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Hammer and the Cross #1
The Hammer and the Cross
865 A.D. Warring kings rule over the British Isles, but the Church rules over the kings, threatening all who oppose them with damnation. Only the dreaded Vikings of Scandinavia do not fear the priests.
Shef, the bastard son of a Norse raider and a captive English lady, is torn by divided loyalties and driven by strange visions that seem to come from Odin himself. A smith and warrior, he alone dares to imagine new weapons and tactics with which to carve out a kingdom--and launch an all-out war between.... The Hammer and the Cross.
Shef, the bastard son of a Norse raider and a captive English lady, is torn by divided loyalties and driven by strange visions that seem to come from Odin himself. A smith and warrior, he alone dares to imagine new weapons and tactics with which to carve out a kingdom--and launch an all-out war between.... The Hammer and the Cross.
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
122 people are currently reading
1707 people want to read
About the author
Harry Harrison
1,261 books1,040 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.
Excerpted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
November 19, 2020
Since my better half’s ancestors were of Scandinavian persuasion, and ‘The Vikings’ TV series is being currently marathoned in my home, reading this book was inevitable, right?
Ok, I confess: I started reading this one by accident. I was actually looking for The Hammer And The Cross: A New History Of The Vikings, a nonfiction book on the Vikings (although my search was still inspired by ‘The Vikings’ TV show marathon). Instead I got this one. And yeah, I don’t regret the mistake.
—————-
This is an alternate history set in the 9th century when Vikings used to raid the shores of England. Our protagonist Shef is a young Englishman, conceived as a result of rape/abduction of an English noblewoman by a ruthless Viking warlord. Shef is raised by his resentful and cruel stepfather and treated like a slave by his trueborn half-brother. Then Viking leader Ragnar Lothbrock gets himself killed by the English, and his sons invade with the Great Army of Vikings, and Godive, the woman Shef is in love with, is taken by the ruthless sadist Viking chief Ivar the Boneless.
So naturally Shef decides to rescue Godive and in the process ends up not only joining the Vikings but also becomes the figure of hope for the Way of Asgarth, a breakaway group/sect of the Vikings a bit less bloodthirsty and much more reliant on cooperation and knowledge accumulation (but still with a side of killing and pillaging - they still are Viking!).
Shef discovers a knack for engineering some pretty elaborate machinery in the spirit of knowledge and innovation. He also finds a bit of a common ground with future King Alfred who realizes that they share not only a common foe but also similar goals.
Plus Norse gods - let us not forget them.
And that’s where the history really diverges from ‘our’ history. Insofar as the first book in the series can be an indicator, it seems that the divergence may be for the better.
Standing in the way of the Vikings as well as the English is a powerful enemy - medieval Catholic Church, an all-powerful institution in the medieval Western world, owning immense riches, lands, and slaves; with power and influence above that of any kings. As we know, power corrupts. No exception here.
And Harrison does not pull any punches dealing with the sinister corrupt church officials, ideology of the institution and fear of surrendering power to anyone.
Somehow, at least for me, Harrison gets away with the Mary-Sue-ness without much irritation. But frequently it seems that just a few more pages once in a while would have been nice to give characters more depth, to flesh out their motivations, to give them room for growth.
But hey, at least the battles are done well and are easy to follow and visualize, right?
————
Overall, a fun and enjoyable read. 3.5 stars which I will easily round up to 4. Bring on more Harry Harrison!
Ok, I confess: I started reading this one by accident. I was actually looking for The Hammer And The Cross: A New History Of The Vikings, a nonfiction book on the Vikings (although my search was still inspired by ‘The Vikings’ TV show marathon). Instead I got this one. And yeah, I don’t regret the mistake.
I usually dislike “gendering” books based on which audience they are supposed to appeal to - but here I can’t resist. It’s a without a doubt a “boy book”, focusing on battles and strategy, plot-driven, action-heavy and fast-paced. And I enjoyed it nevertheless, even if it’s not my usual fare.
—————-
This is an alternate history set in the 9th century when Vikings used to raid the shores of England. Our protagonist Shef is a young Englishman, conceived as a result of rape/abduction of an English noblewoman by a ruthless Viking warlord. Shef is raised by his resentful and cruel stepfather and treated like a slave by his trueborn half-brother. Then Viking leader Ragnar Lothbrock gets himself killed by the English, and his sons invade with the Great Army of Vikings, and Godive, the woman Shef is in love with, is taken by the ruthless sadist Viking chief Ivar the Boneless.
So naturally Shef decides to rescue Godive and in the process ends up not only joining the Vikings but also becomes the figure of hope for the Way of Asgarth, a breakaway group/sect of the Vikings a bit less bloodthirsty and much more reliant on cooperation and knowledge accumulation (but still with a side of killing and pillaging - they still are Viking!).
Shef discovers a knack for engineering some pretty elaborate machinery in the spirit of knowledge and innovation. He also finds a bit of a common ground with future King Alfred who realizes that they share not only a common foe but also similar goals.
Plus Norse gods - let us not forget them.
And that’s where the history really diverges from ‘our’ history. Insofar as the first book in the series can be an indicator, it seems that the divergence may be for the better.
Standing in the way of the Vikings as well as the English is a powerful enemy - medieval Catholic Church, an all-powerful institution in the medieval Western world, owning immense riches, lands, and slaves; with power and influence above that of any kings. As we know, power corrupts. No exception here.
And Harrison does not pull any punches dealing with the sinister corrupt church officials, ideology of the institution and fear of surrendering power to anyone.
“The Church is in danger, my lord. Not that she may be defeated and pillaged by the heathen, grievous though that is, for from that we may recover. It is that the heathens and the Christians may make common cause. For then they will find that they have no need of us. We must not let them deal.”Sadly, a fast-paced plot-driven narrative requires sacrifices, and here it’s the character development. With the quick succession of scenes and battles this almost reads as a script book and would look amazing if translated to screen. Shef is very much a Mary Sue, certainly, strong and smart, with intuitive grasp of military tactics and of human nature - as though these gifts are, ahem, gods-given, one may say.
“The Englishman looked up as Shef began gently to pry the soft iron from his throat. “You are heathens,” the slave said, not understanding. “Priest said you're men with no mercy. You cut the arms and legs from the thane—I saw him! How can it be that you set a man free where the Christ-priests hold him a slave?”
Somehow, at least for me, Harrison gets away with the Mary-Sue-ness without much irritation. But frequently it seems that just a few more pages once in a while would have been nice to give characters more depth, to flesh out their motivations, to give them room for growth.
But hey, at least the battles are done well and are easy to follow and visualize, right?
————
Overall, a fun and enjoyable read. 3.5 stars which I will easily round up to 4. Bring on more Harry Harrison!
August 30, 2020
"Gravissima calamitas umquam supra Occidentem accidens erat religio Christiana."
-Gore Vidal, A.D. 1987
(The greatest disaster to ever befall the West was Christianity)
"Gnythja mundu grisir ef galtar hag vissi"
-Rangar Lothbrok at his death
(If they knew how the old boar died, how the little pigs would grunt)
"Domine, libera mos a furore normannorum. Sed praesepe, Domine, a humore eorum"
-common prayer of English clerics during Viking era
(Lord, deliver us from the fury of the Northmen. But especially, Lord, from their mirth)
This was a surprising book. A good friend recommended it to me IRL. I am very glad I read this, but found myself torn as to its genre. It is fantasy, no doubt, but creeps awfully close to a borderline historical accuracy as to possibly consign this under "alternative historical fiction". These events never happened and the characters, even the real ones, acted differently. But the "meta" picture, the tactics and entire world build is very accurate to England circa 800's during the Viking invasions.
Anyways. it is the story of Shef. A stepson to a harsh English earl, he falls in love with a girl named Godive. But events transpire, where in order to rescue Godive, Shef ends up with the Vikings. The rest of the story revolves around Shef and his rise through the ranks from thrall, to carl, all the way to jarl. Along the way you will run into the sons of Ragnar- Halvdan, Sigurth Snake Eye, Ubbi and Ivar the Boneless, as they lead the Great Viking Army to avenge their father's death. You will meet Alfred of Wessex and some other real peoples.
This story of a god struck boy , Shef,(as in divine providence) is a great Viking story. It is brutal and violent. The fantasy aspects with the Norse gods who speak to Shef's dreams and his potential "mentor" from among the pantheon is a well done story. Many of these events and the weapons did exist. Though not in the fashion described. For example Shef's helmet design is from the around 11th century and the halbred is from the 14th. Far ahead of their time, though that is sort of the point with Shef.
Shef's fascination with machines and the "old knowledge" of the Romans and his adventures with his warband make for a very interesting tale. The invasion in this book mirrors the events of the battle of Hastings in 1066, except in real life it was the Normans who invaded.
A strange mixture of historical setting accuracy with some large actual historical outcomes makes this a very odd story. If the Norse had a religious system such as "The Way" it might have helped them mightily to resist Christian incursions. Still a very entertaining read and one that is different to most books of this type.
The ending was a bit swift and am not sure if there will ever be another. I certainly would read it and any fan of this time period will enjoy this fantasy set in the Viking era England.
-Gore Vidal, A.D. 1987
(The greatest disaster to ever befall the West was Christianity)
"Gnythja mundu grisir ef galtar hag vissi"
-Rangar Lothbrok at his death
(If they knew how the old boar died, how the little pigs would grunt)
"Domine, libera mos a furore normannorum. Sed praesepe, Domine, a humore eorum"
-common prayer of English clerics during Viking era
(Lord, deliver us from the fury of the Northmen. But especially, Lord, from their mirth)
This was a surprising book. A good friend recommended it to me IRL. I am very glad I read this, but found myself torn as to its genre. It is fantasy, no doubt, but creeps awfully close to a borderline historical accuracy as to possibly consign this under "alternative historical fiction". These events never happened and the characters, even the real ones, acted differently. But the "meta" picture, the tactics and entire world build is very accurate to England circa 800's during the Viking invasions.
Anyways. it is the story of Shef. A stepson to a harsh English earl, he falls in love with a girl named Godive. But events transpire, where in order to rescue Godive, Shef ends up with the Vikings. The rest of the story revolves around Shef and his rise through the ranks from thrall, to carl, all the way to jarl. Along the way you will run into the sons of Ragnar- Halvdan, Sigurth Snake Eye, Ubbi and Ivar the Boneless, as they lead the Great Viking Army to avenge their father's death. You will meet Alfred of Wessex and some other real peoples.
This story of a god struck boy , Shef,(as in divine providence) is a great Viking story. It is brutal and violent. The fantasy aspects with the Norse gods who speak to Shef's dreams and his potential "mentor" from among the pantheon is a well done story. Many of these events and the weapons did exist. Though not in the fashion described. For example Shef's helmet design is from the around 11th century and the halbred is from the 14th. Far ahead of their time, though that is sort of the point with Shef.
Shef's fascination with machines and the "old knowledge" of the Romans and his adventures with his warband make for a very interesting tale. The invasion in this book mirrors the events of the battle of Hastings in 1066, except in real life it was the Normans who invaded.
A strange mixture of historical setting accuracy with some large actual historical outcomes makes this a very odd story. If the Norse had a religious system such as "The Way" it might have helped them mightily to resist Christian incursions. Still a very entertaining read and one that is different to most books of this type.
The ending was a bit swift and am not sure if there will ever be another. I certainly would read it and any fan of this time period will enjoy this fantasy set in the Viking era England.
August 13, 2021
While Harrison is probably best know today for his The Stainless Steel Rat series-- a humorous science fiction saga-- he also had his 'serious' side, writing for example the West of Eden trilogy. The HatC trilogy represents his 'serious' side once again, consisting of an alternative history of the early feudal era. Set around 800 CE, the story centers on our main protagonist Shef, the bastard son of a Norse raider and a captive English Lady. Harrison pulls few punches her as he depicts life in this era-- nasty, brutish and short for most.
England is ruled by several 'kinglets', but overarching them is the Roman Church. The Church owns much land and has been busy extracting wealth for centuries now; they, or rather their priests, also are basically the only literate population and keep track of records, deeds and so forth. War and violence permeate society; the kinglets are either warring with each other or trying to fend off Norse raiders-- Vikings. Vikings are the 'hard core' military, arriving on their longboats and plundering the countryside.
One day a Viking is captured (bad weather and all that, shipwreck...) and the local king has a field day with him, finally casting him into a hole filled with serpents to die. It turns out, however, that the Viking, Ragnar, who has terrorized the shores for decades, has some powerful sons back North; when word reaches them of their father's 'unmanly' death, the sons vow vengeance upon the kinglet...
Harrison has definitely done his homework here and brings to life the Vikings and their mythology vividly. Some of the Vikings are followers of 'the way'; embracing the Norse Gods and a hatred of the Roman Church. They see conquering England as both a source of plunder and wealth, but also of a way to stymie the ambitions of the Roman Church. When the sons of Ragnar land in England, Shef manages to join them, utilizing his skills as a blacksmith, and falls under the protection of the priests of The Way. It is not easy going by any means-- of course we have many trials and tribulations-- but gradually Shef earns the respect of The Way priests and helps facilitate the Norse invasion...
Harrison gives us a pretty hardcore story here, full of nasty torture and violence that should sate gore hounds, but also explores in detail what _might_ have happened if the Vikings (and The Way) actually presented an alternative to the Roman Church that the peasants found attractive. Long before Martin Luther and the protestant reformation, Harrison explores how the locals may view the church's hypocrisy and its desire for wealth above all. I particularly liked the discussion of economics, and how some of the English kinglets debased their currency.
A gripping story, but again, not for the faint of heart. 4 stars!!
England is ruled by several 'kinglets', but overarching them is the Roman Church. The Church owns much land and has been busy extracting wealth for centuries now; they, or rather their priests, also are basically the only literate population and keep track of records, deeds and so forth. War and violence permeate society; the kinglets are either warring with each other or trying to fend off Norse raiders-- Vikings. Vikings are the 'hard core' military, arriving on their longboats and plundering the countryside.
One day a Viking is captured (bad weather and all that, shipwreck...) and the local king has a field day with him, finally casting him into a hole filled with serpents to die. It turns out, however, that the Viking, Ragnar, who has terrorized the shores for decades, has some powerful sons back North; when word reaches them of their father's 'unmanly' death, the sons vow vengeance upon the kinglet...
Harrison has definitely done his homework here and brings to life the Vikings and their mythology vividly. Some of the Vikings are followers of 'the way'; embracing the Norse Gods and a hatred of the Roman Church. They see conquering England as both a source of plunder and wealth, but also of a way to stymie the ambitions of the Roman Church. When the sons of Ragnar land in England, Shef manages to join them, utilizing his skills as a blacksmith, and falls under the protection of the priests of The Way. It is not easy going by any means-- of course we have many trials and tribulations-- but gradually Shef earns the respect of The Way priests and helps facilitate the Norse invasion...
Harrison gives us a pretty hardcore story here, full of nasty torture and violence that should sate gore hounds, but also explores in detail what _might_ have happened if the Vikings (and The Way) actually presented an alternative to the Roman Church that the peasants found attractive. Long before Martin Luther and the protestant reformation, Harrison explores how the locals may view the church's hypocrisy and its desire for wealth above all. I particularly liked the discussion of economics, and how some of the English kinglets debased their currency.
A gripping story, but again, not for the faint of heart. 4 stars!!
November 8, 2009
I began re-reading Harry Harrison't "The Hammer and the Cross" trilogy in November 2009 as inspiration for NaNoWriMo. It is set in an alternate-history England at the time of the invasion of the Viking "Great Army" in 865 C.E. The story is about a young man named Shef who ends up joining the Vikings and becoming a carl and then a jarl among the Vikings, defeating villains among their people, the English, and even Frankish knights sent to recover the country for Christendom. There are significant supernatural elements relating to the Norse gods, and it is alternate-history-fantasy, not historical fiction. A good story, well told.
December 30, 2013
One of the most intriguing examples I've read of the classic story in which the lowly protagonist survives against all odds and rises to the pinnacle of power by use of his wits and his unique talents. It draws upon the real history of the Viking expansion into the British isles, and where it may depart from historical accuracy, it nevertheless rings true, with a depth that suggests meticulous research.
This is a raw and gritty saga, heavy on the pillaging, killing and torture that took place during this period, so some parts are far from pleasant reading. On the other hand, the accounts of the technological advancements introduced by the protagonist Shef and the exploration of the role of religion in the political struggles of the era have a compelling authenticity.
The fantasy aspect is creative and well executed, with a light touch for most of the story. The Norse gods' presence is woven into the fabric of the story in a way that is both original and natural for the characters and for the reader. Particularly interesting is the way that Shef, despite being an active innovator and leader, comes to see himself as a cog in a machine, constrained by fate, or perhaps controlled by the gods for purposes of their own.
A fascinating read overall, recommended in spite of its graphically violent elements, which, it has to be said, have their proper place in the richly depicted world of this story.
This is a raw and gritty saga, heavy on the pillaging, killing and torture that took place during this period, so some parts are far from pleasant reading. On the other hand, the accounts of the technological advancements introduced by the protagonist Shef and the exploration of the role of religion in the political struggles of the era have a compelling authenticity.
The fantasy aspect is creative and well executed, with a light touch for most of the story. The Norse gods' presence is woven into the fabric of the story in a way that is both original and natural for the characters and for the reader. Particularly interesting is the way that Shef, despite being an active innovator and leader, comes to see himself as a cog in a machine, constrained by fate, or perhaps controlled by the gods for purposes of their own.
A fascinating read overall, recommended in spite of its graphically violent elements, which, it has to be said, have their proper place in the richly depicted world of this story.
July 19, 2012
I just re-read this book. I enjoyed it overall. I tend to like almost anything involving the vikings, norse, mythology, the dark ages, heroic quests....so this book is right up my alley.
I did enjoy it. However, the anti-christian bias was too much. Were there nasty and vile priests in the dark ages? Yes, obvioulsy. Were there unscrupulous Christians in the dark ages? Yes. But the book seems to present Christianity as all bad.
The story does seem rather generic with the norse backdrop. Slave moves up in the world with hard work, cunning and of course more than his share of luck. Pretty soon he's a Jarl. It is an idealized story where we can have a pretend history where misrepresentations and hald-truths are allowed. Even with that said, I enjoyed the book overall and am planning on reading the sequels.
I did enjoy it. However, the anti-christian bias was too much. Were there nasty and vile priests in the dark ages? Yes, obvioulsy. Were there unscrupulous Christians in the dark ages? Yes. But the book seems to present Christianity as all bad.
The story does seem rather generic with the norse backdrop. Slave moves up in the world with hard work, cunning and of course more than his share of luck. Pretty soon he's a Jarl. It is an idealized story where we can have a pretend history where misrepresentations and hald-truths are allowed. Even with that said, I enjoyed the book overall and am planning on reading the sequels.
September 4, 2013
This whole trilogy is excellent. I have reread so many times the book fell apart. Definitely one of the best alternate histories I've ever read. I don't agree with some of the reviewers: I don't believe you need a wonderful knowledge of history to enjoy it (because I didn't; I recognized the Battle of Hastings & was tickled and that was it), just enough to know that this is an alternate version. I also don't believe this is a "book for men". Wth. No such thing. It's adventure, and not quite the triumph of reason over religion, but the way reason can temper religion. Extremely well written and enjoyable.
June 10, 2010
Probably one of my top five all time favorites. I read it again and again and every time I think, "I should have been a blacksmith."
May 31, 2014
Frankly, this book was a big disappointment, partially because I hadn't realized it was an "alternate" history. Things seemed to be getting pretty afield from what I had remembered of Viking history, so I looked at reviews of the book and found that, indeed, it fell more into the fantasy genre than the historical.
when I was in my teen or 20s, I would probably have loved this but just don't feel like I have the time for fantasy now. One place where it didn't fail me was in the description of the stranglehold the Church held in the Dark Ages and Medieval world.
The main character, Shef, starts out being fascinating, the illegitimate son of an English lady and a rampaging Viking raider. His stepbrother and stepfather despise him and are about to make him a slave when, fortuitously, another Viking cohort attacks and Shef starts coming into his own, within the Viking community.
I enjoyed the description of the weapons. In this alternate history, Shef invents the halberd. This is a weapon that never made sense to me before, but now I understand why it was such a great advance. There are also lots of descriptions of war machines that he supposedly invents that have a basis in history. Unfortunately, the descriptions were not good enough for me to make sense of. The battle tactics come through well enough for me to understand, except a lot of times where the machines are involved. Of course, that goes back to not fully understanding the machines.
There is some character development, but very few made a strong enough impression to be remembered clearly. There is a nod to romance in Shef's love for his stepfather's daughter, to whom he is not related. But she gets wheeled in and out of the story with gay abandon. The end of this first novel of a trilogy makes me think she will figure more prominently in the last two.
From what I can tell from research other places, the author's description of Viking belief, daily life, and fighting style was historically correct, and that gave me a feeling for the era. Combined with the realizations about the Church and the lively story, this is a pretty good book. At a different time of my life, I would probably jump on the other two of the trilogy.
when I was in my teen or 20s, I would probably have loved this but just don't feel like I have the time for fantasy now. One place where it didn't fail me was in the description of the stranglehold the Church held in the Dark Ages and Medieval world.
The main character, Shef, starts out being fascinating, the illegitimate son of an English lady and a rampaging Viking raider. His stepbrother and stepfather despise him and are about to make him a slave when, fortuitously, another Viking cohort attacks and Shef starts coming into his own, within the Viking community.
I enjoyed the description of the weapons. In this alternate history, Shef invents the halberd. This is a weapon that never made sense to me before, but now I understand why it was such a great advance. There are also lots of descriptions of war machines that he supposedly invents that have a basis in history. Unfortunately, the descriptions were not good enough for me to make sense of. The battle tactics come through well enough for me to understand, except a lot of times where the machines are involved. Of course, that goes back to not fully understanding the machines.
There is some character development, but very few made a strong enough impression to be remembered clearly. There is a nod to romance in Shef's love for his stepfather's daughter, to whom he is not related. But she gets wheeled in and out of the story with gay abandon. The end of this first novel of a trilogy makes me think she will figure more prominently in the last two.
From what I can tell from research other places, the author's description of Viking belief, daily life, and fighting style was historically correct, and that gave me a feeling for the era. Combined with the realizations about the Church and the lively story, this is a pretty good book. At a different time of my life, I would probably jump on the other two of the trilogy.
April 14, 2024
Sehr schöner Roman aus den 90ern. Es geht um eine Parallelwelt, in der sich iim 9. Jahrhundert nicht das Christentum in England durchgesetzt hat, sondern der nordische Glaube. Zum Teil führen die Götter den Protagonisten durch Träume.
Es treten auch einige der historischen Persönlichkeiten auf. Wie akkurat diese recherchiert sind, kann ich leider nicht sagen. Auch manchen Waffen wurden, meines Wissens nach, etwas zu früh eingeführt.
Es treten auch einige der historischen Persönlichkeiten auf. Wie akkurat diese recherchiert sind, kann ich leider nicht sagen. Auch manchen Waffen wurden, meines Wissens nach, etwas zu früh eingeführt.
May 26, 2013
This was an interesting book to read and I do look forward to picking up the next two in the series. However, I must confess that I do not know mch about the real history told hete, so I was unable to pick up the differences, but this is a history that I will be looking more into now that it has been brought to my attention. Harrison is a great writer, I enjoyed his style and storytelling skills. I forsee many more of his books in my future.
August 7, 2019
Although the plot is quite predictable after some point, this easy read is truly engaging. Alternate history with kingdoms and characters from the past, it might be more interesting for people of younger age. What I liked most was the way how church (not religion) was described as a power that manipulated the kings, slaved people, and took care of flourishing of strictly selected group of sluggards.
March 1, 2014
A very compelling and entertaining story. I nearly kept this book in my permanent collection so it is a very good read. I am going to send this to someone on listia as a bonus surprise book. This book is too good not to share. =)
July 9, 2017
Great book!!! No putting down once you start
Change is the only solution to humanity, with change comes fear, with fear uncertainty, with uncertainty action , with action change
Change is the only solution to humanity, with change comes fear, with fear uncertainty, with uncertainty action , with action change
April 10, 2017
Finalmente ho trovato un buchino per poter scrivere questa recensione...puff puff...che fatica questo periodo! Primavera sempre cosi...io che vado in letargo rispetto al resto del mondo, che, al contrario, invece si sveglia pimpante e fresco, mentre io ho impiegato tutto l'inverno ad affaticarmi per non morire di freddo....e qui sorge la prima domanda sul libro: ma Shef con tutto quel freddo che c'è al Nord, come faceva???? Questi misteri resteranno irrisolti per la sottoscritta.
Ma torniamo a noi e al libro, ma soprattutto dove l'ho pescato questo titolo e autore...allora...sono venuta a conoscenza del libro qui, su GR, presa dalla foga di realizzare una libreria personale dignitosa appena mi sono iscritta, non diedi molto peso a quello che cliccavo, quindi dopo un annetto e una task da soddisfare eccomi qui a recensire questo libro. Premesso che io e la storia siamo due vecchie amiche mezze sciancate che nel bene e nel male girano sempre a braccetto, il racconto di Shef capitava proprio a fagiolo, se poi ci aggiungiamo una piccola dose di misticismo, beh allora...abbiamo fatto centro. Comprata, impacchettata e mnummificata con libro alla mano e un forte desiderio: quello di volerlo leggere tutto e in fretta...beeeehhh non è andata proprio cosi, l'inizio è stato un po' inciampato per me...un pochino noioso, forse lento e poco descrittivo forse (per i miei personalissimi gusti)...ma forse parlo a vanvera, bisogna che inizi da capo.
La storia è ambientata nel IX secolo d.C. ...ecco...mi fermo un attimo....non avevo mai letto niente di questo periodo, un po' passato in sordina diciamo, del resto per molti magari risulta essere il periodo in cui inizia il Cristianesimo, per me fino ad ora era paragonabile a un vuoto cosmico temporale. Non esisteva e basta, un po' come per molti sono state le Guerre Puniche, diciamocelo, ma chi se le ricorda (poi mi ricordo che il mio professore di storia aveva fatto una tabella tipo Totocalcio per esporle...ahahahaha..le Guerre Puniche, che nome bislacco...ahahahah...) Comunque dai Romani per me si passa al Medioevo direttamente e senza passare dal via (quindi un millennio buttato nel cesso praticamente...ahahhahaah). Ma torniamo avanti nel tempo...è già nato e morto da un pezzo questo personaggio di nome Cristo e già i casini iniziano. Al Nord dell'isola britannica succedono fatti di ordinario saccheggio e invasione da parte dei Vichinghi nei confronti dei britanni, fin qui tutto bene, la storia la conosciamo tutti bene direi....forse...(mi devo ancora wiukipedizzare bene bene e non solo...)...comunque tornando al romanzo:...fin qui tutto bene, inoltre, viene trattato il grandissimo tema della religione, di come il cristianesimo ai tempi pareva una grandissima macchina da guerra anzichè una macchina di fede. Un'epoca in cui i vecchi dei e le vecchie credenze lottavano per rimanere a galla rispetto al bombardamento propagandistico del cristianesimo. Ebbene si, il periodo è quello di Papa Nicola (mi sono fatta una piccola ricerca su questo personaggio...è esistito veramente e ammetto che Harrison in questo è stato molto bravo...si è discostato davvero poco dalla realtà dei fatti, credo infatti che tutto quello di cui parla sia realmente esistito (devo ancora controllare la questione di Carlo Magno...ma l'estate è vicina i tempi si dilatano leggermente e provvederò sicuramente a riempire questa mia lacuna). Fine degli spoiler storici...concludo questa parte ribadendo che la mia sete di storia è stata quasi pienamente soddisfatta.
Ora veniamo alla nota dolente del libro...e motivo per cui si è giocato fino all'ultimo la quarta stellina...ero indecisa...3 o 4....??? Perchè....gli anacronismi santo cielo....gli anacronismiiiiiiiiii....allora...io potrei sembrare una che di storia se ne intende (modestia? ahahahah) ma in realtà sono solo un'appassionata e anche in maniera mooooolto soft (quindi non sono una secchiona) però certe cose le trovo "intolleranti", soprattutto per chi chi propone di scrivere un romanzo storico, ma poi deve fare dei riferimenti moderni per spiegarsi. Spero sinceramente che i prossimi due sequel del libro siano più raffinati da questo punto di vista, perchè sennò scattano 3 stelline e basta la prossima volta.
In generale il libro è molto interessante e avvincente, soprattutto sul finale, i protagonisti sono strutturati molto bene e lo sfondo "religioso" è ben studiato. La parte legata alla descrizione dei riti e dei racconti legati agli dei nordici sono fatte molto bene, davvero interessanti, da bersi come un sorso d'acqua fresca. In generale un bel libro e sicuramente leggero i prossimi due, spero sempre insieme a J, immancabile compagno di merende letterarie (forse all'inizio quando gli proposi questo libro mi avrebbe volentieri lanciato il libro stesso in faccia...ma vedo dalla recensione che poi non è andata cosi male...eheheheheheheh).
Ma torniamo a noi e al libro, ma soprattutto dove l'ho pescato questo titolo e autore...allora...sono venuta a conoscenza del libro qui, su GR, presa dalla foga di realizzare una libreria personale dignitosa appena mi sono iscritta, non diedi molto peso a quello che cliccavo, quindi dopo un annetto e una task da soddisfare eccomi qui a recensire questo libro. Premesso che io e la storia siamo due vecchie amiche mezze sciancate che nel bene e nel male girano sempre a braccetto, il racconto di Shef capitava proprio a fagiolo, se poi ci aggiungiamo una piccola dose di misticismo, beh allora...abbiamo fatto centro. Comprata, impacchettata e mnummificata con libro alla mano e un forte desiderio: quello di volerlo leggere tutto e in fretta...beeeehhh non è andata proprio cosi, l'inizio è stato un po' inciampato per me...un pochino noioso, forse lento e poco descrittivo forse (per i miei personalissimi gusti)...ma forse parlo a vanvera, bisogna che inizi da capo.
La storia è ambientata nel IX secolo d.C. ...ecco...mi fermo un attimo....non avevo mai letto niente di questo periodo, un po' passato in sordina diciamo, del resto per molti magari risulta essere il periodo in cui inizia il Cristianesimo, per me fino ad ora era paragonabile a un vuoto cosmico temporale. Non esisteva e basta, un po' come per molti sono state le Guerre Puniche, diciamocelo, ma chi se le ricorda (poi mi ricordo che il mio professore di storia aveva fatto una tabella tipo Totocalcio per esporle...ahahahaha..le Guerre Puniche, che nome bislacco...ahahahah...) Comunque dai Romani per me si passa al Medioevo direttamente e senza passare dal via (quindi un millennio buttato nel cesso praticamente...ahahhahaah). Ma torniamo avanti nel tempo...è già nato e morto da un pezzo questo personaggio di nome Cristo e già i casini iniziano. Al Nord dell'isola britannica succedono fatti di ordinario saccheggio e invasione da parte dei Vichinghi nei confronti dei britanni, fin qui tutto bene, la storia la conosciamo tutti bene direi....forse...(mi devo ancora wiukipedizzare bene bene e non solo...)...comunque tornando al romanzo:...fin qui tutto bene, inoltre, viene trattato il grandissimo tema della religione, di come il cristianesimo ai tempi pareva una grandissima macchina da guerra anzichè una macchina di fede. Un'epoca in cui i vecchi dei e le vecchie credenze lottavano per rimanere a galla rispetto al bombardamento propagandistico del cristianesimo. Ebbene si, il periodo è quello di Papa Nicola (mi sono fatta una piccola ricerca su questo personaggio...è esistito veramente e ammetto che Harrison in questo è stato molto bravo...si è discostato davvero poco dalla realtà dei fatti, credo infatti che tutto quello di cui parla sia realmente esistito (devo ancora controllare la questione di Carlo Magno...ma l'estate è vicina i tempi si dilatano leggermente e provvederò sicuramente a riempire questa mia lacuna). Fine degli spoiler storici...concludo questa parte ribadendo che la mia sete di storia è stata quasi pienamente soddisfatta.
Ora veniamo alla nota dolente del libro...e motivo per cui si è giocato fino all'ultimo la quarta stellina...ero indecisa...3 o 4....??? Perchè....gli anacronismi santo cielo....gli anacronismiiiiiiiiii....allora...io potrei sembrare una che di storia se ne intende (modestia? ahahahah) ma in realtà sono solo un'appassionata e anche in maniera mooooolto soft (quindi non sono una secchiona) però certe cose le trovo "intolleranti", soprattutto per chi chi propone di scrivere un romanzo storico, ma poi deve fare dei riferimenti moderni per spiegarsi. Spero sinceramente che i prossimi due sequel del libro siano più raffinati da questo punto di vista, perchè sennò scattano 3 stelline e basta la prossima volta.
In generale il libro è molto interessante e avvincente, soprattutto sul finale, i protagonisti sono strutturati molto bene e lo sfondo "religioso" è ben studiato. La parte legata alla descrizione dei riti e dei racconti legati agli dei nordici sono fatte molto bene, davvero interessanti, da bersi come un sorso d'acqua fresca. In generale un bel libro e sicuramente leggero i prossimi due, spero sempre insieme a J, immancabile compagno di merende letterarie (forse all'inizio quando gli proposi questo libro mi avrebbe volentieri lanciato il libro stesso in faccia...ma vedo dalla recensione che poi non è andata cosi male...eheheheheheheh).
December 24, 2015
This time, Harry was anxious for the vision he knew would come. His mind buzzed with doubts, with possibilities. Yet he had no certainty. Something must come, he knew, from outside to help him. It came usually when he was exhausted, or sleeping off a heavy meal. That day he deliberately took a longer walk through the woods surrounding his estate. In the evening he stuffed himself slowly at the dinner table. He stretched out to sleep, fearful that his mysterious adviser would fail him.
It was a drizzly weekend afternoon, the autumn harvest weather had given way to the rain. Sheltered from the drizzle were two great thinkers sharing a discussion of medieval history and battles. Their homeland surely had seen great battles. There had been king against king, fighting over the land and resources of their island home. The violent warriors of the north had nursed a regular habit of pillaging the coasts. These Viking sailors were fierce and strong. While on the continent there were great armies that relied on the strength of horses and training. Ah yes, a rich trove of ideas and techniques that would certainly make an interesting story. Don't forget that it was the plucky and ill-fed laborer that was an under-appreciated, yet vital resource that could, under the proper conditions, thwart a great army. Yes, a real David and Goliath story. What if that story could detail a war game, where different sides could pick a people and then come at each other and see what the strengths and weaknesses were for each? Then there is the question of how to fuel the tension and energy required to bring three great peoples together and have them clash in epic battle. Yes, there needs to be a deus ex machina--no that isn't the correct term. There needs to be a lurking evil that can unite the divided and propel the cause of the just. What could bring a kingdom of peasants together to fight and conquer the great forces of the day except for their disgust and hatred of the Church? Focus on "What?" and "How?" Don't worry over fears that the reader enjoys more the "Why?" and "Who?". The drizzle had abated and on the far horizon the glint of a setting sun managed to sear a swath of sky crimson...
Harry found himself suddenly awake, perfectly conscious of what he had just seen, perfectly aware that in some way it related to himself. What he had seen, he realized, was a book idea that surely his publisher wouldn't turn down. It would be a refreshing change to write about medieval history instead of science fiction adventure, humor, and satire. The ever present undertones of anti-military sentiment could also be channeled towards religion. The main character could embody the thinking man who needs to battle the man of force, although he needs to have some strength, because certainly more readers enjoy a tale where the "thinking man" can not only outsmart his adversary, but also wield force to crush his opponent.
It had been a while since he had written a truly serious book. Almost thirty years before he had enjoyed pulling together the themes in Make Room! Make Room! Those were challenging yet interesting times. Times were changing. Fantasy fiction was getting more attention. Science fiction was becoming a crowded market. Just look at the attention Tolkien's books were receiving. It had been recently announced that an epic movie project was under consideration by Miramax and director Peter Jackson. Certainly there were opportunities in this genre to explore.
It was a drizzly weekend afternoon, the autumn harvest weather had given way to the rain. Sheltered from the drizzle were two great thinkers sharing a discussion of medieval history and battles. Their homeland surely had seen great battles. There had been king against king, fighting over the land and resources of their island home. The violent warriors of the north had nursed a regular habit of pillaging the coasts. These Viking sailors were fierce and strong. While on the continent there were great armies that relied on the strength of horses and training. Ah yes, a rich trove of ideas and techniques that would certainly make an interesting story. Don't forget that it was the plucky and ill-fed laborer that was an under-appreciated, yet vital resource that could, under the proper conditions, thwart a great army. Yes, a real David and Goliath story. What if that story could detail a war game, where different sides could pick a people and then come at each other and see what the strengths and weaknesses were for each? Then there is the question of how to fuel the tension and energy required to bring three great peoples together and have them clash in epic battle. Yes, there needs to be a deus ex machina--no that isn't the correct term. There needs to be a lurking evil that can unite the divided and propel the cause of the just. What could bring a kingdom of peasants together to fight and conquer the great forces of the day except for their disgust and hatred of the Church? Focus on "What?" and "How?" Don't worry over fears that the reader enjoys more the "Why?" and "Who?". The drizzle had abated and on the far horizon the glint of a setting sun managed to sear a swath of sky crimson...
Harry found himself suddenly awake, perfectly conscious of what he had just seen, perfectly aware that in some way it related to himself. What he had seen, he realized, was a book idea that surely his publisher wouldn't turn down. It would be a refreshing change to write about medieval history instead of science fiction adventure, humor, and satire. The ever present undertones of anti-military sentiment could also be channeled towards religion. The main character could embody the thinking man who needs to battle the man of force, although he needs to have some strength, because certainly more readers enjoy a tale where the "thinking man" can not only outsmart his adversary, but also wield force to crush his opponent.
It had been a while since he had written a truly serious book. Almost thirty years before he had enjoyed pulling together the themes in Make Room! Make Room! Those were challenging yet interesting times. Times were changing. Fantasy fiction was getting more attention. Science fiction was becoming a crowded market. Just look at the attention Tolkien's books were receiving. It had been recently announced that an epic movie project was under consideration by Miramax and director Peter Jackson. Certainly there were opportunities in this genre to explore.
April 15, 2012
An excellent alternate history tale in which the Vikings are the heroes that free Europe from the tyranny of the Church. Yeah, it's not truly historically accurate in many places, but that's why it's fiction! This story is great! I would much rather something like this to have happened in place of the Dark Ages. The religious speculation aside, this is a tale of a common born child who grows up to become a great leader of his time using knowledge, innovation, and force of personality to counter the corrupt political and theological doctrines of the times. I found Shef's tale to be riveting and thought provoking. It's filled with action and violence, yet neither gets in the way of getting the point of the story across. The characters are each noteworthy and come across as real people -- even if you wouldn't care to meet some of them in real life! Shef has definitely become of my favorite heroes now, and I look forward to reading more of this series.
August 3, 2014
Really cool. First of a trilogy, all worth reading. (This is set in England at the time of the Viking invasions; the second in Norway; the third in the Mediterranean - engaging with Arab, Jewish and Byzantium societies). The trilogy is a kind of alternative historical fiction, by which I mean it is a history that never happens: a tale of the emergence of the One King of the North, told of in song and legend (and related to King Sheave or Scyld-Scefing in Beowulf).The author is usually put down simply as Harry Harrison, but Tom Shippey, the acclaimed authority on Tolkien, was also a co-author (I suspect he supplied the core ideas, or at least those that relate to old legends of the North). I think in some way Shippey set out to do something with the old legends that he regarded as the opposite of what Tolkien had done with the same legends (so for example his King Scef is kind of an antithesis to Aragorn).
October 20, 2010
Given that I like a great deal of Harry Harrison's work, i'm surprised that I haven't yet read any of his alternative history novels. hadn't, I should say, as I now clearly have.
I utterly enjoyed this one, I'll admit. history not being my strong point I'm sure there are many nuances I'll have missed, but even without a grounding in the era it's a fantastic story and an intellectually intriguing experience. The combat was well described, the Vikings richly detailed and the linguistics were just incredible. It was a viscerally brilliant read, not without its share of blood and guts, but never so copiously as to make you feel that's the entire point of the work.
With Gods, religions and mysteries aplenty, I'm glad there's more in the series
I utterly enjoyed this one, I'll admit. history not being my strong point I'm sure there are many nuances I'll have missed, but even without a grounding in the era it's a fantastic story and an intellectually intriguing experience. The combat was well described, the Vikings richly detailed and the linguistics were just incredible. It was a viscerally brilliant read, not without its share of blood and guts, but never so copiously as to make you feel that's the entire point of the work.
With Gods, religions and mysteries aplenty, I'm glad there's more in the series
October 12, 2014
This is a team-written book with Harry Harrison as the senior partner. I am largely ignorant of the history of the period relevant to this alternative history novel, so I can't really comment on how well they managed to blend real and made up events. I think the characters are well drawn, and I like how this book incorporates believable technology (as opposed to, say, giving machine guns to bronze-age warriors). The writing is crisp. Fans of Harry Harrison will recognize his solid, readable style. Oddly, the only mention of John Holm, the second author, is on the copyright page. The cover does not divulge the fact at all. Anyway, it is a good read and I particularly enjoy the interlay between religion, politics, slavery, and Vikings. Well done!
February 15, 2019
This is the first volume of one of my all time favorite trilogies. I have owned multiple copies and have read them 3 times over the last two decades.
I'd recommend reading a Norse mythology book before starting this (for those who are not already familiar with it), so the attributes of the various Norse gods mentioned in the series will be understood. Shef is one of the strongest and most intelligent protagonists of any series I've ever read. Also worth mentioning, this series is definitely not for the faint of heart!
I'd recommend reading a Norse mythology book before starting this (for those who are not already familiar with it), so the attributes of the various Norse gods mentioned in the series will be understood. Shef is one of the strongest and most intelligent protagonists of any series I've ever read. Also worth mentioning, this series is definitely not for the faint of heart!
June 16, 2019
Great book!!!. This book is a historical fantasy, however this book does not have alot of fantasy in it. If you are into Vikings and the Vikings T.V series or the Last Kingdom series, then this book you will love. I do not like fantasy at all but how the author weaves the fantasy events with historical events makes the book lovable. However it looks like the remaining books in this series takes a more fantasy themed turn so probably will only read this one book.
September 9, 2007
"This is a book for men.
I'm not much of a feminist critic, and I'm not going to accuse Harry Harrison of misogyny. In fact, I might be betraying myself as a gender essentialist. But whatever. This is a book for men ..."
Read the rest of my review here:
[http://www.sabrinaspiher.com/forums/v...]
I'm not much of a feminist critic, and I'm not going to accuse Harry Harrison of misogyny. In fact, I might be betraying myself as a gender essentialist. But whatever. This is a book for men ..."
Read the rest of my review here:
[http://www.sabrinaspiher.com/forums/v...]
October 2, 2008
VERY enjoyable trilogy. Alternate history where the Norse culture has a fighting chance against Christianity thanks to a medieval genius using the powers of rationality. Well written, and I especially loved the characters. It makes you remember that people who lived in the past were still the same kinds of people that you know now.
August 30, 2013
This is a really good book in a good series. It's an alternate universe historical fiction book with elements of mythology and early engineering feats. There are some rather graphic violent scenes, but they aren't gratuitous.
Every few years when I'm between books or coming off another series, I will return to this and each time I've read the series I've gotten more out of it.
Every few years when I'm between books or coming off another series, I will return to this and each time I've read the series I've gotten more out of it.
August 16, 2021
This is a nice book, and well-written in a paragraph-by-paragraph sense. It is sort of a pseudo-historical fiction, connecting the legend of the sons of Ragnar Lothbrok with the rise of Alfred the Great. The authors do so by introducing an ingenious character who gets into an arms race with the Ragnarssons.
It's a neat idea, but the story doesn't really "pop," and it is somewhat old-fashioned. It came out in 1990 (as far as I could tell), but the way the authors handle point of view and story progression makes it feel like it could have come out in 1960. No disrespect to 1960, but the way point of view was handled was often confusing, even irritating. This is a story that could have really been made more interesting by female perspectives, instead of the men just grunting and grumbling and wondering what was going on with the women who were pivotal to the plot. Ultimately, though, the plot is somewhat unclear, particularly because the book just goes on too long. I found it quite hard to finish.
It's a neat idea, but the story doesn't really "pop," and it is somewhat old-fashioned. It came out in 1990 (as far as I could tell), but the way the authors handle point of view and story progression makes it feel like it could have come out in 1960. No disrespect to 1960, but the way point of view was handled was often confusing, even irritating. This is a story that could have really been made more interesting by female perspectives, instead of the men just grunting and grumbling and wondering what was going on with the women who were pivotal to the plot. Ultimately, though, the plot is somewhat unclear, particularly because the book just goes on too long. I found it quite hard to finish.
November 21, 2020
Finding and reading originally missed books from a favorite author is always fun! I have read quite a bit of Harry Harrison’s work years ago, so when I found a few unread titles I snatched them up. I thought that this was a one-off, but it is the start of a short 3-book series with a theme similar to many fictional histories. This is an excellent tale, with something for everyone in adventure – heroes and villains abound, setbacks happen regularly, as do valiant recoveries. What is the purpose of our lives? Without stating any definitive answer, this book (as good fiction and SciFi often do) provides some interesting reflections on cultural conflicts and blending, individual and societal obligations and rewards. I highly recommend it both for entertaining adventure reading and a chance to look at differences from the eyes of other (fictional) outsiders and established cultures.
October 19, 2017
Pretty good fun, but gets bogged down in places and never truly grips you. A few of the battles could be lost, they all merge into one after the siege of York. The mixing of fictional elements and historical was mostly successful, but hovered in this weird neither-nor realm of not quite being historical, but never going into fully fledged fantasy either. Decent, not outstanding.
February 11, 2021
An alternate Invasion of the Great Heathan Army. The path of the world changed by the founding of the Asgarth Way, after the aborted conversion of Radbod of Frisia, a Norse cult who aim to spread new knowledge and stop the Christisanisation of the north. The Book covers the early life of Shef, a misbegotten half norse thrall, as he is guided by visions to change his lot.
March 8, 2021
A book about human civilisation
I read this years ago and loved it. I watched Dr Janina Ramirez talking on TV about the Oseburg longship and it reminded me. Yes it's got Vikings and swords and heroes and baddies but it is fundamentally a book about knowledge, learning, intuition and human civilisation.
I read this years ago and loved it. I watched Dr Janina Ramirez talking on TV about the Oseburg longship and it reminded me. Yes it's got Vikings and swords and heroes and baddies but it is fundamentally a book about knowledge, learning, intuition and human civilisation.
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