The Odd Aussie

Set in Australia at the time of the 2000 Sydney Olympics (and briefly on Mount Olympus), this story is a rollicking odyssey, with several sub-plots, and many twists and turns. The 'Odd Aussie' is the Greek god, Zeus, although the protagonist is essentially his consort, the goddess, Hera. The gods of Mount Olympus have been in a 'Lethean' sleep for three thousand years. On awakening, they find their altars in ruins, and learn that their former Achaean subjects no longer believe in them. They realize that they will fade away and cease to exist altogether if they don't find a way to recreate themselves. Upon Hera's urging, she, Zeus, and Zeus's daughter, Athena, abandon sacred Olympus to follow the Greek diaspora to the 'Great Southland', with the intention of re-establishing their dominion from a new palace atop the aboriginal sacred rock, Uluru. From then on, it is 'Greek Mythology meets Aboriginal Dreamtime', with Zeus in a battle of wills with Dark One, a mysterious, but jocular aboriginal guardian spirit. But Zeus also causes many shenanigans in the big city down south, where the gods sojourn for a while in a flat above the Olympus Cafe. The ensuing subplots involve the humans associated with the Olympus Cafe. They are: Mr. Christopoulos, the cafe owner, enamoured of Hera; his daughter, Chrissie, enamoured of the 'Australian boy', Hector; Mr. Lendl, Hector's landlord and classical antique dealer; two thieving Greek youths, Con and Nick; and two juvenile delinquents, Johnny and Angelo. This work clearly belongs to the fantasy genre, and the target audience is generally 14 to 45. However, it would appeal to anyone who enjoys the work of Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. The writing style is largely tongue-in-cheek, with a smattering of sly author intrusions.