The Helmet of Horror: The Myth of Theseus and the Minotaur (Myth) - Victor Pelevin

Not impressed

The synopsis alone is enough to dissuade me from buying this book, and I've a research degree in mythology and psychology. It's a passion with me.

For a start, the malignant figure isn't, in tradition, Asterisk (that's a keyboard symbol or a cartoon ancient Gaul.) He was Aster, potential ruler of Crete after the death of Minos.

To read this story in the best form, turn to Mary Renault's The King Must Die. I've had my copy since schooldays, almost fifty years ago and wouldn't part with it even now.

Why two stars? I'm feeling charitable.

Lost in cyberspace

A clever enough book, perhaps a little to clever for it's own good. It recreates the challenge of the labyrinth in cyberspace, but unfortunately the sense of danger or ultimate goal lacks. It needed the identifiable hero and goal to be identified at the outset to work as myth, but we are never sure of who is who or what the goal is.

Compelling but confusing

Don't expect to understand this book on the first or even the second reading. It twists and turns and you can never completely see what's going on, much like the many labyrinths within its pages. It's post-modern in the best sense of the word, taking the idea of the Minotaur as guardian of the labyrinth and basically running with it. Pelevin has a lot of fun playing with language and perception, although these aren't the only issues discussed within the book.

Buy this if you're a fan of intelligent and offbeat writing.

Twisting and turning - an intriguing, complex tale

The Canongate Myth series continues with a retelling of the story of Theseus, the Minotaur and the labyrinth. So far this series has seen authors drawing upon the original source of the legend, and weaving their own narrative threads. The Odyssey was retold from Penelope's point of view, whilst the story of Samson focused on a shorter slice of the overall myth. Victor Pelevin took the challenge of the Cretian horror of the half man, half bull Minotaur, and rather than retelling completely reinvents the story.

There are certain continuities. Theseus, the Minotaur and Ariadne are named characters, albeit only the latter enjoying anything like a major piece of the action. Living up to her mythical namesake she spins the thread of the narrative, guiding us around Pelevin's post-modern take on the labyrinth. The major continuity is the concept of the labyrinth, a trapping, twisting, contained environment. This twenty-first century retelling sees the reader take the role of a passive observer to a chat room conversation.

The initial bursts of conversation between the trapped residents of the labyrinth are confused, but gradually a fuller picture of the reality of their imprisonment emerges. Each resident is lodged in a nearly-identical cell, with their own personal labyrinth located beyond the door to their cell. The identity of those responsible for this confinement is not revealed, and the novel instead deviates into an explanation of the nature of the world they now inhabit.

The chat-room format lends an urgency and pace to the novel, which means it can be devoured. It may need re-reading, as you find yourself skipping some of the lengthier, but vital, `posts' that build up the crucial metaphysical and philosophical messages. At times it is unclear to the point of being unintelligible, but the fast nature of the prose ensures that this confusion doesn't lead to a frustration with the novel.

Don't expect a classic rendering of the original tale. There is no tearful departure from Greece, no heroic slaying of the beast. Instead Pelevin has taken the baser, more fundamental concepts of the myth and woven a new tale that delivers a profound philosophical tract along with a fascinating read.

Original

Victor Pelevin once again questions existence in this original twist of the minotaur myth. Written as a conversation in a chat room Pelevin manages to mix modern day youth culture with an age old myth. Both surprisingly easy to read yet full of depth, meaning and ambiguity. Knowledge of, or specific interest in Theseus and the Minotaur is not a pre-requisite for enjoying this novel.