Staff Pick
Master storyteller Neil Gaiman brings to life the Norse gods as only he can, from their origins to their twilight. Find out why the handle on Thor’s hammer was forged too short, and how poetry is said to have come into the world. Comic book fans and fantasy readers alike are sure to treasure these classic myths. Recommended By Aubrey W., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author and “one of the modern masters of fantasy writing,” (Huffington Post) a dazzling, witty telling of the Norse myths.
"A lively, funny, and very human rendition of Thor the thunder god, his father Odin, and the dark-hearted trickster Loki (plus countless other gods and monsters)." — Petra Mayer, NPR
Neil Gaiman, long inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction, presents a bravura rendition of the Norse gods and their world from their origin though their upheaval in Ragnarok.
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. Through Gaiman’s deft and witty prose, these gods emerge 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.
Review
"Remarkable…Gaiman has provided an enchanting contemporary interpretation of the Viking ethos." —Lisa L. Hannett, Atlantic
About the Author
Neil Gaiman is the New York Times best-selling author of more than twenty books, including The Ocean at the End of the Lane, The Graveyard Book, Coraline, and Neverwhere. His fiction has received Newbery, Carnegie, Hugo, Nebula, and Eisner awards. American Gods and Sandman and Good Omens, written with Terry Pratchett, have aired as TV series. He is professor in the arts at Bard College.