Keep On Rockin' in the Norse World

By Rowdy Geirsson

By Rowdy Geirsson
The Scandinavian Aggressors

The Scandinavian Aggressors

Rowdy Geirsson

$18.40

An offbeat odyssey into the freezing heart of the modern Northlands that uncovers the secret history of the early 21st century's resurgence of authentic viking activity.

Norse Mythology for Bostonians: A Transcription of the Impudent Edda

Norse Mythology for Bostonians: A Transcription of the Impudent Edda

Rowdy Geirsson

$12.00 $11.16

The not-so-stunning conclusion to the 800-year old Edda Trilogy. Based on the long-running McSweeney's column.

Styrbiorn the Strong

Styrbiorn the Strong

E R Eddison

$17.95

Epic adventure of an outcast Swedish king. A classic dating back to the 1920s.

The Long Ships

The Long Ships

Frans G. Bengtsson

$19.95 $18.55

Classic historical Viking adventure novel, translated from the original Swedish. Inspiration for the 60's film of the same name.

The Broken Sword

The Broken Sword

Poul Anderson

$19.99 $18.59

Top-notch heavily Norse-inspired fantasy by a great author who has become largely forgotten. See note at the very bottom of this list for more information about Anderson's other excellent Norse novels.

The Gospel of Loki

The Gospel of Loki

Joanne M. Harris

$16.99 $15.80

One of the most entertaining retellings of the Norse myths. Told from the perspective of Loki, which conceptually is not entirely original (for one example, Lois Tilton did it earlier with the out-of-print Written in Venom). Nonetheless, this is a highly entertaining novel and first in a series.

Children

Children

Bjørn Larssen

$14.94

This is a fantastically clever novel essentially set in the world of the Norse myths (as opposed to the more common trend to solely bring the gods down to either medieval or present day earth). If you know your Eddas, it blends the tales very effectively (foremost Thor’s wedding and the building of the wall) and is narrated by two very different and very engaging children of the gods themselves. A dark story with tidbits of humor throughout, strongly recommended for fans of the whole Norse thing. Also worth checking out is Larssen's Why Odin Drinks, the first part in a new, humorous retelling of the Norse myths.

The Gatewatch

The Gatewatch

Joshua Gillingham

$19.95

A very fun fantasy novel with a strong nod towards The Hobbit. It's set in a world that is heavily Norse-inspired and full of trollish danger and action dealing with such trolls. Fun through and through.

Icelander

Icelander

Dustin Long

$13.00 $12.09

Quirky mystery adventure novel set in the land of fire and ice with Norse trappings.

Odin's Game: Volume 1

Odin's Game: Volume 1

Tim Hodkinson

$15.95 $14.83

A great historical novel featuring the unique mix of settings of Iceland, Orkney, and Ireland. The first in a series about a young Icelandic man who is outlawed and must make his own way in a harsh world. Excellent story.

A Mighty Dawn

A Mighty Dawn

Theodore Brun

$16.95

A conceptually fascinating historical fantasy novel set in ancient Denmark and ancient Sweden featuring a heavy dose of ill-fated romance. I would particularly recommend this one for fans of Michael Crichton's Eaters of the Dead.

Nordic Hero Tales from the Kalevala

Nordic Hero Tales from the Kalevala

James Baldwin and N. C. Wyeth

$9.95 $9.25

Classic and well-told novelization of The Kalevala. Original version's illustrations by N.C. Wyeth are reproduced in this version.

Blood Eye: A Novel (Raven: Book 1)

Blood Eye: A Novel (Raven: Book 1)

Giles Kristian

$8.99

A very engaging tale full of action and adventure in merry Olde England as a group of vikings scour the land on a particular mission.

The Witch's Heart

The Witch's Heart

Genevieve Gornichec

$17.00 $15.81

A unique and imaginative retelling of the key events of the Norse myths that unifies some of the divergent and unresolved threads found in the ancient tales in the book's central character of Angrboda. Touching and heartfelt (pun not intended).

Troll: A Love Story

Troll: A Love Story

Johanna Sinisalo

$18.00 $16.74

The story of a man who adopts and attempts to domesticate a wild troll in his hometown of Tampere, Finland. Very adult-oriented.

Barbarian Lord

Barbarian Lord

Matt Smith

$17.99

Matt Smith is a good friend of mine, but his graphic novel is excellent in its own right. Great fun for anyone who enjoys the Icelandic Sagas and their dry wit and tendency towards understatement.

God's Hammer

God's Hammer

Eric Schumacher

$18.49 $17.20

A solid and well-researched adventure and first in a trilogy about the historic conflict between the first Christian King of Norway, Håkon the Good, and his notorious brother, Eric Bloodaxe. Makes a great companion to Poul Anderson's Mother of Kings, which covers similar historical territory but from the point of view of the pagan Queen Gunnhild.

Northern Wrath

Northern Wrath

Thilde Kold Holdt

$11.99 $11.15

A well-balanced blend of Norse mythology-infused fantasy and action-packed historical adventure fiction. Excellent sense of foreboding fills the entire volume.

Saga: A Novel of Medieval Iceland

Saga: A Novel of Medieval Iceland

Jeff Janoda

$17.95

A very engaging novelization of the segment from Eyrbyggja Saga that involved Snorr's and Arnkel's land dispute and Thorolf's troublesome ghost.

The Ice-Shirt: Volume One of Seven Dreams: A Book of North American Landscapes

The Ice-Shirt: Volume One of Seven Dreams: A Book of North American Landscapes

William T. Vollmann

$24.00

An epic novelization of the Greenlandic experiment in Vinland that draws on both Norse and Native American myth and legend. The writing style ranges from hypnotic to neurotic.

Nordic Tales: Folktales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark

Nordic Tales: Folktales from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark

Chronicle Books and Ulla Thynell

$24.95 $23.20

A great collection of Nordic folktales with great illustrations of each.