An Arrow's Flight: A Novel [Paperback]

Unaware of what the Fates have chosen for him, Neoptolemus, who goes by Pyrrhus because of his red hair and is tired of hiding his sexuality, escapes his boring life on the isle of Scyros and moves to the big city. Strapped for cash, he decides to put his godlike good looks to some use and becomes a go-go dancer and hustler in the gay part of town. But even then, he longs for something more than just a sea of faces all wanting him and him not caring one way or the other. He is found by Phoenix, trusted eunuch of Achilles, who tells him of the oracle's prophecy and offers the opportunity to change his life: to achieve victory in Troy.

There's more to the prophecy than Pyrrhus is told, though. He has to obtain Heracles' bow from Philoctetes who was exiled by Odysseus to the island of Lemnos after being bitten by a snake and contracting an incurable illness. Once the two meet, Pyrrhus must confront his feelings for Philoctetes and decide once and for all who he is and what he wants from life.

"An Arrow's Flight" is a unique blending of Greek mythology with modern gay themes. At first, I was a bit thrown, as all the ancient Greeks I remember from my school days are now using computers, watching TV, using charge cards, etc. It takes some getting used to. The story itself helps to overcome this; it's well-written with very strong, thoroughly developed characters. Pyrrhus grows and changes by the end of the story, finally accepting himself and understanding who he is. A fine, compelling novel.

The general consensus was that the book could benefit from a good editor (a benefit that many recent books, fiction and nonfiction, could stand--alas, we live in an age where spell checking passes for editing even at major, reputable publishing houses). The story line was interesting: Merlis brings characters from ancient Greece and puts them essentially in modern dress. Achilles' family live in a trailer with a satellite dish; Pyrrhus is a go-go boy; well, you get the picture.

This novel was at many times an exercise of Merlis displaying his imagination and erudition, by showing what parallels he could make between the underpinning Greek myths and the present day storyline.

"I'm sorry. I'm all by myself, I'd be delighted if you could join me for dinner. My name's Paris, by the way." He stuck out his hand. "Yours?"
Paris, of course. So he had seen the face, not in person, but in the newsmagazines and the men's fashion magazines and, just before the army embarked for Troy, the propaganda film shown to all the troops. 'Why We Must Fight', with its footage of Paris masterfully edited, so that the amiable playboy was transformed into a rapacious fiend.

Good writing, and interesting inter-connexions. But sometimes it would go on for pages. This is what needed to be edited, for there are times when the description or the detail clogs the flow of the story.

Odysseus, in the end, returns, making this an uncomfortable parallel to the Iliad and the Odyssey. Merlis is a gay writer, and while the Greeks were no stranger to this concept, I'm not sure it does a good service to the Iliad and Odyssey to recast them into tales of modern day gay ghettos. However, if anyone were to do it, I would say Merlis would probably be the one to be most successful at it.

One review on the back states that the work 'so seamlessly merges the ancient and the contemporary that we never give a thought to anachronism', and I pondered, what book did this reviewer read? That was my thought on every page!

I give a hesitant recommendation to read this book, but would recommend Merlis' first book, 'American Studies' over this.