Gene Wolfe has such subtle plots and such perfection of word choice that he lulls you into a story without your ever realizing that you are in a story—even his titles are perfection. In this story, an apparent time traveler finds himself on a journey with Greek gods and mortals, but cannot remember who he is or why he was sent to this far past.
I have been hoping to speak privately with Amphiareaws about Time’s enmity. I know that I will not be born for many years. I know also that I have traveled the wrong way through those many years to join our crew. Was that in violation of Time’s ordinances? If so, it would explain his displeasure; but if not, I must look elsewhere.

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  1. “The Lost Pilgrim” by Gene Wolfe, in The First Heroes: New Tales of the Bronze Age, edited by Noreen Doyle and Harry Turtledove (Tor Books, June 2004).
    2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . written by Gene Wolfe