Long time since I chose to update this site rather than work on the book — sorry about that.
Odysseus Wept is still in the writing stage — but before you complain, it’s probably going to be a five-hundred page book — for those of you familiar with my prior works, that’s like getting two or three books in one. I worry that the paperback spine won’t do particularly well with a book of this length, but determined to keep it in one volume.
An interview on the Powys site (www.powysmedia.com) will likely be coming relatively soon so I don’t want to steal anybody’s thunder by giving too much away here. But what I can tell you is that where Omega and Alpha sought to demystify Space:1999, Odysseus Wept seeks to remystify it. While this is the end of the chronological line for the Powys series, the overriding mythology is deep and broad should anyone else out there decide to pick it up (or even just grab a couple of elements and run with them).
This has been a very organic book for me in that I tried very hard not to plan it out as much as we’ve planned out other books in this series — what that means is that sometimes even I don’t know how things are going to ultimately turn out. Well, let me clarify that a little. I know the ending. I know the beginning. It’s the pieces in the middle that sometimes characters are deciding for me.
Some readers complained with Omega and Alpha that we were trying very hard to tie everything in the Space:1999 universe together — in our defense, that’s not something we listened to much — we basically used four episodes from the show to build a mythology — that fact that we could get things to connect from four episodes, while leaving out forty-four other episodes, tells me we weren’t as ambitious as people think.
Odysseus Wept is also going to connect some things together — some of which may surprise you. The Final Revolution taught a little bit of physics in the Space: 1999 universe, Omega and Alpha taught a little bit more, but Johnny Byrne’s Children of the Gods also seeded a little bit of what makes Odysseus Wept work. It’s not so much attempting to answer every question — we’ve tried very, very hard to build a consistent universe for a show that was often inconsistent. We’re going to leave questions unanswered — we’re even raising some more. This time around, in Odysseus Wept, we’re not “meddling” with anything from the original episodes for the most part — but perhaps we’re playing a bit with what you’ve seen in our stories and novels.
Paul Morrow is the primary character of a third of this book. So (spoiler-alert) where The Final Revolution dovetails with this book is a good portion of the way in — Odysseus Wept’s first act is tying The Forsaken into a bigger picture — and I’ll stop there.
I can’t tell you what genre Odysseus Wept is — aspects of it are science fiction, other aspects seem at least tinged by fantasy, but much of it reads like historical fiction, maybe even something Clive Cussler-esque, where historical elements suddenly start becoming important in the present.
The key thing is we’re trying to wrap up all the loose ends, while also establishing the foundations for what happens AFTER Space:1999. And as I’ve said earlier, I’m determined to not have a Star Trek: Generations kind of ending — it’s closer to The Undiscovered Country, but it’s the Space:1999 version of it (sorry to go Star Trek on you but aren’t you used to me doing that by now?).
I’m in the home stretch — still more to go. I’ve never spent this long working on one book before — and I’m just imagining what the editing process will be like — but it’s definitely nearing the end.
Thought you’d like to know…
Thanks for the update Bill.
Intrigued to read that the first third of the novel focusses on Paul Morrow’s life and times post John Kenneth Muir’s brilliant novel “The Forsaken”. Hoping Tanya and the other “deserters” get some character development as well.
Personally, I never felt the novels were too heavy handed in terms of referencing TV episodes of SPACE: 1999 within their narratives. If anything, it was essential that they did.
Of course, I felt dissapointed that certain characters from Year 2 made only cameo appearances in the Year 3 novels (Petrov, Annette Fraser and Dr Ed Spencer spring to mind) I’ ve been pleased to see Bill Fraser and Alibe feature prominently in them as well as Dr Ben Vincent in “Children of The Gods”.
Although I struggled with certain aspects of “The Final Revolution”, I’m very much looking forward to reading “Odysseus Wept” and the other forthcoming Powys SPACE: 1999 novels and the Deluxe Editions of earlier works.
Thanks as always for your continued hard work Bill. It’s much appreciated.
Kind regards from one of your UK fans,
Steve F
I have loved the books can’t wait Philip P UK
Thanks Bill, from an American fan.
You know, I always saw Paul Morrow as a bit of a hotheaded jerk, and the ending of the final revolution really didn’t do anything to dispel that feeling 😉 – I’m surprised you didn’t revisit the Darians ship with Koenig ready to come aboard a deserted ship that had a plague depopulate it, Bergman says he could fly it back to Earth, and viola, there’s grumpy Morrow saying “you can’t come here either, John ] [sorry, couldn’t help myself – I was laughing as I wrote that sentence ]. Nothing’s ever easy for the prime Alphans. Great set of books, and I’m looking forward to how things wrap up.
You’ll see Morrow get a bit humbled assuming I ever finish this book…
And a gentle reminder that like a fine wine, some things age well with time, and taste even better after a long wait… Looking forward to the eventual release of “Odysseus Wept” from my favorite author. 😉
Good to hear from you old friend. Now I guess I will need to finish.
And now that we’re at the one year mark since the last posting, time passes, age brings new wisdom… and our bookshelves are still missing that newest tome from your keen mind. 😉 Reminds me that I owe you a phone call. Soon.
Wrote 1400 words on it just yesterday. Page 502 of the book, in the home stretch…
1300 more words tonight.
I really want to read your final space 1999 novel, I am weeping because they have pulled the license.
I feel your frustration. Hard hearing that five years of work can only be appreciated by those lucky folks who ordered early. We’re looking at ways to get some closure for everybody. But just saying, folks with copies, back in the days of Homer, tales were spoken out loud. Find an audience, don’t charge money, and read to others…
Hi Bill with the cost of living crisis in the UK I had put off buying the book till last Friday when I got paid, to my horror it had been pulled 15 hours before I got paid. To say I am still kicking myself and dissapointed. I only found out it had come out two weeks ago. Hopefully you can find a way to get it republished.
Hi Bill
So so glad to read your comment above; “we’re looking for some way to give everyone else some closure”.
It might sound overly dramatic but I’ve actually felt distraught over the last couple of days about not getting to read The Ending. I really have!
If you could update people like myself on this site with any progression on this idea it would help clear the large grey cloud hanging over me at least. I’m kicking myself so hard for not buying this book straightaway. Knowing that you will update us on some kind of resolution would certainly help!
Jamie Anderson is very obviously someone that might get involved with helping. I know he’s been especially busy this year and Mateo said to me about a year ago he’d not yet approached him about any future co-working. Ignoring politics I’d imagine there could be some great publication possibilities there, for all involved?
After 5 years of hard work from yourself and 5 years of waiting from us, for me, this is the most important S.99 publication – ever.
BUT we are all getting older fast, I hope for at least some kind of limited re-publication (or audible on-line story telling from someone out there?) can happen maybe within a few weeks, rather than years?
Terribly upset to hear the Licence has been lost.
Unfortunately, I’m one of the ones who didn’t get in early enough to buy a copy of “Odysseus Wept”.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford it at the time but it was on my shopping list for the end of August.
Such a shame.
I hope the situation can be remedied.
Cost of living crisis is a killer here in the UK. I’m having to bed very disciplined about what I spend what little spare money I have on.
Dissapointing that I can’t support one of my favourite writers by buying his final SPACE: 1999 novel in hardback.
I was unable to purchase this before Powys lost the licensing. Was Powys the only outlet. This would have completed my collection.
Unfortunately yes, Powys was the only outlet — it’s out of print. But you’ll find a plot synopsis for 2/3 of the book on this site.
Hi Bill
I managed to buy Odysseus in the end, at an highly inflated price but I have stopped myself from reading it – because I am also missing Final Revolution – which I believe pre-quels it!
I think you mentioned you would do a synopsis of this book too for Powys collectors and fans of your work.
Is it likely this will happen in 2024?
If not, any news yet on a potential new agreement to re-publish any of your S99 books witin the next 2 or 3 years?
Many thanks.
Hey, Chris — no news on republishing any of the Powys books unfortunately (been quite a while since I’ve heard any updates, so it’s not looking promising). I have a synopsis of Final Revolution that’s not ready for the web site yet but I’ll email you a copy.
For anybody keeping track, prior to reading Odysseus Wept, it’s probably a good idea to read Children of the Gods and The Final Revolution (and all the other books in the Powys series, honestly).
Hi Bill,
I also was not fast enough in ordering Odysseus Wept. I just finished reading your synopsis for the book and was wondering if you were going to post 3/3? I only hope that someone will be kind enough to publish the book in the future. I really enjoy reading your books. Thank you!
Section 3 is going to contain the biggest spoilers — I was waiting until someone actually requested it — and now you have — look for it in the next few days…
I appreciate your appreciation, and hope the posting of the 3rd synopsis was helpful — painful for me to post those, would much prefer you get to read the book!