Blurb:
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In a future where women dominate the world, and men survive only in isolated pockets of Australia, the Great Man Society sends a small group of dudes on a mission that obviously spirals into absurdity. From a vicious fight with a tuna fish that leaves no man untouched, to encounters with cannibal oil-riggers, feuding noble houses, and political intrigues in Los Angeles, the men confront a world both futuristic and oddly ancient.
Told through the eyes of a self-important historian who believes in his own psychic insight, Greg of Despair: A Great Man Odyssey is a satirical epic that combines adventure, quirky philosophy, and dark humor. The men navigate murder, maybe some marriage, brutally silly politics, and unexpected betrayals, all while pursuing a mysterious agent named Kurtis, whose secrets may or may not matter.
Laden with (and in large part propelled by!) satire, epic adventure, and philosophical reflection, this story unites the ancient and the absurd in a future as strange as it is unforgettable. (I certainly haven't forgotten it, and neither should you!)
Apollo! Arrange a meeting with the muses. We have things to discuss...
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It was the first book I wrote, but the second book i finished editing and published. It is a bit of a strange book, but there it is. It bears some of that history, which to me makes it a bit of an interesting artifact. Personally, I think it's best in the middle.
Do you like quirky philosophical satire where it's never quite clear what it's making fun of? Well, if you do, it might be for you, maybe. I could technically mark it as science fiction, but it doesn't focus on those aspects at all. It's a satirical epic featuring adventurers and medieval city state politics, happening in the future but also with a kind of old fashion'ed feel. Not really sure what category it is in, but I therefore coin the term "Satirical Epic" as the genre
The book is slightly inspired by the Samuel Butler translation of the Iliad and Odyssey, because grandiose Victorian prose often makes me laugh. There's also some elements of something Plato's republic adjacent, and with many nods to pop culture, and even Heart of Darkness to some extent, though that's mainly for plot purposes rather than theme.
The culture of the men in Australia is a bit inspired by the Ancient Greeks, while the society of the women in America are a bit more modern, but also strangely medieval. I'd classify it as kind of medieval Italian city states meets archetypal American sort of culture.
Also: Men and women don't understand what men and women are, and this ignorance is never really resolved. That's another little neat thing about the book, I suppose.
What I'm saying is just that it is... worth reading? Yeah. It's worth reading. Maybe. Of course, it is. Sure. Go ahead and read it, I won't stop you.