The Medusa Coin commentary continues with insight into the character of Gilgamesh! SPOILERS AHEAD!
Gilgamesh
Gilgamesh, the Suited Man within the context of The Medusa Coin, was one of the elements taken from the very first draft. My reason was simple. I wanted an immortal but not an obvious one. No Lazarus allowed.
During my searching I stumbled on The Epic of Gilgamesh and fell in love with the idea of using the legendary figure in the Greystone world. In the epic he never attained immortality, so it was also fun to play on this untold part of his journey.
And why not right?
Opening up Portents to literary figures as well as myths and monsters seemed pretty in tune with the nature of the world. It fit in a creepy, supernatural way.
Plus, having that basis of a backstory made it that much more interesting to have his presence in the narrative.
Taking some facts, omitting others…
That becomes the problem with lifting from other texts. Staying true to them sometimes means compromising your own story. To use Gilgamesh as a figure of immortality – and the cost of such a gift – meant adding to his narrative, not taking away from it.
Because so much is unknown it is simple to say the legendary figure never died – stories of his demise were simply fictional for the sake of the epic.
There is more coming for the character in Pathways in the Dark, including more tidbits from The Epic of Gilgamesh. It’s been fun, like doing a research paper, and then blowing it all to hell with crazy action and modern twists. Very glad he’s been added to the world of Greystone.
Evolution of the damn hat
Yes. There were arguments – SO MANY ARGUMENTS – about Gilgamesh’s hat. I wanted it to mean something, to have this deep insight into his character.
At one point it was a fedora but that seemed played. In another draft it was a Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers cap. Yes, I am a Dodgers fan – blame my grandmother for whom the book is dedicated to so it would have fit perfectly… But the real reason was for how the game of baseball changed because of this singular individual.
Unfortunately, everything became all about the damn hat. How to explain it to the reader and every freaking character that interacted with Gilgamesh. It took over the scene so I ditched the Dodgers cap.
Why a bowler hat then? In truth, I was making a statement about Charlie Chaplin’s signature chapeau. Seriously. I was trying to say – “This guy changed the movie industry without saying a damn word.” The power of his silence, the influence over the course of history.
That was how I saw Gilgamesh as the Suited Man. This man, this figure of Death, with the ability to tip the scales without having to say a word. Just a single action.
And he does that. When he reaches for Jeremy Bennett’s hand before the van plows through the home he makes a choice that changes EVERYTHING.
So now you know the secret of the hat! (These are the things that keep me up at night, if you can believe that…)
Next time
Hady Ronne – the secret behind her name revealed at last…
Thanks for reading.
