The Cyclops

The "Cyclops" of Greek myth tells the story of his life, including his famous encounter with Odysseus. He is a man, not the monster of myth, although he is extremely large, very powerful, and has but one good eye. He tells the story of his troubled childhood; his friendship with his little sister, Anastasia; his love for his mother, Thoosa; and his fraught pursuit of the beautiful island shepherdess, Galatea. It is a story of loneliness, banishment, suffering, love, and triumph. You will love Galatea's down-to-earth character and Anastasia's boundless energy and endless tricks. Just as he is not the monster of myth, neither is Odysseus the great hero. In fact, Odysseus is a piratical raider who plunders cities like the city of the Cicones. He comes to Polyphemus's island not because he is blown off course by unfavorable winds, but because he wishes to steal food and wine for himself and his crew. Although the encounter with Odysseus takes only two days of his life, Polyphemus's take on that encounter is very different from the Homeric version and makes fascinating reading.