Well, it is a very loose adaptation of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. I have put the myth here for your interest, and, don't worry, it will not spoil anything, as the word "loose" is a real good word for this adaptation. Remember: Rushdie wrote this knowing that much of his intended audience probably already knew this myth, so he had to make it interesting in other ways.
In the myth, Orpheus is a half god / half man whose power lied in his unmatched musical talent. Eurydice dies, and Orpheus is so distraught that he actually goes to the underworld to try and bring her back.
Using the power of music, he charms everyone and everything in the otherwise dreary underworld. He even charms Hades (Pluto in Roman mythology), the god of the underworld, who allows Orpheus to bring her back on one condition: he cannot lay an eye on her until she has left the underworld and reached the upperworld. Through the entire arduous journey out, Orpheus had to trust that she was behind him, but wished he could look to make sure. As Orpheus finally reached the upperworld, he looked behind him to see his love--but she was still in the darkness of the underworld. Instantaneously, she fades away before he can reach out to her, and all that is heard is the word, "Farewell."
Orpheus demands to reenter the underworld, but the gods refused to let him enter again while still alive. Tortured, he went into complete isolation on the island of Lesbos, and only found comfort in his lyre. (Here's where it gets a bit weird...) Then, a bunch of Lesbians (literally, a band of women from the island of Lesbos) came up, slew him, and ripped him apart. Then, they buried him at the foot of Mount Olympus, where it is said that the nightengales sing more sweetly than anything else.
TGBHF is quite interesting, as Orpheus becomes Ormus Cama and Eurydice becomes Vina Apsara. They are rock musicians--considered the absolute best in the world. However, rock is only secondary to the idea of love and the subsequent longing for it. If you like minute detail, you will love this book, as nothing is left behind.
Try to find the Wim Wenders' character. Rushdie hated him, and created an unflattering character based on him. Ironic that the song TGBHF went on the MDH soundtrack, eh?
Melon
------------------
"If I had to choose between the continued possibility of nothing happening and of doing something, I would unquestionably choose the latter...or the former." -- Radiohead
