- Narcissus, in Greek mythology, was a hunter from Laconia who loved beautiful things. Since he was beautiful, that included himself, and he is usually pictured gazing at his own reflection in a pool.
- His father was the river god Cephissus and his mother was the nymph Liriope.
- Because he was so beautiful, people had a tendency to fall in love with him, and he had a tendency to spurn them. In one famous story, a nymph called Echo fell for him and began following him around. Sensing someone was there, Narcissus called out, "Who's there?" and Echo responded by repeating, "Who's there?" Eventually, she did reveal herself and declare her love, but Narcissus told her to go away. Heartbroken, she spent the rest of her life wandering in lonely glens until all that was left of her was her voice, repeating anything anyone said.
- It wasn't only women who fell for Narcissus. In another story, a young man called Ameinias fell for him, too. Narcissus wasn't interested in men, any more than he was interested in Echo, and spurned him, too, giving him a sword so he could kill himself on Narcissus's doorstep.
- Nemesis, the goddess of revenge, decided Narcissus needed to be punished for such heartless behaviour. She lured him to a pool, where he saw his own reflection and fell in love with it. He soon worked out his love was never going to be reciprocated, but could only sit and gaze and himself, until he turned into a flower.
- His name has found its way into modern language. Narcissism is a term used for people who are overly obsessed with themselves.
- Its also the name of a genus of flowers which includes the Daffodil. It's not known whether the myth gave the name to the flower, or the other way round, or whether the two are completely unrelated.
- A second century Greek writer, Pausanias, wrote a new take on the Narcissus story which has him fall in love with his Twin sister rather than himself. Obviously, he can't have her either, and that story ends the same way, with him turning into a flower.
- The myth has inspired any number of modern day writers including Paolo Coelho, Oscar Wilde, William Faulkner, Herman Hesse, Herman Melville and A. E, Housman. JK Rowling named a Harry Potter character after him, too - Narcissa Malfoy.
- He's also inspired many artists to paint or sculpt him. Caravaggio, Turner and Salvador Dali among them.
My Books
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The Ultraheroes series
Several new groups of superheroes, mostly British, living and working (mostly) in British cities like London and Birmingham. People discovering they have, and learning to live with, superpowers. Each book is complete in itself although there is some overlap of characters.
The Raiders series
A tale of two dimensions, and worm hole travel between the two. People displaced in both time and space, learning to get along and work together to find a way home while getting used to the superpowers wormhole travel gave them. A trilogy.
Golden Thread
A superhero tale with a difference. Five heroes from another dimension keep returning - whenever they return, they have a job to do and are a well-meshed team in order to do it. Until one time, something goes wrong...
Tabitha Drake series
A different kind of power - the ability to talk to dead people. Tabitha has it, and murder victims seek her out to make sure justice is done. Tabitha has this and a disastrous love life to cope with.
Short story collections
Some feature characters from the above novels, others don't. They're not all about superheroes. Some are creepy, romantic, funny.
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