GigaNotoSaurus, April 2011
“The Elgin Age” by S Hutson Blount
The title refers to the age of British Imperialism and its rape of the cultural treasures remaining from the ancient world. But here we have a reversal, as the Olympian immortals have returned to support the Greeks in their revolution against the Ottomans.
With the consequence that the US battle cruiser Atlanta now carries an officer from the office of Olympic Affairs as it steams into the eastern Med to the rescue of the crew of the merchantman Lainie Kathcarte, missing under unknown circumstances. Lieutenant Reed’s services are soon required, as various Olympian powers confront the ship on its voyage – sometimes in verse.
“Blind, Atalanta was
But not sightless.
Is this eyeless ship
A mockery of her plight
Or a gift to her fair tormentor?”There is tension among the officers and crew, who are not all of one mind about the supernatural phenomena, but there is outright war among the Olympians as they struggle to reestablish their influence in an altered world. Into this conflict steams the Atlanta on its mission.
This is not steampunk or clockwork fantasy, but straight historical fantasy and a whole lot of fun, particularly for the classically-inclined as well as fans of sea stories. I do believe that Leukothea, for several pedantic reasons to numerous to mention, is not the right goddess for that particular place, and it’s too bad about the whales, but then no one ever said the gods were kind, except euphemistically.
Nice to read a review of his work, and doubly-nice that it’s so positive!