This was a strange project for me because initially I had to do the last leg of the relay (that changed ultimately and Vicky wrote a brilliant epilogue) but more than that, I had to write Odysseus. The Big “O.” The O-meister.
I’ll be honest—whilst I was enthused to write Agamemnon for “A Song of War,” I was really reticent about taking on Odysseus. He’s a beloved character, there have been so many great stories about him (not least of all the one in “A Song of War” by our Vicky) and I was worried about taking on that mantle. I mean—he’s Odysseus!
I originally wrote him as a vainglorious man who had disavowed the truth of his past experiences as “everyone’s fault but mine”. This was pretty much how the Romans saw him thanks to his less-than-stellar parts in “The Aeneid,” but for “A Sea of Sorrow” it wasn’t the way to go at all. I think now as I look back on all this that I went down that particular road because I was utterly intimidated by him. It was our editor in chief, Vicky Alvear Shecter, that pulled my reins on this and told me that the story needed to change direction.
I don’t know if I succeeded: that’s for you reading this to judge (and if you feel I did, it’s only because Vicky edited my story and made it… dare I say… shipshape).
It was weird writing Odysseus—depressing in a way because many people who write stories lose themselves in the person they’re writing about for a time. I did with Odysseus, that’s for sure; it made me feel older (and I’m pretty old already) and how he would be weighed down by guilt and expectation. He’s guilty over the decisions that he’s made, the actions he’s taken and the grief he has caused but ultimately, he’s a king and kings “had” to act in a certain way.
All I can say is that I hope that my version of the “wily Odysseus” met your expectations and you enjoyed the story.
Amphinomus, on the other hand, was much less worrisome because he doesn’t come with the weight of expectation (that word again) that Odysseus does. I felt for this guy too – he had full on “Mrs Robinson” love for Penelope that me the writer and I guess you the reader knew was doomed from the beginning.
However, it was fun to write with that na?ve sense of hope that all young people feel when they’re in love for the first time and for Amphinomus, this love makes him a better person. The prince he should have been. It even helps him become a leader of sorts – proving that the love for a good woman can change a man for the better.
I did find myself wishing that Odysseus would just stay with Calypso, leaving Amphinomus and Penelope to a happy ending of sorts. Sadly, with Penelope being the wife of the legend who was always going to return, it wasn’t fated to end well for poor old Amph.
These H-Team stories are of course collaborations and I’d like to take a moment to thank my fellow writers on this for their support, awesome guidance—it was Scott Oden who suggested “Outis” (the Greek for “NoOne”) in my story as Odysseus adopts his man with no name persona—and general benevolence. Writing a story in parts should be tough—but it never has been with the H-Team –thanks so much, guys—you’re awesome.
Best of luck and best wishes to all. Thank you for reading “A Sea of Sorrow.”