Anger be now your song, immortal one...

Happily, despite my oftentimes interminably busy schedule, I've found time to do quite a lot of leisure reading. In lieu of my usual rambling posts on Life, the Universe, and Everything (with all due respect to one of my childhood favorites, Douglas Adams), let me recommend a wonderfully re-imagined classic, the Iliad, by way of Dan Simmons' almost unclassifiable duology, Ilium and Olympos.

Heavily intertextual, with consistently appropriate references to Homer, Shakespeare, and Proust (among other literary giants), the Trojan War comes alive through the skillful exploration of a technological singularity that allows quantum theory, and nanotechnology to bring to life a gripping, and action-filled drama between men and gods.

What if Achilles didn't kill Hector? What if the Achaeans and Trojans set aside their differences and, instead, take charge of their destinies? What if, instead of warring with one another, they declare war on the gods?

Pantheistic solipsism has never been more fun, or as cool. Even if you have no idea, or intention, to get into the science behind the fiction, this duology is a fantastic read. Try it.

Photo Credits:

Picture of Ilium comes courtesy of Amazon.