Since we're talking about rewriting works, you might want to check out the graphic novel The Infinite Horizon is a sci-fi retelling of The Odyssey, and a semi-decent one at that, that shows how you can take another's work and tweak it. Another great example would be Wicked, which is a series that retells The Wizard of Oz from a different perspective.And what about Odyssey? Has someone rewritten it?