Ganymede, in mythological terms, is agreed to be the cup-bearer of the gods. Beyond that, accounts differ, ranging from this vague description to intimations that the boy was the lover of the god Zeus. In his novella GANYMEDE, Bill VanPatten sets about weaving a narrative through these many conflicting accounts, telling the story of a boy still unsure of the meaning of love as he is thrust into a world he can barely understand.
The story starts much as the myth does, with Ganymede being taken from his home on Mount Ida to the home of the gods. Ganymede’s egress is far less violent than modern interpretations would have it, with the boy having time to get his affairs in order before being flown to Olympus. On arrival, he takes up his duties, which are twofold. The first is as the cupbearer to the gods, working alongside a nymph named Meli. The other is as the lover of Zeus: a role that is only somewhat secret, but one Ganymede finds himself warming to quickly. However, his feelings are conflicted. He is new to love, and his heart is torn between his duties to Zeus, his fascination with the turbulent Poseidon, and a connection to Meli that he can’t quite name. When he confronts his true feelings, though, he opens an old wound among the gods—which puts his life at risk.
GANYMEDE flies by in just over 150 pages, with the storyline staying simple enough that it can be told mostly adequately within that space. However, it sometimes feels like some scenes have details missing and moments of drama that are underplayed, due to the shortness of the book. Ganymede’s feelings ebb and flow with relative suddenness—relatable for a young teen, but it seems a shame to not have time to really examine the sort of feelings that would make a boy decide to risk his life. Save for a dramatic turn late in the book, many events seem to occur with minimal stakes, including and especially Ganymede’s final major choice of the story. This doesn’t harm the narrative, but it may well leave the reader wanting a bit more.
As for the age of the protagonist, VanPatten does address and acknowledge this in the book’s introduction. Ganymede is depicted as 14 years old, and ancient Greece’s penchant for pederasty is depicted as (within the narrative) the accepted practice it once was. That said, intimate scenes are not described in any detail, either taking place “offscreen” or being depicted with brief, vague wording. While the moral implications of this practice are not an element of the story, VanPatten does weave in the difficulties that come with it: the fact that boys of this age have an incomplete and immature view of love, the inherent power structure of such relationships, and the ultimate truth that such relationships—by their very nature—are impermanent. These are not driving themes, but they are present, and it’s an excellent handling of a touchy subject.
While GANYMEDE will likely leave readers feeling as though the book could have been a bit longer, it is still an enjoyable afternoon activity. It plays fast and loose with Greek mythology, all the while acknowledging that it’s doing so, and presents an intriguing alternative to the Ganymede myth.
Bill VanPatten’s GANYMEDE is an inventive and unique take on a mythological character whose origins are vague at best.
~Kara Dennison for IndieReader