Valhalla

by Tom Holt

As everyone knows, when great warriors die, their reward is eternal life in Odin’s bijou little residence known as Valhalla. But Valhalla has just changed. It has grown. It has diversified. Just like any corporation, the Valhalla Group has had to adapt to survive. Unfortunately, not even an omniscient Norse god could have prepared Valhalla for the arrival of Carol Kortright, one-time cocktail waitress, last seen dead, and not at all happy. Valhalla is a sparkling comic fantasy from a writer who can turn misery into joy, darkness into light, and water into a very pleasant lime cordial.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Humor, Comedy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Mythology, Urban Fantasy

289 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2000

About the author

Tom Holt (Thomas Charles Louis Holt) is a British novelist.
He was born in London, the son of novelist Hazel Holt, and was educated at Westminster School, Wadham College, Oxford, and The College of Law, London.
Holt's works include mythopoeic novels which parody or take as their theme various aspects of mythology, history or literature and develop them in new and often humorous ways. He has also produced a number of "straight" historical novels writing as Thomas Holt and fantasy novels writing as K.J. Parker.

Reviews

[Nae · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 confused stars

[Mark Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully cracked book about the afterlife, a la Norse mythology. Eternity turns out to be so boring that watching paint dry is a popular activity among the inhabitants of this silly Valhalla.

[Burt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a follow-up to break into Holt after having completed The Portable Door. It has an amazing concept, but the problem lies in execution.

The concept revolves around the thorny situation of the Afterlife. When you die in battle, the Norse Pantheon says you're theirs. Some people like it, most don't and some people REALLY like it - to the point where they must be restrained.

The problem is, Lin Kortright's daughter is in Vallhalla - and it's not her fault. As a matter of fact, she's only there because Odin is pissed at her father - who got him the gig as ruler of Valhalla - and he's looking to even the score.

It also is the tale of Vincenzo the Amazing (or something) who takes up forty pages of the book but has no point or relation to the story.

You can see where the execution part is a little off by the above statement.

It wasn't bad, but didn't leave me as impressed as I was with The Portable Door. If you're a die hard Holt fan, give it a go - but don't expect too much, just go with it and enjoy the ride.

[Kiri · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea behind this book has a lot of merit and it could have been a very good book, unfortunately the plot dragged and Holt's normal comedic writing style seemed to have vanished. I persevered to the end of the book, which required a lot of will power, only to find a rather lacklustre conclusion and some loose ends. Normally I get frustrated by loose ends but I just couldn't bring myself to care about these particular ones. None of the characters or situations appealed to me and there was very little of Holt's usual humour or quirkiness.
The presence of the story remains good but I would only recommend this to those who had an overwhelming desire to read everything Tom Holt has ever written, and I would warn those that it doesn't live up to his other books.

[Kykykäkä · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confusing at times but I loved it. So hilarious

[Dave Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy of my Launchpad review from 2001:
In this latest comic novel, Holt returns to his trademark fusion of the modern world and Germanic myth; this time it is the Norse Warriors’ afterlife that benefits from his touch.
As with so many of his books, several (apparently unconnected) different characters take leading roles, and slowly intertwine.
Without spoiling the plot, Holt has produced a consistent explanation for what Valhalla is, and how it works, which in turn leads on to the human reaction to the threat of death and the artists relationship with his agent.
Much of what is said would not look out of place in an essay on Norse religion, but the færie dust of Holt’s humour removes any hint of dryness.
To use a cliché, I could not put this book down… until night fell and I had to put it down to turn on the lights.
Requiring no knowledge of Holt’s other works, this book will be a joy to even those who have not encountered his works before.

[Mewie Kitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Tom Holt book I've read, having heard that he can be a good read for people who like Terry Pratchett's works. I must admit I was disappointed though. I think it started okay, but after a while, it began to feel to me like he was just repeating over and over what had already been said earlier in the book.

[Medha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Tom Holt, so I went in with a blank canvass. I wouldn't say its a bad book. Its a very interesting concept about Valhalla and how it might be. But there were so many unconnected stories that I was confused till the very end. Only when you reach the last chapter can you actually understand the story.

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the funniest Tom Holt book I've ever read! As usual, the characters are as wacky as can be (Attila is just irresistible!), there are non-stop gags, the storyline is very original... I loved it all! A very good Tom Holt:)

[booksbyg · Rating 2 out of 5]

It unfortunately did not amuse me as much as I thought it would. It had it's funny bits here and there but the story felt somewhat disjointed all the time...continually thinking 'am I missing something?' and the disappointment when I realised I had not. Time Out said 'Dazzling' - not exactly sure what their reviewer was on when he/she read this - maybe that is where I am going wrong. I have more Tom Holt to read so I hope that some of his others are a little better! Adequate light relief...

[Neil Challis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I understand most of it,no-not until the very last chapter-like watching paint dry !! Did I like it,well yes I was entertained.Would I read another Tom Holt,probably not but who knows,maybe in another life who knows.
Sorry but that what this book made me do,suspend reality.Liked it but not enough for 5 stars

[Hertog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice idea and some nice characters, but the plot is a bit too convoluted and the writing seems not to be his best work

[Alastair Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dated, but still the quintessential Holt. Worth a read if you're after light humour with a cynical twist. Definitely take this on holiday.

[Sharon Gregg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love odin character and atilla the hun especially.

[Boulder Boulderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great.

[Bart]

todo

[Roland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story drags on a bit but there are those witty bits that make you want to turn another page.
Good fun mixed with 'more of the same' from Tom Holt.

[Stephen Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Holt makes me happy.

[Trevor Lockett-Polcyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful, yet bleak, articulation of the afterlife. Loved it!

[Nathan Dehoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this one, as I enjoy humorous works on classical mythology, but it was a little disappointing. It largely centers around Lin Kortright, an agent for supernatural beings, who had previously appeared in Paint Your Dragon. It's an amusing idea, and I like the explanation of Kortright's job and his conversations with various gods, but the main plot doesn't go much of anywhere. One of the main themes is tailoring the afterlife to what people think they want or deserve, so is sort of like Wish You Were Here in that respect. Lin's daughter, who works as a cocktail waitress, dies and has to do the same job in the afterlife. One man is caught in a constant war zone, basically a modernized version of the traditional Valhalla. An escape artist finds himself being forced to escape a succession of ever more ridiculous situations. And Attila the Hun, who had been stuck in a room where he was literally made to watch paint dry, comes back to life as a very small child and hates it. He also gets romantically involved with Joan of Arc. Then there's Odin, who basically just messes with everybody, and is bitter at Kortright for getting him a terrible job. Despite enough good jokes to keep me reading, it seemed a bit pointless.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were one or two glimpses of humour and cleverness in this book, but they were buried very deep among plodding repetitiveness and uninspired characters. I'm not quite sure what this book was about, even though I've only just finished it. The afterlife, sure, but I'm sure there was some social commentary or great truths that was supposed to be conveyed but really just fell flat.

I've read other Tom Holt books that I've liked well enough even if I've never found them spectacular, but this one just makes me want to avoid anything further by him.

[Cj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Holt has a deep understanding of role-playing games (RPGs) and brings to life the general drift of all RPGs: Oops, you died, better luck next round, OK ready or not the next time around starts Now! But it's really happening this time. Howard wanted the escape from real life that an RPG affords, or did he? And Carol, a cocktail waitress, is definitely not at all happy about being dead and in Valhalla.

You will never look at a painted wall the same way again after reading Valhalla.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a fan of Tom Holt so this volume was a big disappointment. Most of Tom Holt's books have received five stars from me. Measured against all books this one rates three stars, but rated against Mr. Holt's other works it only rates two stars.

[Eileen Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Holt writes some brilliant, very funny books!
This is no exception.
His stories are always set in the present day.
His characters are more than believable!
Another author that I re read very often!

[Michael Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gods come to life and crack jokes with a waitress in this bizarre tale.

[Dirk · Rating 3 out of 5]

a very different kind of vahalla, definitely not the one you heard or read about, adventures of Carol Kortright and other clients provided by Odin, hilarious, good entertainment

[Fwenx · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was a bit too muddled for me. The hilarious gems here and there are a bit drowned in flawed storytelling. I liked another book by Tom Holt, Flying Dutch, better.

[Gail Summers · Rating 3 out of 5]

unmemorable

[Rajiv Perseedoss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Holt is one of the best british writers, in my opinion! It's so hilarious, wild beyond imagination and had me reading this even when i was in my holidays - it's that good!

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny, well worth picking up if you see it. Especially liked the ideas that Old Gods get old.