The Adventures of Odysseus

The Adventures of Odysseus is a book series by Glyn Iliffe. It consists of three books – King of Ithaca, The Gates of Troy, and The Armour of Achilles – the last of which was published in 2010. The three books are published by Pan Macmillan. The series is another version and point of view on Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

Books

King of Ithaca

Odysseus then arrives at Ithaca where he is confronted by the King Laertes, who is Odysseus' father who is worried about a possible uprising by the Taphians. Later on they decide that Odysseus should go to seek the hand of Helen of Sparta (daughter of Tyndareus). They went to Sparta, where Odysseus falls for Penelope (daughter of Icarius). He persuades Tyndareus to arrange a meeting with Icarius, who tells Odysseus that him and Little Ajax/Ajax the lesser/Ajax prince of Locris in a running race. Odysseus despaired because Little Ajax was the fastest runner in the whole of Greece. Anyway, Odysseus accepts the challenge and driven on by Athena subsequently wins the hand of Penelope. Afterwards on the journey home, Eperitus discovers the traitor Damastor who then kills Eperitus. Odysseus then comes and kills Damastor then breaks the clay figurine and asks Athena to restore Eperitus' life. He is then brought back to life and given new gifts such as all past wounds are gone, extra good eyesight and hearing. They then return home to crush the uprising by the rival Taphians. The book ends with Odysseus sitting with Penelope at their wedding day smiling at each other.

The Gates of Troy

It’s ten years since Odysseus and the warrior, Eperitus, joined the heroes of the age to compete for the hand of Helen of Sparta. Settled in his small island kingdom, Odysseus wants nothing more than to rule Ithaca in peace. Meanwhile, Eperitus, frustrated at his quiet life, dreams of glory in battle. When the lion-motifed sails of Agamemnon appear on the horizon, Odysseus knows that the time for peace is over and a time of war is beginning. Helen of Sparta has been abducted by Paris a prince of Troy and the hosts of ancient Greece are gathering. As the greatest names flock to join the crusade, only Achilles is missing. Odysseus must use all his wits and cunning to hunt him down and persuade him to join their cause. For without Achilles, the gates of Troy will never fall.

The Armor of Achilles

The siege of Troy is in its ninth year. The Greeks, with Achilles at their head, have inflicted numerous defeats on the Trojans, but Troy itself still stands. When Agamemnon is threatened with mutiny by a disillusioned army wanting to return home he changes his tactics by ordering a series of attacks on the allies of Troy, thus depriving the city of reinforcements, trade and supplies. But even this cannot draw the Trojans out from behind their walls. Odysseus, Eperitus and their men have become hardened soldiers. Tired and bitter about the war, Odysseus just wants to return home to his island Kingdom of Ithaca. But while Agammenon is still determined to revenge himself upon Troy for the theft of Helen by Paris, then Odysseus is held by the oath that he himself created. Eperitus is tormented by his own oath: sworn to protect the very man who murdered his daughter. As the war continues, Odysseus realises that sheer numbers will never overwhelm Troy, if he is ever to return home, then he must use cunning and guile to bring about its downfall.^[1]

Oracles of Troy

Currently in production. In a post on his Facebook page, dated 13 June 2013, Iliffe commented: "E-book should be out this autumn. The print version will have to wait a little longer - probably early 2014, depending on funding". The Oracles of Troy was launched in paperback 22 August 2014 price £8.99 available now from all good book shops. Glyn is now working on the fifth book in the series the voyage of odysseus

References