Deep Dive into ALEXEIN: Rewriting Volume I, Golden Dawn

Deep Dive into ALEXEIN: Rewriting Volume I, Golden Dawn

I thought I’d finished the first draft of ALEXEIN Volume I, Golden Dawn, but a half-day Netflix binge of GANDUM: Requiem for Vengeance shifted my perspective.

While I enjoyed the series (and its clever expansion on the original mythos), it highlighted some potential weaknesses in character development. 

The concept of "The New Type" in Gandum, beings with psychic abilities evolving in space, resonated with my fascination (since I was fourteen!) with the idea of human potential expanding beyond conventional limits. This theme will feature in later ALEXEIN volumes.

Returning to Golden Dawn, proofreading revealed a significant issue: several timeline inaccuracies stemming from my (admittedly!) imperfect grasp of ancient Greek history and its labyrinthine timelines. 

My brain experienced multiple meltdowns, like 363 BC becoming 361 BC and back again, my mental chronometer spinning wildly. I clearly remembered my initial research, but when I rewrote the scene, my memory failed! It was like my brain had entirely restructured the timeline. This necessitated a complete rethinking of the narrative, not just minor corrections. 

A rewatch of Season 1 of Game of Thrones unexpectedly provided a solution. The intricate court dynamics reminded me that ALEXEIN needed a similar level of detailed court intrigue in each of the key empires: Macedon, Thebes, Athens, Sparta, and Persia. To achieve this level of immersive storytelling, I needed to meticulously reconstruct each empire's timeline, including its key players, political influencers, and historical background.

Mapping these five court dynamics is daunting but crucial. It's particularly challenging because many key figures from this era are fundamentally undocumented—their origins, relationships, and even names are lost to history. 

This lack of historical data, however, provides creative freedom to weave a compelling narrative that aligns with the known historical record while offering imaginative depth and unique emotional weight.

I'm engrossed in this deep-dive, meticulously mapping every player and potential influence. The task is significant, even requiring the invention of names and backgrounds for individuals lost to the mists of time, like the wife of the Epirus king or Olympias's own mother.

Re-researching the Sacred Band of Thebes in depth proved exceptionally fruitful, and this sub-narrative has been significantly expanded. 

I’ve focused on its historical significance, delving into the emotional impact of a close-knit male unit, and used this to enhance the relationship between Alexander and Hephaestion. 

The Sacred Band serves as a powerful mirror, reflecting the profound bonds of love between men—a love that may have been emotional rather than exclusively sexual, yet vital nonetheless.

This rewriting process is intense but invigorating. The goal is to create a historically informed narrative and craft a profoundly emotional and immersive reading experience.

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