The Orchard Book of Viking Stories

by robert-swindells-robert-swindels

Ten gripping stories from Norse mythology - made lively and exciting for today's readers, retold by Robert Swindells.

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 29, 1999

Reviews

[Ninon · Rating 1 out of 5]

A bit swift and shallow.. even for a childrens-book... The artwork isn't that much of a hubbub either!
- it does, however, have a nice action-pace to it!

[Andrew Ives · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is very nicely presented, and quite well-written for what it is, the Norse mythology here is such crazy codswallop, I can't even believe Norsemen believed half of this 1000 years ago. The part where Otter is killed and then later on, when Loki is tied down with entrails, are hardly palatable and not something I'd be happy for children to read. Apart from this, there are inconsistencies such as Loki being able to change shape, but requiring a skin to 'dress up' as a falcon. He changes into a salmon and gets caught in a net, then changes back to himself. Why not change to a bear or a leopard or a taipan or a tardigrade or something better? Honir is a "lanky god who can never make up his mind" which doesn't seem very powerful and godlike to me, whereas Mundilfari is merely "a man, father of Moon and Sun" which seems rather more special. That tree Yggdrasil survives the end of the universe so that Lif and his girlfriend can live in it, and a few selected characters can return to the new universe somehow. It just doesn't seem like much thought has gone into all of this. Buri was the first god, made from an iceberg licked into shape by a cow...? I mean, really? The author does his best with this lame material, but even so, it pales by comparison to almost any Greek mythology or even a second-rate Marvel comic. (However, I would like to read Swindells' take on Egyptian mythology by the same publisher). The watercolour illustrations are all rather attractive if a little naive in style. The Viking burial at sea picture and the double-page Ragnarok illustration were the highlights for me. The horse on the back cover is quite good too. All in all, I was quite bored and infuriated by most of this book, but if you're a newcomer to mythology and fancy a quick browse, this might fit the bill. 3/5

[Zoya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better introduction to the Viking legends than some other books we tried. Gorgeous watercolour illustrations by Peter Utton. I wish there were more stories though to explain who are the various main gods, giants, monsters are.

[EH-PI · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well worth reading with your children. They can't get enough of the Viking blood and gore.