Odyssey Reimagined: Epic Tales of Immigration

Isabel J. Kim's debut novel, "Sublimation," offers a contemporary retelling of Homer's ancient epic, The Odyssey. Kim's unique narrative imagines a universe where individuals split into two distinct selves upon immigrating—one who remains behind and one who departs.

Kim explains that The Odyssey's themes of homecoming, trials, and familial journeys provided a natural framework for exploring her concepts. She posits that utilizing classical Western canon, like The Odyssey, allows for a deeper, less biased examination of modern immigration issues, moving beyond policy minutiae and inherent biases.

This exploration of adaptation and myth is timely, with Christopher Nolan also set to direct a film adaptation of The Odyssey. The article also highlights other notable retellings. These include Madeline Miller's "Circe," Claire North's "Ithaca," Gene Luen Yang's "American Born Chinese," Naomi Novik's "Spinning Silver," S.A. Chakraborty's "The City of Brass," Lev Grossman's "The Bright Sword," Diana Wynne Jones's "Eight Days of Luke," Genevieve Gornichec's "The Witches Heart," and Dexter Palmer's "The Dream of Perpetual Motion."