A Different Take on Oedipus
Iokaste: The Novel of the Wife-Mother of Oedipus by Victoria Grossack and Alice Underwood [PublishAmerica, 2004, $24.95]
By Steve Belden

Thanks to The Actuarial Review I had the privilege of reviewing Iokaste by Victoria Grossack and Alice Underwood. The book was enthralling from cover to cover. Very well written, it wove a story about Oedipus and Iokaste, Laius, Tiresias, the sphinx and other characters of Greek mythology and history. It related the previously untold story of the mother of Oedipus from her point of view. The characters were not only believable, I ended up wishing the story would end in a good way for them despite knowing that it wouldn't. I felt myself transported to another era where people and politics were familiar and believable, but the culture and norms were very different.

The tale works on many different levels. First, the meticulous research and knowledge of the Greek tales and mythology add a scholarly flavor to the book. It does this without requiring familiarity with mythology of the reader. The details of the day-to-day life and the thoughts and motivations of the main characters give a glimpse into what life might have been like as an upper caste Mycenaean of the late bronze era. The story is ripe with the politics of power, life, death, and sexuality. It delves deeply into the character of Iokaste, her family responsibilities, religious practices, beliefs, and societal duties.

I have worked with both authors in their actuarial capacities but I had no knowledge of their literary capabilities. They have prepared a Web site that gives background on the authors, their "Tapestry of Bronze" series, bibliography, background information on the myths, reading guide, and more. I greatly enjoyed the book and am looking forward to their next in the series Pelops and Amphion. The only negative that I can see is that the authors may be lured away from the actuarial realm to write full time and we would miss their actuarial contributions.

You may be thinking, "Will I enjoy this book? Should I buy it, borrow it or skip it? I did not know what to expect from two actuaries as authors. I loved the book! I found that as I finished one chapter I was compelled to read through the next right away. The outcome is known—this isn't a mystery—but the journey is compelling. The characters are people whose thoughts, feelings, motivations, and behaviors make sense, in context, to today's reader. I'd recommend Iokaste to anybody who likes Michael Crichton, Tony Hillerman, Robert Harris, Nelson Demille, or any number of other authors who write intelligent stories for intelligent readers.