
The ancient Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh, written about 2000 years BC is the first known work of fiction of any kind. Written on clay tablets, it tells the story of Gilgamesh, king of Uruk, and Enkidu, a wild man created by the gods to stop Gilgamesh from oppressing the people of Uruk. The two become friends and have many adventures, overcoming many monsters. When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh goes on a quest for immortality. A simple summary of the story can be found on the Spark Notes site.