New Ebook Turns Greek Myth into Greek Mirth

Most of us struggled through Homer's epic, the "Iliad and the Odyssey" at some point in school. It is a great work, no question, and one of the earliest fantasy adventures in literature. If only it had been fun!

ClydeSight Productions (http://www.clydesight.com) has put the fun into it with the release of a "mini-epic", the "Idiocy and the Oddity", a parody of Homer's classic starring a cat, Clyde Big Paws, the famous star of the ClydeSite2.0! website. It is presented as a multimedia HTML ebook (no download required) free to visitors to the Web site. While the ebook is packed with jokes, the multimedia is no joke— the 22 chapters are illustrated and many contain original MIDI music, including a "Grand Overture".

The story is re-told from a cat's point of view and closely follows the original, with some very strange twists. In this version, the world is populated entirely by cats, and they get into trouble (as cats are won't to do) with the Greek Gods (well, Poseidon at least) just like the original, but for different reasons.

The story starts out when "Clydesseus of Hissica" leaves his wife, "Penelopuss" to fight in the "Togan War". He is as clever as the original Odysseus, considerably less violent, and wins the day by the construction of a giant catnip mouse made from a kilt, "The Tartan Mouse".

After winning the world's first non-violent war (no one actually does battle, they just threaten and insult each other), Clydesseus' ship "Roe Boat" is blown off course by the angry sea god, Poseidon who is determined to teach him a lesson. In the adventures that follow, Clydesseus and his band (who are MIDI mewsicians) meet strange beings, mythic creatures and gods based on the original story, including a "cycle-ops" (and his giant dog), Cissy the Sorceress, Calliope Jane and the Janettes (the muses), and the terrible Two's Titans, "Biffy and Buffy". And, like the original, after these harrowing adventures, Clydesseus does return home. But the story doesn't end there. He must re-claim his kingdom, not from suitors, as in the original, but from "suiters", a corporate conglomerate that is trying to take over the kingdom by driving it into bankruptcy. Athena, goddess of wisdom and justice, presides over a court battle, the "Trial of Clydesseus". How Clydesseus wins the case and the story ends is, well, the stuff of legend.

The ebook is written in an easy to read style designed for young readers and adults. Some of the jokes are topical, and there are a considerable number of shameless puns, something for which ClydeSight2.0! itself is famous.

It is completely non-violent and offers positive prosocial comment, and it actually teaches some ethics. The 22 chapters are illustrated and many have a musical score that plays in the background. Musical selections include the Grand Overture, The Hissican National Anthem, Penelopuss' Lament, and Thema Athena, among others. Visitors also get a free gift, a desktop poster picture.

The "Idiocy and the Oddity" is part of the popular "Time Travel Clyde" series of adventures at ClydeSight2.0!

http://www.clydesight.com/epic/
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ClydeSight Productions are creators of inspiring and entertaining multimedia, music, ebooks and websites.