Human: Why is the novel called ‘The Gordian Knot’? Assistant: 
The novel is called The Gordian Knot because of the story of the same name in Greek mythology. The Gordian Knot is a mythical knot that King Gordius of Phrygia was unable to untie. He asked the oracle at Delphi for advice, and the oracle responded by telling him to untie the knot with his sword. King Gordius did so, and the result was the untying of the Gordian Knot.