Rating: ****
Tags: Fantasy, Lang:en
Summary
Introducing an instant classic—master
storyteller Neil Gaiman presents a dazzling version of the
great Norse myths.
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in
creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns
his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura
rendition of the great northern tales. In
Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in
envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of
the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son,
incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki, son
of a giant, blood brother to Odin and a trickster and
unsurpassable manipulator. Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic
arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds
and delves into the exploits of deities, dwarfs, and giants.
Once, when Thor’s hammer is stolen, Thor must disguise
himself as a woman, difficult with his beard and huge
appetite, to steal it back. More poignant is the tale in
which the blood of Kvasir, the most sagacious of gods, is
turned into a mead that infuses drinkers with poetry. The
work culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and
rebirth of a new time and people. Through Gaiman’s deft and witty prose emerge these
gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their
susceptibility to being duped and to duping others, and their
tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these
long-ago myths breathe pungent life again.