While CHILD OF CHAOS may seem, on the surface, to be an eccentrically acerbic, far-flung action-adventure, I wrote it with a more pressing theme in mind.
The gods with whom I've chosen to populate this particular story are archetypes. They are projections, if you will, of the many desires and flaws that we all share. So I've used them to illustrate this shared point in our human history, and when you read this book I just ask that you keep some things in mind.
Zeus represents 'patriarchy' - rulership by a single male, an all-powerful father figure. We owe most of our human history - good, bad and ugly - to this type of monarchic governing.
Without getting too spoilery - I want you to enjoy the novel as it unfolds! - the 'threat' to Olympus and to Zeus represents the social forces that have come to usurp 'big bad daddy's iron fist' as a means of societal control. Specifically, our new overlords, here in the real world, are no longer thunderously demanding kings; they are our own greed, our own lust, to which we are yoked and leashed by those who manufacture the objects we are so convinced we desire. Whether they're video games or drugs or cans of cola, we all have a carefully-crafted hedonistic carrot on a stick guiding us one way or another.
As for making your hero the embodiment of sarcasm and cynicism itself? Well, in a world where we are daily hammered with insistent claims that we can only eat, drink and be merry thanks to Product X, what healthier response is there than to say, "Yeah, okay ... fuck it."
Of course, you're welcome to read CHILD OF CHAOS on a more surface level, as a romp and a journey and a wee battle of wits with some poorly-armed combatants. Feel free! But if you squint at the story and turn your head and the lighting is just right at a very certain time of the day ... well, if you happen to see a deeper (and perhaps a darker) meaning, I re-assure you that you're not losing your mind.
Happy reading!
