I’ve read a few Norse tales, but most of my Asgard knowledge comes from Marvel movies and Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series of novels. Obviously, these are both pretty far removed from original source material.
For Norse Mythology, Neil Gaiman researched academic and historical sources and tried to tell the myths as close to the original folklore as possible, painting “a picture of a world and a time” long ago. In his retellings the gods come to life, violent, passionate, and full of personality. Relationships between them are explored and character traits, and flaws, are revealed. The stories included run the gamut from the creation of the gods to Ragnarok, the end of them. In between are humorous tales and stories of vengeance; accounts of trickery and cunning, love and sorrow. All of them relayed with Gaiman’s storytelling flair.
Norse Mythology reestablished the characters that I thought I knew, and made me interested in the tales Gaiman left untold and the culture that told them. I hope that this compilation is just the first of its kind, and that Gaiman will revive more old tales.
I highly recommend this to anyone who grew up on Andrew Lang’s Colored Fairy Books, watches Marvel’s movies, or just loves a good story.
Already finished with Norse Mythology and looking for something new? Try one of these magic and mythology-laced novels:
Hounded by Kevin Hearne (book one of the Iron Druid Chronicles)
This series focuses on Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, and operates on the premise that all myths and legends from all cultures are true – and that the old gods are still alive and meddlesome. There’s a lot of great action in these stories, and the writing is both intelligent and laugh-out-loud funny.
Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews (book two of the Kate Daniels series)
While not as heavily mythology or legend based, the old tales come up here and there throughout the series. I should recommend starting with book one (Magic Bleeds), but I hated that book. Years after struggling to get through it I was convinced by friends to try again with book two, and I’m now trying very hard not to go on a reading frenzy – I cannot get enough of this series.
Storm Front by Jim Butcher (book one of the Dresden Files)
Harry Dresden is a grouchy, darkly humorous wizard-for-hire who consults with the police on “strange” cases. The books are full of murder and magic and action – and the aforementioned dark humor. I have to come clean and say I could not get into this series, but it has a huge fan base.
