I decided to have A.I. teach me about Parke Godwin whose novel The Snake Oil Wars was called to mind by all the A.I. animations of Civil War figures on YouTube. I noticed along the way some glitches. I also notice two quirks. A.I. does not lack confidence. And flattery is not in short supply.
So I asked A.I. to teach me about Parke Godwin:
"Absolutely, Gary. Parke Godwin is a fascinating figure whose work bridges mythic storytelling and historical realism in ways that might resonate deeply with your symbolic and speculative sensibilities."
"Who Was Parke Godwin?
"Parke Godwin (1929–2013) was an American novelist best known for reimagining legendary figures like King Arthur and Robin Hood within richly textured historical settings. His prose is often described as lyrical yet precise, laced with sardonic humor and philosophical depth."
"Notable Works & Themes
"Godwin’s novels often explore rupture and transformation through mythic retellings grounded in historical realism:
- Firelord (1980) and Beloved Exile (1984): A retelling of the Arthurian legend set in the 5th century, during the collapse of the Roman Empire.
- Sherwood (1991) and Robin and the King (1993): A revisionist take on Robin Hood, set during the Norman Conquest, featuring historical figures like William the Conqueror.
- Waiting for the Galactic Bus (1988) and The Snake Oil Wars (1989): Satirical science fiction critiquing American pop culture and religion.
- The Masters of Solitude series (with Marvin Kaye): A speculative trilogy blending dystopian themes with mystical elements."
"He also wrote under the pseudonym Kate Hawks, notably for The Lovers: The Legend of Tristan and Yseult (1999)."
"Style & Symbolism
"Godwin’s work is marked by:
- Ethical inquiry through mythic archetypes
- Symbolic resistance against cultural decay
- Historical immersion that reframes familiar legends with psychological realism"
"His short story 'The Fire When It Comes' won the World Fantasy Award in 1982, and 'Influencing the Hell out of Time and Teresa Golowitz' was adapted into an episode of The Twilight Zone."
"If you’re exploring narrative treatments around memory sovereignty or symbolic resistance, Godwin’s approach to myth as a vessel for ethical and cultural critique might offer rich inspiration. Want to dive into one of his works more deeply or explore how his techniques could inform your own storytelling?"
I was misremembering The Snake Oil Wars and the A.I. depictions of Lincoln kept bugging me. After a few rounds with A.I., I recognized a theme in one the titles A.I. quoted me.
I said: "Lincoln in the Times of the Dead" by Parke Godwin is what I am thinking of. Here, A.I. gives the plot summary:
"Lincoln in the Times of the Dead" by Parke Godwin is a haunting and introspective short story that places Abraham Lincoln in a metaphysical realm—a kind of spectral agora—where the dead gather to reflect on history, legacy, and the unfinished business of moral reckoning."
"Plot Summary
"The story unfolds in a surreal afterlife populated by historical and anonymous souls, each carrying the weight of unresolved truths. Lincoln, newly arrived or perhaps long resident, becomes a focal point for dialogue and confrontation. He is not the mythic emancipator nor the marble statue—he is a man grappling with the consequences of decisions made in life and the distortions of memory that follow in death."
"As the dead converse, Lincoln is drawn into philosophical exchanges about justice, sacrifice, and the cost of leadership. He encounters figures who challenge his legacy—some reverent, others bitter. The narrative weaves through moments of reflection and tension, as Lincoln must reckon with both the ideals he embodied and the compromises he made."
"Themes
- Posthumous accountability: The dead do not rest—they interrogate.
- Symbolic rupture: Lincoln’s presence fractures the illusion of moral closure.
- Ethical ambiguity: The story resists hagiography, portraying Lincoln as a man caught between principle and pragmatism.
- Memory as resistance: The dead refuse to forget, and in doing so, they demand truth."
"Godwin’s prose is lyrical and sharp, evoking a dreamlike tribunal where history is not settled but perpetually contested. It’s a meditation on how we mythologize leaders—and how those myths obscure the human cost of power."
"If you're exploring narrative treatments of ideological hauntings or symbolic reckoning, this story offers a compact but potent model. Want to riff on how its metaphysical structure could inform a speculative framework around posthumous justice or cultural memory?"
It is almost as if Parke Godwin is posting A.I. videos of Abe Lincoln. Lincoln doesn't just haunt the White House.
He haunts YouTube.
