The Mask of Circe by Henry Kuttner
"The Mask of Circe" is a narrative weaving together themes of memory, identity, and mythological conflict. The story unfolds as Jay Seward shares his experiences with Talbot around a campfire in the Canadian wilderness. Three years prior, Seward, while working on a groundbreaking method for treating psychiatric patients, uncovers repressed memories linked to his ancestor, Jason, a legendary figure from Greek mythology. These haunting memories lead Seward to a dreamlike encounter with a world reminiscent of ancient myths, where he becomes embroiled in a war between the deities Hecate and Apollo.
In this world, the Mask of Circe is pivotal, as each generation a priestess dons it to summon Jason back to aid Hecate. As Seward navigates this divine conflict, he grapples with the duality of his existence, embodying both himself and Jason. The narrative explores the consequences of divine experimentation, as Apollo, created by ancient gods, turns against them. Ultimately, Seward's journey culminates in a climactic confrontation where he must choose between his inherited legacy and his newfound clarity. The story raises questions about the nature of heroism, the impact of the past on the present, and the struggle for agency in a world governed by powerful forces.
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The Mask of Circe
First published: 1971 (serial form, Startling Stories, May, 1948)
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Science fiction—mythological
Time of work: Similar to ancient Greece but contemporaneous with 1940’s Earth
Locale: Primarily a parallel world
The Plot
This story is told, in the ancient tradition, by Jay Seward to a man named Talbot over a campfire in the Canadian woods near the seashore. Three years before, Seward was working on a new method for using drugs to treat psychiatric patients by revealing repressed memories of past crises. He uses the method on himself and unearths latent memories he has inherited from an ancient ancestor—Jason, commander of the Argo in Greek mythology.
The memories haunt Seward. Sometimes he hears a voice calling to Jason. He tries to break the spell by going into the Canadian woods for a rest. One night, however, he is drawn to the sea, where he has a dreamlike vision of the Argo. On impulse, he leaps aboard and is taken to a place similar to one out of Greek mythology.
Hecate and Apollo are at war on this world, and Seward is a pawn. According to legend, the war cannot be won until Jason returns, so every generation, a new priestess dons the Mask of Circe and tries to call Jason back for Hecate. Seward answers the call, so the priests of Apollo threaten to kill him unless he is willing to lead them to Circe. Uncertain of whom to trust and momentarily overcome with the desire to be free of strife, he agrees, if only to be rid of the memories of Jason.
The priests carry out their side of the bargain by taking him to the Eye of Apollo, which they say will cleanse him of Jason’s memories. Under the influence of the Eye, many of Jason’s memories come to life for Seward. He remembers Hecate telling Jason that he has two souls dwelling within him, one—Seward—who will not be born for three thousand years. It is that other soul that Circe loves. He remembers the opportunistic, untrustworthy Jason thinking of ways to put this knowledge to use. He also remembers Jason fearfully abandoning Circe when she stood against Apollo.
The Eye, which the priests hoped would kill him, inadvertently helps him by producing a catharsis, like successful therapy, and integrating his two halves. Seward has a new clarity of mind and purpose and knows he must fight on Hecate’s side against Apollo.
Seward learns the true nature of Apollo when Hecate takes Seward and Circe to another world, one of colossal golden machines, marred by battle and empty of life. Hecate tells Seward that seven thousand years ago, two streams of time crossed, and Earth and the parallel world on which Apollo and Hecate are now battling, known as the “middle world,” were one. Apollo and the other gods of Greek mythology were born as mutant humans on that combined world. When the streams parted, the gods stayed on the middle world and eventually created this “farther world” of great machines. They experimented with creating a higher form of life, a machine in their image but far stronger—Apollo. They succeeded in giving their creation superior abilities, but they could not give it human desires and beliefs. Apollo turned on its creators and over the millennia killed all but one, Hecate.
In the final confrontation with Apollo, Seward carries the Golden Fleece, designed to contain Apollo’s energy within him. As Apollo is about to release one last terrible energy charge, Seward hurls the cloak over him, so the energy Apollo meant to destroy Hecate and Seward destroys Apollo instead. The ensuing cataclysm propels Seward back to Earth, but after telling Talbot his story, he disappears, perhaps to return to Circe.