A great read! The paragraphs at the end of IV particularly stood out to me, as both a classicist and a fan of sci-fi. Definitely hit the nail on the head, in Classics it is very easy to liken epic poems with our modern sci-fi blockbusters because they fulfil very similar areas, adventure into the unknown yet still feasible and human. Also, for fans of both Greek Mythology and Sci-fi, check out Lucian's 'A True History' (if you can find a copy, it's quite rare). It is an actual sci-fi written in Ancient Greece which is both as wacky and as wonderful as it sounds! (I will publicly commit to writing an article on it for my own substack, but only when I have finished my translation of it)
I've been wanting recently to rewatch Space Odyssey, indeed as so called "research"/ source of inspiration for a piece in the works, my own "space fantasy." I've demurred partially out of worry that it might be dated, but writing this down I recall my admiration for all of Kubrick's work.
Despite the name, I never thought about it as an adaptation of Homer's work.
As for Ulysses, I've been more hesitant, partially because of the difficulty I have had with his other works (Portrait of a Young Artist, that is), and partially because a good friend of mine was not a fan. I recall, too, Nabokov's provocative assertion that, despite others' claim that to properly comprehend the work one should have a knowledge of Irish history (or was it indeed of the Odyssey? I can't remember which), it is Dublin's geography that one should have a grasp on. And which I don't. I have been, however, giving Finnegans Wake some attention lately, encouraged by a reading (audio book like) of one youtuber. He has not finished the project and I wondered if I could prod him to do so by setting up a gofundme kind of production.
I appreciate this piece of yours, too, because it encourages me to go salvage something from my own writing. A decade ago (how time flies) I was working on a novel that I did not and likely never will finish. There's a chapter there that, too, looks both ways. Backwards it models itself after a part of Alice in Wonderland (as does some of Finneganse Wake, as it happens). I am yet to see if it's going to be one of the cases when I look at old writing of mine and find myself delighted by the reading, or one of the other cases. If the former, I think it could rather easily be made a stand alone short story.
Very thorough and astute and interesting essay and analysis. I agree with the lines "It is an old story / But one that can still be told." Everything timeless is also timely and universal. Perhaps why 2001 is still watchable and appreciated by so many in different ways.
A great read! The paragraphs at the end of IV particularly stood out to me, as both a classicist and a fan of sci-fi. Definitely hit the nail on the head, in Classics it is very easy to liken epic poems with our modern sci-fi blockbusters because they fulfil very similar areas, adventure into the unknown yet still feasible and human. Also, for fans of both Greek Mythology and Sci-fi, check out Lucian's 'A True History' (if you can find a copy, it's quite rare). It is an actual sci-fi written in Ancient Greece which is both as wacky and as wonderful as it sounds! (I will publicly commit to writing an article on it for my own substack, but only when I have finished my translation of it)
A delightful read, thank you.
I've been wanting recently to rewatch Space Odyssey, indeed as so called "research"/ source of inspiration for a piece in the works, my own "space fantasy." I've demurred partially out of worry that it might be dated, but writing this down I recall my admiration for all of Kubrick's work.
Despite the name, I never thought about it as an adaptation of Homer's work.
As for Ulysses, I've been more hesitant, partially because of the difficulty I have had with his other works (Portrait of a Young Artist, that is), and partially because a good friend of mine was not a fan. I recall, too, Nabokov's provocative assertion that, despite others' claim that to properly comprehend the work one should have a knowledge of Irish history (or was it indeed of the Odyssey? I can't remember which), it is Dublin's geography that one should have a grasp on. And which I don't. I have been, however, giving Finnegans Wake some attention lately, encouraged by a reading (audio book like) of one youtuber. He has not finished the project and I wondered if I could prod him to do so by setting up a gofundme kind of production.
I appreciate this piece of yours, too, because it encourages me to go salvage something from my own writing. A decade ago (how time flies) I was working on a novel that I did not and likely never will finish. There's a chapter there that, too, looks both ways. Backwards it models itself after a part of Alice in Wonderland (as does some of Finneganse Wake, as it happens). I am yet to see if it's going to be one of the cases when I look at old writing of mine and find myself delighted by the reading, or one of the other cases. If the former, I think it could rather easily be made a stand alone short story.
Re: Joyce, would highly recommend beginning with Dubliners. And then Portrait of the Artist -- Ulysses is a direct sequel to it.
Excellent essay!
Thanks so much.
Robert, this is a wonderful piece. Thank you for sharing all your insights.
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it.
Very thorough and astute and interesting essay and analysis. I agree with the lines "It is an old story / But one that can still be told." Everything timeless is also timely and universal. Perhaps why 2001 is still watchable and appreciated by so many in different ways.
Are you a Joyce fan as well?
I read a little bit. So not much of a fan, huh? But I should read more.
Would suggest beginning with the short story collection Dubliners.
Superb. Writing at its best.