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Xenia in the Court of the Winds: A Tale of the Ancient World
Sometimes, the monster is just a man . . .
Painted as the savage man-eating Cyclops in Homer’s masterwork, The Odyssey, Polyphemus comes to life in Scott Oden’s epic tale of duty and obligation. A giant, one-eyed foreigner living on the fringes of Aeolia in Sicily, Polyphemus shuns his neighbors; he scavenges from shipwrecks along the rocky coast, robbing the dead and leaving their bodies to the sea’s embrace -- a monstrous breach of the ancient laws of hospitality.
But, when he is himself robbed and blinded by brutal Achaeans journeying home from the War at Troy, Polyphemus is quick to seek justice from those same neighbors. Making his way to the Court of the Winds, where the King of Aeolia holds sway, he befriends a fisherman’s son, young Glaukos son of Lykaon. Together, they seek to answer the can a self-professed monster, an outsider who flaunts the Gods and their laws of hospitality, find justice at the Court of the Winds?
Xenia in the Court of the Winds is a mesmerizing descent into the customs and traditions of the ancient Greeks; a beautifully rendered tale where heroes and villains aren’t always what they seem.
Painted as the savage man-eating Cyclops in Homer’s masterwork, The Odyssey, Polyphemus comes to life in Scott Oden’s epic tale of duty and obligation. A giant, one-eyed foreigner living on the fringes of Aeolia in Sicily, Polyphemus shuns his neighbors; he scavenges from shipwrecks along the rocky coast, robbing the dead and leaving their bodies to the sea’s embrace -- a monstrous breach of the ancient laws of hospitality.
But, when he is himself robbed and blinded by brutal Achaeans journeying home from the War at Troy, Polyphemus is quick to seek justice from those same neighbors. Making his way to the Court of the Winds, where the King of Aeolia holds sway, he befriends a fisherman’s son, young Glaukos son of Lykaon. Together, they seek to answer the can a self-professed monster, an outsider who flaunts the Gods and their laws of hospitality, find justice at the Court of the Winds?
Xenia in the Court of the Winds is a mesmerizing descent into the customs and traditions of the ancient Greeks; a beautifully rendered tale where heroes and villains aren’t always what they seem.
56 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2022
About the author
Scott Oden
23 books378 followersScott Oden is a bestselling author of historical fantasy and sword-and-sorcery. Since his debut in 2005, his books have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist; he has been an Amazon Editor’s Pick and has been nominated for a Gemmell Award. His work has been endorsed by such preeminent authors as Steven Pressfield, David Anthony Durham, and John Gwynne.
Scott lives in the foothills of the Appalachians with his lovely wife, Shannon, and a variety of dogs -- all of them neurotic and prone to dancing like no one’s watching.
Before turning his hand to writing, Scott worked the usual slate of odd jobs, from delivering pizza to stocking shelves at a local grocery. In his spare time, he likes table-top roleplaying games, reading, and making the occasional bracelet from old stone beads. He dreams of running away from reality and living in a Hobbit hole . . .
If you want to know more, please visit Scott’s website at https://scottoden.wordpress.com/, where you can follow his blog and be there when he finally takes the plunge and creates a mailing list.
Scott lives in the foothills of the Appalachians with his lovely wife, Shannon, and a variety of dogs -- all of them neurotic and prone to dancing like no one’s watching.
Before turning his hand to writing, Scott worked the usual slate of odd jobs, from delivering pizza to stocking shelves at a local grocery. In his spare time, he likes table-top roleplaying games, reading, and making the occasional bracelet from old stone beads. He dreams of running away from reality and living in a Hobbit hole . . .
If you want to know more, please visit Scott’s website at https://scottoden.wordpress.com/, where you can follow his blog and be there when he finally takes the plunge and creates a mailing list.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 27, 2023
Wonderful flowing alternate take on Odysseus and the Cyclops. In the short novella, the Cyclops is a blind, tall human from North Africa. It’s a tale of Xenia , ancient Greek hospitality, and what can go awry when it is broken. A tale of the want of vengeance which eventually leads to the death of the man seeking it. Highly recommend.
May 3, 2024
In this tale, Odysseus and the Cyclops Polyphemus are written as if they were historical figures. A young boy befriends an injured Polyphemus and brings him to his king.
The story explores the concepts of the outsider, the monster, the hero, as well as the custom of xenia, “guest friendship” in the ancient world. The writing has a lyrical quality and reminds me of the historical fiction of Mary Renault.
The story explores the concepts of the outsider, the monster, the hero, as well as the custom of xenia, “guest friendship” in the ancient world. The writing has a lyrical quality and reminds me of the historical fiction of Mary Renault.
December 17, 2022
This is a beautifully written tale of ancient Greece. The voice of the young narrator brings the setting to life in a way I have not encountered.
October 14, 2023
This was a self published novella by Scott Oden. The paperback comes with a matte cover and cover art by Amalia Carosella. Even though the book is such a little thing I still prefer it over a digital copy.
The story explores a different perspective on two characters from mythology. What if they were just men? With the flaws that come with being human. It also explores Greek hospitality which went hand in hand with their religious beliefs.
A fisherman's son will humble many. A hero will be exposed for the brutal creature he truly is.
This was not the rollicking red-handed adventure like his other indie novella, The White Lion. No, this is a more thoughtful and sedate exploration of a couple of well-known characters from mythology. Regardless it is a book I welcome into my collection. One that I heartily enjoyed reading.
The story explores a different perspective on two characters from mythology. What if they were just men? With the flaws that come with being human. It also explores Greek hospitality which went hand in hand with their religious beliefs.
A fisherman's son will humble many. A hero will be exposed for the brutal creature he truly is.
This was not the rollicking red-handed adventure like his other indie novella, The White Lion. No, this is a more thoughtful and sedate exploration of a couple of well-known characters from mythology. Regardless it is a book I welcome into my collection. One that I heartily enjoyed reading.
September 3, 2023
Xenia in the Court of the Winds by Scott Oden is a short novella about the Cyclops Polyphemus, who was blinded by Odysseus. This story is an historical take on the tale that questions who is the monster and who the hero...and offers a complicated answer. The story also touches on duty, obligation and hospitality. There is a great sense of time and place and the narrative voice is well done. An enjoyable and successful story that delivers on all fronts.
March 29, 2023
A Monster's Eye view of Odysseus in Sicily
Think you, you know the story of Polyphemusthe Cyclops?
This novellete is an historical take on the tale that questions who is the monster and who the hero...and offers a complicated answer. Oden is a master of narrative voice and this story is no exception.
Think you, you know the story of Polyphemusthe Cyclops?
This novellete is an historical take on the tale that questions who is the monster and who the hero...and offers a complicated answer. Oden is a master of narrative voice and this story is no exception.
March 1, 2024
Love the details in his book. He really seems to understand the history of the era nd, as good authors do, melds it into the story so you feel it. so it is a good story, not a good history book. Going to read more of Mr. Oden's work.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews