Happy holidays, all.
I’ve been playing with some AI tools and asked it to summarize Odysseus Wept for me. It’s clunky, it makes mistakes, I’ve cleaned it up a little. What follows is a summary of Part One of the book.
Obviously, spoilers galore, so stop here if you’d rather wait until the book returns in some other format someday. No news on that front.
For anyone who’s read the book, please feel free to comment on mistakes the AI made and I’ll tweak the summary.
I’ll put up Parts 2 and 3 in January.
For anyone who hasn’t read the book, I’m planning on getting a summary for The Final Revolution as well up here. You don’t need to have read The Final Revolution to enjoy this summary, but you should probably refamiliarize yourself with the ending of John Kenneth Muir’s fine “Space:1999 The Forsaken”…
Again, I wish you were reading the book, not this summary, but that’s the breaks.
Part One
The story begins with a creature called an erek preparing to hunt in the sand. However, a sudden darkness and loss of heat interrupts its feeding ritual. At Outpost 1138, alarms sound as anomalies are detected in a distant system, with stars losing their energy. The governor and her science advisor consult with a man named Evv, who reveals that the Fessa Union’s technology is causing the energy loss. Evv disappears, and miraculously, the energy loss stops. However, trillions of lives have already been lost. The governor decides it is time to take action, and the story shifts to Zir on a mission in Omer City, a technologically advanced paradise.
Ambassador Zir arrives at the Union Nexus and is greeted by Aga, the Council President. Zir expresses his concerns about the unnatural order of the Union and the potential risks it poses. Aga defends the Union’s actions, arguing that civilization must rise above the natural order. Zir argues that nature will inevitably prevail and that imposing order in this way is suicide. The discussion becomes heated, and Zir is warned about the consequences of his dissent. Suddenly, a chemical reaction occurs within Zir, and he dies. The text ends with chaos erupting in the chamber as the light consumes Zir’s body and cracks the floor.
A powerful and destructive light is spreading rapidly, causing widespread destruction and death in the Fessa Union. The government is essentially eliminated, and coordinated attacks are occurring throughout the Union. The leader, Aga, is devastated by the bloodshed and questions why such violence is necessary, only to be murdered by a member of her own staff.
Meanwhile, a boy on a rooftop witnesses stars disappearing from the sky, realizing that something significant has happened. In another storyline, Krix is leading a large fleet in a battle against the Fessa Union. He reflects on the importance of strategy and the consequences of misinterpretation. As the battle begins, Krix hopes for a quick resolution and wonders what will happen when peace finally arrives.
The Fessa Union launches thousands of missiles with advanced technology to overwhelm the enemy’s shield generation system. However, the missiles unexpectedly change course and start targeting the Fessa Union fleet instead. The Fessa Union forces scramble to evade the incoming missiles but suffer heavy casualties. The commander, Krix, realizes that their targeting system has been compromised and orders a new target to be locked onto their own flagship. The fleet manages to divert the missiles away from the rest of the ships, but their flagship is hit and destroyed.
Meanwhile, Manzera commands a fleet focused on restoring and reclaiming nodes, which are important for the Fessa Union’s infrastructure. She reflects on the cost and purpose of their efforts and hopes for a future where they can live on peaceful worlds. However, she also acknowledges the arrogance of the early Fessa Union leaders and the need for fundamental changes in order to prevent the Union from falling again. The text ends with Gaulfix, Manzera’s second in command, discussing the strategic concerns of potentially falling into traps set by dormant nodes. He suggests splitting up the fleet to reduce vulnerability to a single attack but also acknowledges the increased vulnerability to smaller attacks.
Etra Vorlander, a special agent for some unknown government, meets with an emissary from another. He understood the consequences of failure and the potential destruction of the Fessa Union. He also recognized the destructive power of the Titans and the need to prevent them from interfering with the Fessa Union’s order and infrastructure.
On the planet Pyxidea, Paul Morrow wakes on the first morning on their new home. As they settled into their new surroundings, Morrow’s excitement for exploration and the potential for a new home began to overshadow the pain of betrayal and loss. He longed for a routine and a sense of duty, even in this unfamiliar environment. There was much work to be done, from cultivating food to finding sustainable resources and establishing permanent shelter.
Morrow reflects on the feeling of liberation and fresh air after leaving Alpha and the stifling feeling of being locked into a predetermined destiny. They discuss the sacrifices they have made and the uncertainty of their future. Morrow and Tanya Alexander discuss the bodies of the Cryptodira and the need to address them respectfully. They also discuss the need to inventory food supplies and construct shelters. While digging a mass grave, Gwen Stallard suddenly has a seizure and dies, leaving the group devastated. They realize they are ill-equipped to handle medical emergencies without the help of a doctor. The text ends with the group reflecting on the challenges they will face in their new home.
Salmon suggests that instead of spending time burying the bodies of the deceased, they should have a funeral pyre for Gwen and focus on building homes instead. Gentry agrees and Morrow confirms that they should prioritize building homes over graves. They decide to burn the bodies and use Cryptodiran materials as stretchers to move them. They start a fire using a solar-powered starter and Morrow reflects on the grueling work they are facing. Morrow overhears a conversation between Doug Austin and Alexander where Austin questions Morrow’s leadership and makes threatening statements. Morrow confronts Austin and the group discusses the lack of consequences for breaking rules. They conclude that they don’t feel safe and Austin apologizes, but Salmon and Gentry don’t feel reassured. Tanya also confronts Austin, and the group discusses the new rules and lack of safety, discussing what to do with Austin, who has made threats towards Morrow.
Morrow suggests that they bind Austin for the night and decide what to do with him later. Gentry supports Morrow’s decision, stating that Austin crossed a line. Meanwhile, Austin runs through the woods, knowing that his fellow humans on this planet have considered his execution. He builds a small fire and contemplates his situation, feeling alone and unsure of how to fix things. Morrow and the others discuss the options for dealing with Austin, considering banishing him or executing him. They acknowledge that they are making new rules as they go along and that Austin’s crime didn’t exist until he committed it. The discussion highlights the tension and uncertainty among the group and the difficult decisions they must make in this new world.
The group discusses the issue of a member who made offensive comments and the consequences he should face. They debate whether he should be given a second chance or be permanently punished. They also discuss the importance of loyalty and the lack of a structured system in their society. Meanwhile, Austin wakes up in a strange place after being dragged and injured. He manages to start a fire and notices a peculiar mist approaching. Morrow recalls the last morning and the team’s efforts to find Austin. They discuss when to give up on him and start building shelters. The mist catches their attention and they wonder what it could be.
Morrow is somewhere, but he is not sure where. He is alone and has been for months, searching for his friends, who disappeared during the encounter with the mist. Morrow spends his days searching for food, water, and shelter, and looking for any signs of his friends or their spaceship. He feels isolated and uncertain about his surroundings. He uses primitive methods to navigate and map the area, and tries to stay focused on tasks to avoid paranoia and loneliness. Despite the challenges, Morrow finds comfort in the stars and reminisces about his previous life. He continues his search, hoping to find his friends or some familiarity in this unfamiliar world.
Morrow is traveling alone and has been walking for an unknown distance. He follows a specific pattern of walking, creating squares and then taking a diagonal route. He leaves piles of rocks as markers and searches for materials to help him survive, such as clothing and tools. He notes the lack of mammals and struggles to find suitable materials for his needs. He contemplates the possibility of being in an abandoned or sparsely populated area. He has accumulated tools and a fire-starting kit during his travels. He reflects on the loss of his companions and the destruction of their goals. He continues his journey, dealing with the challenges of finding food, shelter, and dealing with his isolation. He encounters mountains and a lake, where he takes a break and cleans himself and his clothing. He reflects on his appearance and the changes he has undergone. He ponders the absence of birds and the possibility of their extinction. He enjoys the sunset and the music he creates. He acknowledges the diminishing hope of finding his friends but continues his search. He hums underwater and feels a sense of loneliness.
He contemplates the possibility of settling down and farming, but feels it would mean giving up hope of finding his way back to his friends. He wonders about the purpose of his isolation and questions whether there is another intelligence at work. Suddenly, he sees a bright light and follows it to a clearing where he encounters a humanoid being named Fawso. Fawso assures Morrow that he is not in danger and asks why Morrow left his group. Morrow is surprised that Fawso did not take him away from his friends and asks if Fawso has seen them.
Fawso informs him that his friends are in a state of stasis and that the Fessa Union, a culture that views the destruction of a Space Brain as an act of war, may have put them in stasis as a precursor to attacking Morrow’s group. Fawso proposes that they lay in wait for the Fessa Union and attack them together. Morrow agrees and Fawso offers him some Ilta, a sweet soup. Fawso then disappears and Morrow is left alone in the ship. He explores the ship and finds a place to rest, wondering how he will free his friends from stasis. He eventually falls asleep, still unsure of what lies ahead.
A search begins, with Morrow growing more frustrated and tired with each passing day. The Meeter helped him stay on course, but they were not finding any signs of what they were looking for. Nights were spent resting and eating, but the small talk between Morrow and Fawso was minimal. Both seemed hesitant to share too much information. Morrow couldn’t shake the feeling that Fawso knew more than he was letting on about the Alphans and their situation. Despite the lack of progress, they continued their search, hoping to find answers soon.
Morrow and Fawso are on Pyxidea, where Morrow is exploring a different area of the planet. He is accompanied by the Meeter, a device that scans for energy fields. Morrow questions Fawso’s motives and resents his lack of companionship. They come across a furrow in the ground that leads to a hidden opening, which Morrow almost falls into. Fawso believes Austin, another character, was there before and wants Morrow to communicate with whatever Austin found. They discuss their goals of freeing Morrow’s friends from stasis, countering Austin’s plan, and convincing the Fessa Union of the threat on Pyxidea. Morrow is skeptical of Fawso’s abilities and wants proof before proceeding. He eventually enters the opening, feeling a sense of fear and claustrophobia.
In a dark and cramped underground chamber, Morrow notices a dull glow coming from the Meeter, allowing him to see his surroundings. The chamber is surprisingly clean and almost sterile, lacking the debris he expected. Morrow realizes he can stand up and retrieves a small hand weapon provided by Fawso. He contemplates Austin’s decision to go underground on an alien planet, finding it desperate. As Morrow explores further, he discovers a maintenance access tunnel with smooth, manufactured walls. He questions who could have built it and suspects it wasn’t the Cryptodira. Morrow decides to descend the ladder-like tunnel, carrying the Meeter on his back. The cool air and low hum indicate the presence of technology below. After a while, he reaches a side tunnel and enters a control room with a large window. Through the window, he sees a massive glowing sphere suspended in an even larger chamber. Fawso explains that it is a Goltig Generator, a source of incredible power used by the Fessa Union to maintain control. The generator can move worlds, deflect asteroids, and manipulate space. Morrow realizes that something had already severed the connection between the Space Brains and the generator, causing the downfall of Pyxidea. He questions Fawso’s intentions and contemplates whether to repair or destroy the generator. Despite feeling that his purpose has been fulfilled, Morrow believes Fawso still intends to help him free his friends. He also suspects that the Fessa Union will come to reclaim the generator.
Fawso explains that he had no sinister intent and was prepared to take control of the generator to prevent the Fessa Union from regaining control. Morrow questions how he got separated from his friends, to which Fawso admits it is still a mystery. They discover that the control complex is not transmitting the stasis field holding Morrow’s friends. Morrow agrees to climb the ladder again to continue their search. Later, Morrow reflects on the complexity of their situation and wishes he had someone like Koenig to help him. He asks Fawso about the Fessa Union’s order, and Fawso explains that their order prevented natural disasters but also hindered the universe’s natural improvement. Morrow presses Fawso for his opinion, and Fawso agrees that preventing the germination of certain seeds can lead to larger problems. Morrow questions Fawso about how he knows about Moonbase Alpha, and Fawso explains that their group has monitoring devices and can track communications. Morrow goes to sleep with a feeling of distrust towards Fawso. He wakes up in a different location and realizes he has been separated from the Meeter and Fawso. He contemplates the presence of a third party involved and their intentions.
Morrow reflects on how the universe has always been mysterious and unwilling to reveal itself. He then finds himself in a mist that communicates with him, revealing an army of soldiers who are frozen in time. Morrow realizes that his friends were also caught in this time disturbance and tries to understand the purpose of the army. He communicates with the mist, which reveals that the soldiers are there to protect a generator. Tanya and the others are suddenly awake and moving and in the same underground area with Morrow. The mist communicates through Austin, who collapses after conveying that if the generator is stopped, everyone will die. Morrow and his friends bind Austin and decide to carry him back to their camp. They find their way back to the Eagle and prepare dinner. Morrow reflects on how good it is to hear his friends’ voices again.
Paul Morrow gathers his audience and begins to explain the mysteries they are facing. He warns them that they could enter the time-altering stasis at any moment and that representatives from one of the players, named Fawso, could appear. They discuss what to do with Austin, who acted as advance PR for one of the players. Morrow reveals that there are multiple players involved, including Player One who controls the time stasis, Player Two who owns an army, and Player Three who owns a generator. He explains that Player Four, Fawso, opposes Player Three and wants the generator under a different control. They discuss the connection between the mist and the stasis player and wonder if they are the same. Morrow admits that Fawso is their main source of information but cautions that his biases may influence the facts. Suddenly, a Meeter approaches, signaling Fawso’s arrival. Morrow explains that he was whisked away underground by the mist and discovered an army. Fawso expresses interest in seeing the army and asks if Morrow learned anything else.
They discuss the concept of Titans and their relationship to the universe. Fawso explains that the Titans are powerful beings that pass through a wall between universes, providing energy to maintain balance. The Fessa Union has been using Goltig Generators to capture and consume the Titans, which has caused an imbalance and the destruction of multiple solar systems. The group realizes that they must stop the Fessa Union and find a way to harness the power of the generator to ensure their own survival. They also discuss the issue of Austin, who has shown aggressive behavior, and decide to build a prison to contain him. The characters contemplate their place in the impending war and the importance of aligning themselves with the right side for their own survival. The text ends with a mention of the Titans and the uncertainty surrounding their role in the situation.
Alexander expresses their belief that they are merely innocent bystanders and that they don’t matter. Morrow, on the other hand, believes that they do have a role to play and that something wants them involved. They discuss the possibility of disabling a generator that seems to be important to the Titan, and Gentry suggests that their team of technicians could be useful in that task. Mindy reminds them that the universe often doesn’t make sense, but they have witnessed strange events before. They debate whether to believe Fawso and his claims, and Morrow shares his doubts about Fawso’s location. They are interrupted by the awakening of Doug Austin, who recounts his recent experiences underground. He expresses his feelings of betrayal and questions his loyalty. Morrow acknowledges the loss of trust and suggests that rebuilding it will take time. Austin offers himself as someone expendable for exploration purposes.
They question Fawso’s loyalty and his ability to defend them against the Fessa Union. They also discuss the army they found and wonder why Fawso didn’t destroy them immediately. The conversation becomes heated as Morrow accuses Fawso of keeping secrets and lying. Suddenly, a ship appears and attacks them, leading to a battle. Fawso’s ship and the Eagle fight back, but both sustain damage. Fawso informs them that a fleet of ships is on its way and they need to get to the generator to defend against it. Morrow realizes he doesn’t know how to operate the generator and Fawso suggests he focus on learning. Fawso’s ship crashes into the enemy craft, destroying it. The characters land the Eagle and realize Fawso’s power supply is still intact.
Morrow and his team are trying to retrace their steps and figure out how to use a generator. Manzera and her crew discover that the node is active and the Space Brain residue is present. They decide to halt the fleet and send an exploratory team. Morrow’s team, including Austin, sets off into the woods with the Meeter guiding them. They discuss whether or not to trust Austin and decide to bring him along under guard. They eventually find the access tunnel and begin their descent.
Alexander and Austin are having a conversation about Morrow’s potential danger and the decision to have a child without consulting the father. They discuss the struggle of making life and death decisions and the different paths each character has taken. Meanwhile, Morrow and the group reach the control room and attempt to activate the machinery. They manage to see the fleet of ships and use a console to create a well that will transport the ships far away. However, there are still ships inside the atmosphere that they will have to deal with on their own.
Morrow and his team are trying to shoot down a ship with hand lasers, but the consoles abruptly power down. Fawso explains that it is not safe to use the generator inside the atmosphere. They decide to return to the ship and bring the Meeter with them. Gentry returns to the surface and finds no sign of Alexander or Austin. They realize that they are being pursued and quickly set up a perimeter behind some rocks. Fawso’s Meeter opens and reveals a small chair with a tiny being inside – it is Fawso. Uxa, a projection of Fawso’s species, accuses Fawso of wanting to be a Titan and endangering the galaxy. Fawso’s Meeter suddenly closes and is chased by other Meeters. Laser blasts and explosions fill the air, and Morrow’s team takes cover. They realize that Fawso has an army of people their size and wonder where Tanya is. The battle continues, and Morrow’s team is unsure of how many of the players are on Fawso’s side. Fawso’s side is victorious.
Fawso claims to be ready to change and evolve into a Titan. Fawso leaves, but the characters are unsure if he is truly gone. They find a Meeter, a type of device, that they can communicate with but cannot get it to talk back. They decide to find Tanya and have a conversation with her about the situation. She convinced Austin to take his own life (or she would have taken her own, along with their child’s life). The others accept her decision and they continue on their journey, with the Meeter following them. Tanya contemplates telling the child that Morrow is the father but ultimately decides against it. They discuss the difficult decisions they have had to make as leaders.
Finally having a peaceful dinner, Paul Morrow conceals a truth from the others, that an incoming message from an unknown culture has just been received, demanding information about the generator. There will be no rest for these Alphans on Pyxidea…