Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

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.

Clever, fairly entertaining. My favorite story was “Freya's Unusual Wedding,” in which Loki gets to repeatedly say, “Shut up, Thor.” For the “book of mythology or folklore” category.

I love Norse Mythology, and I loved this book. I think one of the things that I liked about about it was the comedy, and I think that this is something that you do not normally get when reading mythology. What Neil Gaiman does is flesh out the characters to give the Gods more characterisation rather than them seem to be omnipresent beings. And besides that, what else can you say. It's Neil Gaiman! Nuff said!

It was interesting. My first foray into Norse Mythology and the stories were quite good. The audio narration (by the author) was great and I wouldn't have known how to pronounce half the characters/places/things and would've stumbled too much.

In his introduction, Neil Gaiman acknowledges the roots of his fascination with Norse Myth, namely Marvel's Thor. [book: Myths of the Norsemen: Retold from the Old Norse Poems and Tales 3126160] Roger Lancelyn Green's tellings for children and Kevin Crossley-Hollands more “adult/academic” prose. I acknowledge all three myself but hours spent in the school library reading and re-reading Green was what captured me. Later Lee and Kirby gave flesh to my imagination but it was Holland that gave me the depth these tales have and deserve to be displayed to the reader. Norse Mythology Neil Gaiman's retelling of the acts and lives of the Northern Gods: is it any good?Short answer yes. He writes in a style that is short pithy somewhat close I suspect to how he would pen a graphic novel. A style suited to myth and faerie. Leaves a feeling that he truly has a love for the content and the characters whose story he tells. I can't find my copy of Green but I remember it as illustrated woodcuts or pen/ink black white drawings but it's almost 50 years! Gaiman needed illustrations. [Infact I'd like to see this as a series of Graphic Novels].I think its a great 21st Century introduction to the nine realms and as such is at least as good as Green, which without re-reading, I hesitate to de-throne. But I suspect Gaiman has the edge.Crossley-Holland is an exquisite writer. Search out his British Folk Tales; there is a similarity of styles and excellence shared by both he and Gaiman. His, The Norse Myths and Axe Age, Wolf Age are my favourites, but were I a child again or just wanted a good read in which I was to paddle then Gaiman is where I'd start. Having done so, I think you will want to dive headlong into the waves and Crossley-Holland beckons. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3129514-norse-myths