The Authors would like a word with you, dear reader. Part III
Created | Updated May 7, 2007
We realise this is a terrible intrusion through the third wall of reality and normally authors don't make direct appeals to the audience, unless they are trying to be trendy and post-modern. Happily, we are neither trendy nor are we post-modern, but we are however, frightfully concerned that what follows might be confusing unless we take a moment to explain our intentions.
In order to spare you this, you should know that h2g2 Storytime 3 was conceived to run chronologically alongside it's predecessor h2g2 Storytime 2.
The Second Storytime was, amongst other things, a tale of Evil and of Gods. It is therefore apt and fitting that character bears a namesake from the Panoply of Greek Mythology. One who sits at the crossroads of two of the most popular and well-known myths: Pandora and Prometheus. One who we feel deserves a little explication:
A Titan called Epimetheus.
Epimetheus was the brother of Prometheus who Zeus punished for stealing fire from the gods to give as a gift to mankind. Epimetheus was deceived by Zeus into marrying Pandora. Prometheus had warned his brother not to accept gifts from Gods but Epimetheus, lacking foresight , did not see the trap that had been set for him. For Pandora was indeed the gift of The Gods that Prometheus warned him to refuse and each in turn had granted unto her many aspects including mischievousness and curiosity. Epimetheus's warnings to his wife went unheeded by Pandora and when her curiosity got the better of her, Evil was released. Thus did the gods have their vengeance on the two Titans and mankind did fall into darkness.
Epimetheus through his inattentiveness to the tricks of the Gods was in part, responsible for the entrance of evil into the world. Unlike his brother who was possessed of foresight, Epimetheus is associated with hind-sight.
In our story, Richter the genial seismologist, is responsible from amongst the 100,000 committee for tracking and stopping Rasputin. His name Epimetheus was chosen because we felt it encapsulated the themes of the story in which he plays an integral role: namely the lack of foresight to prevent mankind being subsumed by the evils of the world.
Like his Greek namesake before him, has Epimetheus Richter become the victim of cruel Gods and Devils; has he misread the portents; can he help to save the world before it is too late?
To find out, we suggest to read the relevant chapters of h2g2 storytime 2 which are linked at the bottom of this page.
Clive the flying Ostrich ,
Mr legion ,
HPB & Terran Prologue - In which Grigory Effimovich Rasputin is murdered in cold blood.
Chapter 3 - In which we learn a little about Richter, the existence of a secret prophecy and the significance of Stone Henge.
Chapter 4 - In which Rasputin escapes from the confines of Hell with a vicious dose of cramp.
Chapter 5 - In which the Return of Evil is discussed and Richter realises that the dark forces may already hold the upper hand.
Chapter 8 - In which Richter and his ward Robin, are taken by surprise when the demon Leicester is summoned into this reality on an Errand from The Devil.
Chapter 9 - In which God utterly fails to recruit Arthur Pendragon to the Holy Cause of defending Creation. Hellfire and Buggery! Who else could possibly do at such short notice?
Chapter 14 - In which Richter seeks out The Chosen One - God's elect champion who will slay The Beast, Rasputin - only to find that something, somewhere, has gone horribly wrong....
Chapter 17 - In which Richter guides Bob to his Destiny - to confront Rasputin beneath Stone Henge and to fight to save Creation. But is he too late?