The Trial of Love by James B. Owen
Mount Olympus has a big PR problem. While the Greco-Roman names of its inhabitants still carry varying degrees of recognition among humanity, it’s evident that today’s rank-and-file shmoes don’t see them as the almighty forces they once were. At least, not the kind of forces that can control their fates or are capable of awe-inspiring feats.
Zeus must admit, he should have seen it coming; he decided to stop all the meddling in the affairs of humans after the Trojan War more than a millennia ago. Yet could it be that, left to their own devices, humans no longer see the ancient gods and goddesses as relevant to their lives, their world? Are the gods a product of a bygone, pre-tech, pre-science era whose only remnants of remembrance lie in the brand names of sneakers, high-end fashion, space programs and women’s razors?
That’s the conundrum facing Zeus as he calls together his pantheon to consider solutions in James B. Owen’s satiric send-up of modern and ancient culture, The Trial of Love (Wyckham Cove Press).
UPDATING THE IMAGE OF THE GODS
It’s clear that the gods and goddesses need to get with the times. And who better to help them with that than a branding consultancy? After the usual tome of paperwork and rounds of workshopping, said consultancy comes up with a brilliant plan: a reality show. After all, aren’t all the gods and goddesses constantly squabbling among themselves? Think of the drama! But there also needs to be a narrative hook to drive that wedge deeper between them.
The perfect opportunity comes in the form of the relationship woes of a television host whose much-younger girlfriend has unexpectedly left him. The concept is simple: since the gods stand in judgment of the fates of mankind, why not make the show a courtroom reality drama in which they decide the fates of this estranged couple? Surely, it will demonstrate not only how “hip with the times” Zeus and crew can be, but also that they still wield the ability to pass judgments and decide fates.
Our heartbroken TV host, Peter, is much aggrieved; his girlfriend, let’s call her “D,” once said she loved him, so why did she choose to leave him so abruptly? For frat bros and prosecution counsel team Hermes and Apollo, there can be only one explanation: she lied. Her love was fraudulent, and Peter has suffered damages that could — should — be compensated. Not so fast, says the defense team headed up by Hera, Athena and Artemis. Women are not property; they have the right to make their own choices on who to love, why, and for how long. What’s more, it is Peter who has himself deceived D.
WHERE THE MODERN AND THE ANCIENT COLLIDE, HILARITY ENSUES
Amid the media circus that surrounds the courtroom proceedings, we are treated to the constant “fish out of water” experiences of the gods and goddesses in a celebrity-obsessed, capitalist-driven society, along with a series of fun, beyond-the-grave cameo appearances by historical “expert witnesses.” Added to the party is some very astute philosophical exploration about the nature of love, gender politics and what it means to be human in an age that feels less and less so. We won’t ruin the surprises in store in terms of the plot except to say the reader will be well rewarded.
Fans of Christopher Moore’s “Grim Reaper” series, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens, or Marie Phillips’s Gods Behaving Badly will find this delightfully clever romp through Greco-Roman mythology right up their alley. It’s a world where the messenger Hermes is reassigned to “commercial delivery and logistical services,” where Hera, Athena and Aphrodite compete over an “Apple endorsement,” and where the Temple of Nike resides in a storefront on Fifth Avenue. The more you know your Greco-Roman mythology the more Easter eggs you’ll find, but even those who only vaguely remember their schoolroom studies in classics will discover much to entertain them in this clever, satisfying tale of modern love and ancient legends.
The Trial of Love is available to purchase at Barnes and Noble.
RELATED POSTS
Travel to the Land of LOLs with These 7 Funny Fantasy Novels
Riff on a Myth: 7 Novels Drawing Inspiration From Multicultural Ancient Sources
