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The Year of the Warrior
Walker, Lars
576 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
6 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Lars Walker
19 books30 followersWalker is a native of Kenyon, Minnesota and lives in Minneapolis. He has worked as a crabmeat packer in Alaska, a radio announcer, a church secretary and an administrative assistant and is presently librarian and bookstore manager for the schools of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations in Plymouth, Minnesota. He is the author of "The Year of the Warrior" and other novels and is the editor of the journal of the Georg Sverdrup Society. Walker says, I never believed that God gave me whatever gifts I have in order to entertain fellow Christians. I want to confront the world with the claims of Jesus Christ.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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January 25, 2014This volume contains the first two novels about a failed Irish priest, Father Aillel, who becomes the priest nevertheless to one of the first Christian Norwegian warlords. It takes place at the end of the first millennium. As with much historical fiction, it's difficult to know how much is fiction and how much historical. Many of the characters are historical like King Olaf, Leif the Lucky and the main warrior, Erling Skalgsson. Much of the conflict surrounds how much and how quickly the new religion, Christianity, can gain ground in Norway. The old ways and their gods, Odin and Thor, as well as their followers will not give ground easily. There is even a character in the second novel who has traveled to India, and proclaims himself God and above good and evil. As a god, he can rape and murder at will, and does. Historical or fiction. You have to decide.
There is no doubt that the Norse culture was violent as they go "a-viking" to Ireland, Scotland and Greenland, fight multi-generational blood wars of vengeance and simply try to expand their land holdings at the expense of their neighbors. Apparently, the Norse have an inferiority complex when they discover the English, French and others who have better agriculture, better architecture (especially cathedrals) and better manners in general. Thus the need for a king over the whole land and a new religion. So questions of if and when will slavery end and when will women be more than property become extremely significant, especially for Aillel, who struggles with God's presence and goodness throughout much of the novels.
An interesting and worthwhile read if you can stomach the wanton violence and the supernatural battles that rage in plain view of the Norse.
There is no doubt that the Norse culture was violent as they go "a-viking" to Ireland, Scotland and Greenland, fight multi-generational blood wars of vengeance and simply try to expand their land holdings at the expense of their neighbors. Apparently, the Norse have an inferiority complex when they discover the English, French and others who have better agriculture, better architecture (especially cathedrals) and better manners in general. Thus the need for a king over the whole land and a new religion. So questions of if and when will slavery end and when will women be more than property become extremely significant, especially for Aillel, who struggles with God's presence and goodness throughout much of the novels.
An interesting and worthwhile read if you can stomach the wanton violence and the supernatural battles that rage in plain view of the Norse.
June 13, 2014
this book has a fantastic flavor of setting of an Irish priest adapting to the barbaric North and the Norse culture. Conversion of politics and faiths are expressed as the main conflict in this book with under notes as well as challenging how faith is defined and founded, free-will and interpreting True and false power. This book has a creative perspective of how to grasp theological concepts without being 'preachy'.
October 25, 2011
Reminds me of Stephen Lawhead, especially in that both authors write fiction that is fantistical in its elements but realistic in its depiction of the fallen world. No sugar-coating for Walker, but lots of struggle with the horrors in the world. Yet it's neither a gloomy book or a despairing one. It's a great adventure story and the hero's journey of faith is compelling.
February 11, 2020
First of all, Erling Skjalgsson is a real person. He was baptized as an adult in 996 and was a Norse Christian leader in a predominantly pre-Christian society. This series is Christian historical fiction that revolves around his life—and he is well worth reading about!
The Year of the Warrior essentially combines a previous book, Erling’s World, into The Year of the Warrior. That’s what I mean when I refer to the books separately.
I won’t lie. There is terribly brutality in this book. There’s sex, rape, slavery, violence, and Norse paganism. But even as it dips into magical realism, allowing both Christ and Norse mythological figures to be real, it’s simply fantastic.
You see the humanity of both believers and unbelievers. You see Christians wrestling with both temptations and Christian life. Even the hurt reacting to both God and man! Even better, there’s actual theological probing, between Christians, between believers and unbelievers, and even a bit from the mythological figures who feign to offer a better world than Christ’s!
Theological points include both forced baptism and a belief that Christ would come again in the year 1000 (hence an extreme emphasis by some on the year of the warrior), but there’s too many smaller conversations to count. All of which I found quite satisfying as a Lutheran.
The descriptions hit me very powerfully. I mean, normally we would talk about world-building in a piece of fantasy, but this book may have made me even more engaged into my own world, allowing me to see it through re-opened eyes and a broadened perspective.
The narrator is an Irishman captured by Vikings, Aillil. In the first book, which is full of action and adventure, you get to know him on a pretty deep level. In the second book, there is significant development but also a few more episodic parts to better let you see the Norway and, in a secondhand way, Ireland. Also in the first book, Erling is established in your mind as a character, with the second book delving into more of the political developments of his time.
This is a great thing to read when you need an equal dose of reality and escape. Perhaps also when you’re recognizing evil or brutality. I look forward to the rest of the series, which, note, roughly corresponds to the 1,000-year anniversary of real events! AWESOME!
Count me a fan!
The Year of the Warrior essentially combines a previous book, Erling’s World, into The Year of the Warrior. That’s what I mean when I refer to the books separately.
I won’t lie. There is terribly brutality in this book. There’s sex, rape, slavery, violence, and Norse paganism. But even as it dips into magical realism, allowing both Christ and Norse mythological figures to be real, it’s simply fantastic.
You see the humanity of both believers and unbelievers. You see Christians wrestling with both temptations and Christian life. Even the hurt reacting to both God and man! Even better, there’s actual theological probing, between Christians, between believers and unbelievers, and even a bit from the mythological figures who feign to offer a better world than Christ’s!
Theological points include both forced baptism and a belief that Christ would come again in the year 1000 (hence an extreme emphasis by some on the year of the warrior), but there’s too many smaller conversations to count. All of which I found quite satisfying as a Lutheran.
The descriptions hit me very powerfully. I mean, normally we would talk about world-building in a piece of fantasy, but this book may have made me even more engaged into my own world, allowing me to see it through re-opened eyes and a broadened perspective.
The narrator is an Irishman captured by Vikings, Aillil. In the first book, which is full of action and adventure, you get to know him on a pretty deep level. In the second book, there is significant development but also a few more episodic parts to better let you see the Norway and, in a secondhand way, Ireland. Also in the first book, Erling is established in your mind as a character, with the second book delving into more of the political developments of his time.
This is a great thing to read when you need an equal dose of reality and escape. Perhaps also when you’re recognizing evil or brutality. I look forward to the rest of the series, which, note, roughly corresponds to the 1,000-year anniversary of real events! AWESOME!
Count me a fan!
July 15, 2018
In Christian culture, we have a tendency to want to overlook the hard, the difficult, the dark, the unknown. We don't know how to handle our own sin and darkness, let alone someone else's. So we hide it all away behind cheesy one-liners and pathetic platitudes. And, in the meantime, the darkness grows bigger and stronger while we put on our masks and pretend we really are as "fine" as we say.
Not in this book.
If you're looking for a happy go-lucky book about how everything works out in the end and God is your best friend who never lets you down, go read something else. This book isn't for you.
But if you're looking for a book that takes your soul and flays it open, exposes it for what it truly is, and then shows you you're not alone and there is forgiveness for the darkest of hearts, look no further. "The Year of the Warrior" doesn't beat around the bush, doesn't spew useless platitudes, doesn't try to find a happily ever after in this life. It is real, it is raw, and it is riveting. And it changed my life forever.
I have read thousands of books, but short of Scripture itself, no book has impacted me the way this one has. This book has allowed me to weep, to rage, to process, to face my darkness head on without someone telling me I had to put it away. It has touched my soul.
I would highly highly recommend this book, now my favorite book of all time (besides Scripture) to everyone. But I would issue this warning: this is no fluffy thriller to binge on. It will change you, it will leave you vulnerable, it will make you see yourself in a way you have never seen. You won't be able to finish this book in a week. So don't even try. Take the time to process it, and you will never be the same.
You have blown my mind, Mr. Walker. Well done, sir.
Not in this book.
If you're looking for a happy go-lucky book about how everything works out in the end and God is your best friend who never lets you down, go read something else. This book isn't for you.
But if you're looking for a book that takes your soul and flays it open, exposes it for what it truly is, and then shows you you're not alone and there is forgiveness for the darkest of hearts, look no further. "The Year of the Warrior" doesn't beat around the bush, doesn't spew useless platitudes, doesn't try to find a happily ever after in this life. It is real, it is raw, and it is riveting. And it changed my life forever.
I have read thousands of books, but short of Scripture itself, no book has impacted me the way this one has. This book has allowed me to weep, to rage, to process, to face my darkness head on without someone telling me I had to put it away. It has touched my soul.
I would highly highly recommend this book, now my favorite book of all time (besides Scripture) to everyone. But I would issue this warning: this is no fluffy thriller to binge on. It will change you, it will leave you vulnerable, it will make you see yourself in a way you have never seen. You won't be able to finish this book in a week. So don't even try. Take the time to process it, and you will never be the same.
You have blown my mind, Mr. Walker. Well done, sir.
June 26, 2018
An enjoyable remake of a saga. I liked the struggles of Faith and the struggles between Beliefs. It was more Christian centric than I originally hoped from the first chapter, but was not as insulting to the non-Christian beliefs than in could have been.
I bought the book when first published but took nearly 18 years to starts it. I am intrigued to learn the author has written more in a series to take the character of Father Ailliil to Finland. I shall be searching for that as well.
I bought the book when first published but took nearly 18 years to starts it. I am intrigued to learn the author has written more in a series to take the character of Father Ailliil to Finland. I shall be searching for that as well.
December 3, 2020
If you enjoyed the show “Vikings” on the history channel you will enjoy this book. It’s the 1st of 5 books about the Vikings by Lars Walker. It’s so well written I couldn’t wait to read the next in the series. The main characters were actually real in history. Extremely entertaining. Highly recommend this book!
March 31, 2009
Lots of freaky Norse mysticism, brutality, and history. If you're looking for romance, this is not the book to read. If you're looking for a taste of Viking era rough-and-tumble warriors, then this is the one you'll want to take a peek at.
November 18, 2012
Excellent read. "The Year of the Warrior" challenges the notion of how we Christians view our religion. It forces us to face the uglier side of our faith, the one of prejudice and intolerance, by mingling fantastic stories with hard-hitting moral dilemmas we face every single day of our lives.
June 24, 2009
Top-notch historic fantasy, focused on Viking Norway at a time when Christianity is being to take root.
August 21, 2016
Semicolon review: http://www.semicolonblog.com/?p=983
December 6, 2014
Christian, historical, warrior fantasy done right. The tension between Christian teaching, Viking culture, paganism, the supernatural and heresy is excellent.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews