We hold back tears as we witness the consequence of the gods’ fears, of their follies turned fatal. We laugh at the brothers’ antics, from cross-dressing to giant slaying.

We discover what childish prank brings the great hammer, Mjollnir, into Thor’s hands. We watch the brothers, Thor and Loki, hurled on adventure after adventure-most of which are solved (or caused) by Loki’s trickery. At the throne of Asgard, we discover how Odin lost his eye, how he gained his wealth of mystical knowledge, what the two ravens on his shoulders whisper. From the origin of existence-gods emerging from armpits and licked from blocks of ice-the nine worlds come to life. The premise feels straightforward: Gaiman takes his favorite Norse myths and retells them. Once again, Gaiman’s masterful storytelling transcends our most vivid dreams, exploring ancient territory from a fantastically fresh perspective. So many innovative authors seem to run out of ideas, laying things on the page just to appease the cries of fans and publicists alike.įor those of you expecting this from Gaiman’s new book, Norse Mythology (out on February 7, 2017)-don’t. There is little leeway in our fanfare, as we wait to be wooed with the same splendor we experienced a decade ago-when we first cracked open Sandman or American Gods.īut a part of us also anticipates disappointment. From Gaiman’s deft and witty prose emerges the gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to dupe others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again.When an author becomes as renowned as Neil Gaiman, our expectations are high. Gaiman stays true to the myths while vividly reincarnating Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods and Loki, the son of a giant, a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales.

Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction.

Gaiman norse