Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A look at the various aspects of translating material from the ancient world into the modern. Inspired, yes, by Nolan's Odyssey, but also a pair of recent nice (and good) reviews of my own novels. I'm not a Homer specialist, so I'm not the ideal person to review the film. I liked it; go see it. Instead, I approached the whole question of what one is trying to DO, speaking as an author myself. What are some of the challenges, and how writing (or filming) mythic tales is different from writing (or filming) historical fiction.
--------
Books mentioned:
Dancing with the Lion (Becoming & Rise, mine)
jeannereames.net/Dancing_with_the_Lion/DwtL.html
Achilles in Vietnam & Odysseus in America (Jonathan Shay)
Song of Achilles (Madeline Miller)
Renault's Alexander trilogy
Stealing Fire (Jo Graham)
The Odyssey (Emily Wilson, trans.)
Mythopoetic fantasy authors: Charles Williams, Peter S. Beagle, Nancy Springer, Meredith Ann Pierce, Patricia McKillip
(there are many others, those are just some of my favs)
Website (historical note for Dancing with the Lion):
jeannereames.net/Dancing_with_the_Lion/history_story.html
Reviews mentioned:
BECOMING: goodreads.com/review/show/8710454520
RISE: goodreads.com/review/show/8763616314
And while I don't mention it in the video, here's a great (and sensible!) film review:
talesoftimesforgotten.com/2026/07/23/an-ancient-historians-breakdown-of-christopher-nolans-the-odyssey
A look at the various aspects of translating material from the ancient world into the modern. Inspired, yes, by Nolan's Odyssey, but also a pair of recent nice (and good) reviews of my own novels. I'm not a Homer specialist, so I'm not the ideal person to review the film. I liked it; go see it. Instead, I approached the whole question of what one is trying to DO, speaking as an author myself. What are some of the challenges, and how writing (or filming) mythic tales is different from writing (or filming) historical fiction.
--------
Books mentioned:
Dancing with the Lion (Becoming & Rise, mine)
jeannereames.net/Dancing_with_the_Lion/DwtL.html
Achilles in Vietnam & Odysseus in America (Jonathan Shay)
Song of Achilles (Madeline Miller)
Renault's Alexander trilogy
Stealing Fire (Jo Graham)
The Odyssey (Emily Wilson, trans.)
Mythopoetic fantasy authors: Charles Williams, Peter S. Beagle, Nancy Springer, Meredith Ann Pierce, Patricia McKillip
(there are many others, those are just some of my favs)
Website (historical note for Dancing with the Lion):
jeannereames.net/Dancing_with_the_Lion/history_story.html
Reviews mentioned:
BECOMING: goodreads.com/review/show/8710454520
RISE: goodreads.com/review/show/8763616314
And while I don't mention it in the video, here's a great (and sensible!) film review:
talesoftimesforgotten.com/2026/07/23/an-ancient-historians-breakdown-of-christopher-nolans-the-odyssey
