Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cln9oxg7r007d01xyhd0fadj5/comments
CostasNarrativeXP 2026 July feature
"The Odyssey" by Homer
Published in 700-800 BCE

Translated by Robert Fagles

A profound exploration of human identity and resilience. True homecoming is not a matter of geographic travel, but a grueling psychological journey to reclaim one’s self and humanity through the restoration of vital relationships.

Book XXI-XXII
00:29 XXI Odysseus Strings His Bow
28:04 XXII Slaughter in the Hall

Characters
Odysseus - The battle-hardened and incredibly cunning king of Ithaca whose twenty-year struggle to return home serves as the ultimate test of human resilience and identity.

Telemachus - Odysseus's coming-of-age son who transforms from a passive, fatherless prince into a courageous and essential brother-in-arms to reclaim his household.

Penelope - Odysseus’s brilliant and fiercely loyal queen who uses her exceptional wit and psychological grit to stall a hundred aggressive suitors for years.

Athena - The goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare who acts as the divine architect of the entire story, constantly orchestrating and protecting the family's survival.

Antinous - The cruel, arrogant, and politically ambitious leader of the suitors who serves as the primary antagonist by plotting to murder Telemachus and usurp the throne.

Costa's Wordbook
Messene - southwestern Peloponnese

Door jamb n the vertical side-post or lining of a door frame that holds the door

Leodes - suitor of Penelope and seer for the group. Unlike the other abusive suitors, he genuinely hates wickedness and repeatedly warns the others about their hubris, though he remains among them

Eurytion - a drunken centaur whose bad behavior sparked epic war between the Centaurs and mankind

Pirithous - legendary king of the Lapiths and the heroic son of Zeus, famed for his deep and steadfast friendship with Theseus

Lapiths - semi-historical tribe of people who lived in the valleys and mountains of Thessaly

Amphimedon - an Ithacan noble, the son of Melaneus, and one of the primary suitors for Penelope

Leocritus - one of the prominent suitors for Penelope

Fumigate v apply smoke, vapor, or gas to a space or item to disinfect harmful pests, insects, and bacteria

Telepylus - rocky, fortified citadel and city of the Laestrygonians in the land of Lamos

Selections of 2026
Brave New World, The Little Prince, Songs of a Dead Dreamer, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, Anne of Green Gables, Wuthering Heights, East of Eden, The Stranger, The Godfather, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, The Odyssey, Inferno, The Two Towers, Den of Thieves, Winnie the Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner.

Milestones
2021: 0 Full soundtrack, no editing, wife commentary, summary outline, irregular release
2022: 2.0 DaVinci editing, wordbook, book intro, AI voice + thumbnail, chapter summary, scheduled release
2023: 2.1 Descript, CapCut, Suno score, character intro, weekly release
2024: 2.2 Standard condenser mic, Audacity, ChatGPT annotation + illustration, timestamp, 1-hour content
2026: 2.3 Gemini definition, JP, CN, PT subtitles on selected YouTube videos

Platforms
YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Reddit, Amazon Music, Firstory, Pocket Casts, KKBOX, Castbox, Noice, Podcast Addict, SoundOn, Castro, Player FM