Fresh Fiction Blog | Tracy Deebs | My variation on "Pandora's Box Myth"

Since DOOMED came out, I've been asked hundreds of times about why I chose to go the cyber route with the Pandora's Box myth. So when I was trying to come up with a topic for this blogpost, I thought telling you a little about the book—and my motivation for it—might be the way to go.

I've always loved the Pandora myth and have always wanted to write a book from her point of view because I think she got a bad rap (as women tend to do in mythology). In the original Greek myth Zeus and Hephaestus mold Pandora from clay as a punishment to Prometheus for stealing fire from the gods — she was specifically created to bring trouble to him and to do exactly what she did, so I find it very hard to blame her for that. Prometheus, of course, knows Zeus is unhappy with him and knows he wouldn't be sending him a gift without strings attached, so he refuses Pandora. He warns his brother, Epimetheus, to do the same, but Epimetheus is less of a planner and much more impetuous than Prometheus. He accepts Pandora in what is one of the first love triangles ever and the rest is history ...

I wanted to bring those aspects of the story to DOOMED, so I created Pandora, Theo (Prometheus) and Eli (Epimetheus), as well as Pandora's father who is directly responsible for the evil that Pandora unleashes. But I had originally planned to set the story in New Orleans and have her accidentally open a crypt in one of the cemeteries which would bring down a bunch of natural disasters, plagues, etc. Then, one day at the very beginning of the planning process, my agent asked this fateful question: "What if she opens an attachment instead of a box?" The idea caught my attention right away and in the next few weeks, I worked like a crazy woman putting together a synopsis for DOOMED that included a Stuxnet type worm that brings down civilization as we know it, an MMO called Pandora's Box that starts it all, a countdown to nuclear annihilation (Fukishima, the Japanese power plant that had a meltdown was going on at this time, with its inability to deliver electricity that caused the leaks and just fit perfectly into the book), and a real-life scavenger hunt for Pandora to go on to try to stop the destruction of the world as we know it.

I didn't want her to be alone, as the mythological Pandora wasn't alone, so I created my own versions of the Titans Prometheus and Epimetheus to go along with her. Theo, like Prometheus, is wicked smart, talented, strong, a careful (sometimes too careful) planner and willing to sacrifice himself for the cause. Eli is a total charmer. He's fun, exciting, impetuous (often too impetuous) and is the life of the party.

The world we live in is so technologically dependent that when I was writing the book, I realized that we were ripe for the retelling of this myth. In the course of my research, I talked to a LOT of engineers in numerous fields as well as numerous experts on Stuxnet (the worm created to attack the Iranian nuclear program) and it occurred to me just how precarious a place we are in. Before Stuxnet was created by the U.S. government there was a limit to what cyber-warfare was available. But after its inception, everything changed — at least according to every expert I've spoken to and every article I've read. While Stuxnet was originally designed with a self-destruct date and very narrow parameters of what systems it could attack — it still jumped outside of its original target. This led it to being mapped by leading experts in the field in various countries. Which then led to the creation of other Stuxet type worms by people who are less concerned with the chaos they wreak and who haven't added in self-destruct dates and other failsafes. It sounds farfetched, but when Stuxnet was found — despite all the precautions to the contrary — inside the operating systems of Chevron, an American company, virus and malware experts the world over became even more concerned about just what the terrifying future of cyberwarfare is going to look like.

It is the horror of this possibility that I tried to capture with DOOMED. What would the world look like if everything stopped working — not just for a few days, but indefinitely, with no quick fix in sight? With no promise that things would do anything but get worse? All the research I did on epidemics and sociology predicted that it would take very little time for society to break down. But at the same time, I wanted there to be something that could be done to stop the destruction. Not necessarily fix the damage that was done, as there are no quick fixes in DOOMED, but to at least give Prometheus (Theo) a chance to steal that fire from the gods ... or in the case of my story, the game matrix that can stop the destruction even if it can't repair it.

So I guess what all this boils down to is I chose to go the Cyber route with my Pandora story because it just made sense to me in the world that I live in. In America today, plague and pestilence aren't high on the list of things most of us worry about ... and neither are Zombie and Vampire Apocalypses. But trying to live and work and survive in a world where it becomes impossible to access money or pump gas to run cars or generators or keep trucks running to deliver food or ... the list of what will fail without Internet or communications or electricity seemed infinite when I was writing DOOMED and it was our helplessness in the face of this evil loosed by a modern day Pandora that I really wanted to explore.

Thanks so much for having me here today! And readers, leave a comment about your own favorite Greek myth and be entered to win a signed copy of DOOMED :-) Have a great week!

Comments

ilike the book cover and then i love to read and blog on it for you if i had chance
(Desiree Reilly 11:41pm January 14, 2013)

I like the story of Heracles the best. He is better known to us as Hercules from the roman stories.
(Kathleen Yohanna 5:52am January 15, 2013)

I hadn't thought about Pandora in a long time. I like Atlas, but thing that he had better shift the earth a little bit. We seem to be off kilter.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 6:33am January 15, 2013)

Oedipus. Might be my psychology training but I find the concept very
intriguing.
(Liesl Lane 7:19am January 15, 2013)

I had mythology in eighth grade and fell in love with it. I have been reading about it ever since. My favorite story is about Perseus, when he's trying to save his mom from being married to that king. My least fave is about Medusa. It's so sad how it wasn't even her fault that she got raped but she got turned into a monster anyway. I can't wait to read this book. I bet it will be a great one. Hope you have a great day and continue writing :)
(Meghan Anderson 7:43am January 15, 2013)

I love the story of Anthena and Arachne to explain how spiders came to be.
(Pam Howell 8:15am January 15, 2013)

This sounds like a book I'd love to read
(Bonnie Capuano 9:50am January 15, 2013)

Just read the intro to this book and I soooo wish it was sitting right here, right now so that I could just pick it up and read it. Thanks for sharing!
(Stephanie Strausberger 9:53am January 15, 2013)

Persephone and Hades, I do love the book cover!
(Vicki Wurgler 10:26am January 15, 2013)

The book and cover are both intrigueing. I'd love to win.
(Mary Hay 10:40am January 15, 2013)

Wonderful post. My favorite is Achilles. Best wishes and much
happiness.
(Sharon Berger 10:45am January 15, 2013)

My favourite creation of Greek mythology has to be the winged horse Pegasus - I'm a horsey person.
Your comment about high-tech ruling our lives is a good one and we do indeed find it hard to sort out our lives when something like a bank computer goes down.
(Clare O'Beara 10:51am January 15, 2013)

It is always interesting to hear how an author comes up with the idea for a story. I love stories that include Greek mythology. My favorite Greek myth is Persephone.
(Bonnie H 11:52am January 15, 2013)

Even since I've read and reread Bulfinche's Greek Mythology I enjoy reading those kinds of stories. Pandora's box is an interesting tale to which there are many self discoveries. Mythology also takes up back to a simplier time which is a welcome break from the tech world that we live in.
(David McKinney 12:59pm January 15, 2013)

I must admit that I am not very familiar with the Greek
Pantheon of mythology. Viking and Norse lore was always my
favorite subject to dive into. However, as I was a
young(er) woman in the 90's when Kevin Sorbo rocked out the
Legendary Adventures of Hercules, I have some small, and
probably totally wrong, idea. Then Disney took a turn at
Hercules and we all know how off base that one was. But it
does hold a special place in my heart because Megara totally
rocks as a girl power figure for Disney.
(Judith Cauthan 1:38pm January 15, 2013)

I like the Cassandra and Apollo one. Orpheus is another favorite although its is so sad!
(May Pau 2:12pm January 15, 2013)

Love that you set myth up in current technology frame. Sounds
fascinating.
(G. Bisbjerg 2:13pm January 15, 2013)

I love dystopia and combined with Greek mythology-so cool!
(Diane Pollock 2:49pm January 15, 2013)

All Greek mythology is interesting, my favorite would probably be for today anyway would be Aphrodite and her lover Aros.
(Pamela McPherson 2:55pm January 15, 2013)

I've always thought Medusa and Ariadne got the short end of the stick in their myths and wouldn't mind re-tellings of them. Actually I think Ariadne has one The Bull God by Gellis.
(Lisa Elwood 3:46pm January 15, 2013)

Favorite myth -- the one where Icarus flew too close to the sun and his wings melted. Your books sounds interesting.
(Michelle Fidler 4:38pm January 15, 2013)

my favorite greek myth would be Hercules.
(Lisa Fitzgibbons 5:34pm January 15, 2013)

Favorite greek myth would be about Hercules and Hydra (with her many snake heads, that would grow two more if he or his twin brother chopped one off). Your books sounds very interesting and would be fascinating to read!
(Linda Luinstra 6:58pm January 15, 2013)

Not sure whhich legend or part of mythology it comes from, but I like the story behind the movie Clash of the Titans. This one encompases several stories run together, I think, and it really lends itself to the making of a great movie.
(Donna Holmberg 8:33pm January 15, 2013)

I like most greek myths, depending on how their stories get told. Thank you for the chance to win. Sounds like a great read.
(Sally Hannoush 8:46pm January 15, 2013)

the cover is very cool and the book sounds great...love to win
(Kimberly Hoefs 9:27pm January 15, 2013)

achilles is my fav, but this sounds WOW> thanks
(Debbi Shaw 10:09pm January 15, 2013)

I really hate to admit this, but when I was younger, I used to read Greek Mythology, and knew it like the back of my hand. When you get to be my age, and especially when you are recovering from a closed-head injury, you can't recall things like that, and it actually makes you angry, because it should just pop out of your head like History would, especially the way I used to read it. Anyway, your story intrigued me, and not only would I read this book, but I would pass it on to my Husband, who I know would enjoy the story as well. I love where it takes place, and besides Pandora, who I am a bit familiar with, should make the book a real page-turner. Thank you for the extra background on the book. It always adds a little extra flavor, when you know where the Author is going with her story.
(Peggy Roberson 10:11pm January 15, 2013)

Well, don't know if it really counts as a myth but the Lost
City of Atlantis is rumoured to be Santorini and it is such an
amazing story and it would be crazy to find this ruin.
(Kylie Plester 10:21pm January 15, 2013)

I have always been fascinated by Sirens. The way they can bring a sailor to
his doom, wow. Medusa is also another woman in mythology that has
amazing power
(Ann Sheiring 11:20pm January 15, 2013)

Book sounds great, also the cover. Would love to win. Thanks
(Linda Hall 11:25pm January 15, 2013)

Eros and Psyche is my favorite story. It has that Beauty and the Beast theme.
(Kai Wong 12:20pm January 16, 2013)

Has to be Pandora for me. Just fascinating.
(Mary Preston 6:25am January 17, 2013)

I love all of mythology, the nature of the gods and goddesses still are captivating and amazing.
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