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Post by deuce on Feb 24, 2016 8:47:38 GMT -5
Might as well start with the classics: Eric Brighteyes by H. Rider Haggard Styrbiorn the Strong by ER Eddison The Longships by Frans Gunnar Bengtsson Hrolf Kraki's Saga by Poul Anderson These are the sagas that set the course for everything that came after. They did it well.
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Post by thedarkman on Feb 24, 2016 8:56:54 GMT -5
I would like to add the Viking tales of Giles Kristian to this list. The Raven trilogy and the ongoing Sigurd tales are kick-ass adventure stories, well worth checking out!
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Libaax
Wanderer
Burhan the Puntlander
Posts: 25
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Post by Libaax on Mar 11, 2016 20:59:18 GMT -5
Great list of books deuce, they are all of them except Eddison one classic names i know well.
What do you think of The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson compared to his other book you listed? Its the more famous one in that you see it often Gollancz fantasy masterworks series, people recommend it first of his fantasy books. Is it less about vikings in fantasy setting and more about their gods,myths?
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Post by deuce on Mar 11, 2016 21:30:10 GMT -5
Great list of books deuce, they are all of them except Eddison one classic names i know well. What do you think of The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson compared to his other book you listed? Its the more famous one in that you see it often Gollancz fantasy masterworks series, people recommend it first of his fantasy books. Is it less about vikings in fantasy setting and more about their gods,myths? Oh, The Broken Sword is a stone cold classic. Karl Edward Wagner and Moorcock both cited it as a huge influence. That said, there really isn't much "Viking" raiding going on or anything. Skafloc spends most of his time interacting with immortal/supernatural beings. However, it is very tightly written and very bloody. I count it in easily with the rest of Poul's "Nordic Saga".
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Post by Jason Aiken on Mar 11, 2016 21:33:18 GMT -5
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Libaax
Wanderer
Burhan the Puntlander
Posts: 25
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Post by Libaax on Mar 11, 2016 21:35:58 GMT -5
Yeah deuce i guessed it was something more like "Nordic Saga" type novel and not about vikings, the synopsis sound more like the norse epic poems about the gods,myths. I have the book but i havent read it or any of the other norse Poul Anderson books yet, i sampled little of its prose and Andersons writing style in it was almost Vance like stylish prose.
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Post by ragnar on Mar 13, 2016 23:06:40 GMT -5
Great list of books deuce, they are all of them except Eddison one classic names i know well. What do you think of The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson compared to his other book you listed? Its the more famous one in that you see it often Gollancz fantasy masterworks series, people recommend it first of his fantasy books. Is it less about vikings in fantasy setting and more about their gods,myths? Oh, The Broken Sword is a stone cold classic. Karl Edward Wagner and Moorcock both cited it as a huge influence. That said, there really isn't much "Viking" raiding going on or anything. Skafloc spends most of his time interacting with immortal/supernatural beings. However, it is very tightly written and very bloody. I count it in easily with the rest of Poul's "Nordic Saga". I absoutely love The Broken Sword and Hrolf Kraki's Saga. I think, almost 40 years ago, I swapped some long forgotten fantasy novel for TBS and the impact of reading that novel was immense. I think TBS has a very Viking feel about it, not only the very saga like beginnning of the book but also parts such as the sea battle. Reading that really felt like a Viking naval battle, initially starting with missile fire but ultimately resolving the battle with bloody boarding action. I discovered Conan around the same time and both sent me on the life long journey of Fantasy Fiction and ultimately, an interest in Norse history.
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Post by deuce on Mar 14, 2016 7:29:55 GMT -5
I absoutely love The Broken Sword and Hrolf Kraki's Saga. I think, almost 40 years ago, I swapped some long forgotten fantasy novel for TBS and the impact of reading that novel was immense. I think TBS has a very Viking feel about it, not only the very saga like beginnning of the book but also parts such as the sea battle. Reading that really felt like a Viking naval battle, initially starting with missile fire but ultimately resolving the battle with bloody boarding action. I certainly wasn't knocking it. I was just saying that anyone expecting to read something like Robert Low's Viking novels wasn't really going to find it. A sea-fight between trolls and alfar with one human in there recalls a Viking sea-battle, but it isn't one technically. I didn't want someone to accuse me of false advertising. The "Nordic ethos" permeates the entire novel, as it does most of Poul's writing. Good to see ya on the forum, Ragnar.
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Post by ragnar on Mar 15, 2016 0:55:42 GMT -5
No worries Deuce, I also wasn't being critical, just very passionate about this book. And yes, you are correct, TBS does 'recall' rather than be a Viking tale.
And thanks for the welcome. ☺
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Post by Von K on Mar 15, 2016 14:15:51 GMT -5
Warlock blade is thirsty Howling in its hunger, Hews it through the iron, Sings in cloven skullbones, Slakes itself in bloodstreams
Easy to see why Michael Moorcock credits Poul Anderson's Broken Sword as one of the chief influences on his Elric tales.
The doom that springs from Orm's reaving ways, and the webs of fate that are spun around Tyrfing, Scafloc and Odin's attempts to stave off Ragnarok, all very firmly qualify it as a viking fantasy novel, imho. The spirit of Norse myth very much permeates The Broken Sword.
Its distinctly Nordic take on Elves and Dwarves, far closer to the Alfar and Svartalfar than Tolkein's, and I'd guess, also closer to what we might have seen from REH if he'd have included any in his own tales.
I'd love to have read the planned, but never written, follow up to this involving Skafloc's son.
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Libaax
Wanderer
Burhan the Puntlander
Posts: 25
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Post by Libaax on Mar 15, 2016 17:05:57 GMT -5
If you like comics, read mangas i must recommend the best comics of any kind i have seen about Vikings,Viking Age with alot of realistic battle,war in early 1000s when the Danes was out to conquer England. Its similar to Conn Igguldens Mongol books its about military history,war,battle oriented and its well researched, the writer is clear about explaining their culture, laws and everything you can read in history books about Viking Age. Its also very vivid almost REH like in its battle scenes. It mentions Brian Boru in 1014 when it doesnt have to! Vinland Saga
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Post by deuce on Mar 16, 2016 15:14:35 GMT -5
Bedford-Jones was one of the better pulp writers. Didn't know about this. Thanks, Jason!
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Post by deuce on Apr 12, 2016 14:11:07 GMT -5
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Post by deuce on Apr 26, 2016 8:09:56 GMT -5
Diana L. Paxson has written several works within the loose framework of "Viking tales": diana-paxson.com/writing/historicalmythic-fantasy/Her "Children of Wodan" books are a good take on the Volsung legends. Her stories about Bera and Kon are set during the Viking Age. While things can drag at times in the novels, DLP can write good action. She is also a dependable source on Scandinavian/Germanic spirituality and occult practices.
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Post by deuce on Apr 26, 2016 17:32:23 GMT -5
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