This Week’s Book Review - Norse Mythology

[Seawriter]

Looking for a good read? Here is a recommendation. I have an unusual approach to reviewing books. I review books I feel merit a review. Each review is an opportunity to recommend a book. If I do not think a book is worth reading, I find another book to review. You do not have to agree with everything every author has written (I do not), but the fiction I review is entertaining (and often thought-provoking) and the non-fiction contain ideas worth reading.

Book Review

Norse Gods and Goddesses - Then and Now

Reviewed by Mark Lardas
December 17, 2023

“Norse Mythology, The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook: From Vikings to Valkyries, an Epic Who’s Who in Old Norse Mythology,” by Kelsey A. Fuller-Shafer, illustrated by Sara Richard, Adams Media, 2023, 240 pages, $16.99 (hardcover), $10.99 (e-book),$14,95 (audiobook) $29.99 (audio CD)

Norse mythology has become a big part of popular recent culture. Books, games, and movies with Norse themes abound, with flavors running from high epic fantasy to slapstick humor, and just about everything in between.

“Norse Mythology, The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook: From Vikings to Valkyries, an Epic Who’s Who in Old Norse Mythology,” by Kelsey A. Fuller-Shafer, illustrated by Sara Richard, offers a gateway into Norse legend. It provides both the original myths and background and describes popular modern alterations to the mythology. It is broken into four parts.

The first part provides the historical background to Norse mythology, including the basic story arcs. It describes the times in which they arose, and the basic elements and beliefs of Nordic culture. This includes the structure of the mythical Norse world, including its basic parts. It also introduces the primary original sources of these legends and discusses how pop culture has altered the mythology.

The second introduces the gods and goddesses of the Norse pantheon. This includes profiles of each, their characteristics, and the main stories about them. The Aesir and Vanir make up what we consider the “good guys,” although they are revealed as having sketchy elements in their original forms.

The third presents the adversaries of the Aesir and Vanir. These include the giants (or Jotun) and various monsters with which the Norse gods fought. Among them are the Midgard Serpent and the Fenris Wolf. Loki numbers among these, too.

The fourth turns its focus to the human heroes of Norse myth. These include both mythical figures and actual historical figures whose deeds have been embellished into legend. Among the fictional heroes are the Volsung, Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons, and Hrolf Kraki and his Champions. King Harald, a historical figure who united Norway, is an actual individual braided into myth.

The book was written by an academic, but is far from dull. It offers a lively presentation of the players with many interesting sidebars and lots of unexpected information. This book is highly illustrated. The illustrations are not necessary to understand the content, but add to the reading experience. If you get an e-version you might want a reader capable of rendering the drawings in color.

“Norse Mythology” a useful guidebook for those interested in Norse myth. Whether you seek a readable introduction to it or are seeking a quick reference guide, it is worth reading.

Mark Lardas, an engineer, freelance writer, historian, and model-maker, lives in League City. His website is marklardas.com.

[Hypatia]

I’d like to get that. I read D’Aulaire’s Norse mythology to my daughter when she was little. We both loved it.

A question i hope to have answered is, what about the Norse women? I mean Valhalla was all about the warriors, right? DID the women have n afterlife, did they get to be Freya’s handmaidens or sump’n? I remember reading about the discovery of a burial site for a wealthy Norse woman with grave goods, which indicates she was going to have an afterlife where she’d need them. I wonder if this book goes into that?

[Seawriter]

You could be a shield maiden. As you said, all about the warriors. The Valkyries, also female were the choosers of the slain, carrying them to Valhalla. So, if you are a chick into really buff guys, that might be a sweet gig. There are also strong female characters like Brunilda, but basically they were the helpmeet of some male warrior.

I guess the best way to put it is as a woman your choices in Norse myth ran the alphabet from a to b. Of course the guys weren’t much better off. Their choice ran from a to d.

[Hypatia]

Were there really “shield maidens”? I thought that was from LOTR…….but I wasn’t talking about earthly life; I was wondering about an afterlife.
I think the Valkyrie were like angels, right?—they never had been human women, they were immortal beings created for their rôle in ubering fallen warriors up to Valhalla.
No, I do know women had very important rôles in Norse society: I’ve read “Kristin Lavransdottir” and Jane Smiley’s great novel “The Greenlanders”. (BTW @Seawriter , have you read either of those?) I totes identify with them, f’rinstance the lady of the hall always personally served her guests—like I do!
,

[Seawriter]

AFAIK the shield maidens were the female equivalent of the heroes of Valhalla. Tolkien borrowed heavily from Norse myth in his works, so that’s why they were in LOTR.

I read Greenlanders years and years ago.

[Hypatia]

The Greenlanders is a terrific book. I can’t decide which of the two I like better. The Sigrid Unsett ( well, sump’n like that…) is a three or four book saga, but I think Smiley gets all the important stuff into one.