Norse Mythology
written by Neil Gaiman
Before this book my knowledge of Thor and the nine realms was restricted only to what I had seen in marvel movies and in the most recent God of War game; I am well versed in both. But the movies and video game were merely teasers to the depth and excitement of Norse mythology. I knew I wanted to know more about Loki, the trickster god, Thor’s hammer Mjolnir, and the prophecy of ragnarok. After reading Gaiman’s other novel, American Gods, all I wanted was a book of straight mythology to sink my teeth into. As luck would have it Gaiman took it upon himself to provide just that.
Mythology is fantastic. It can teach about the culture in which it originated, give birth to new stories (I’m looking at you Rick Riordan), and inspire great works of art. But by far my favorite thing about myths is that when you really take a look at the stories you realize just how bonkers they are. In Greek myths people are born of seaform, die of melted wax, or get preserved as a tree, and no one bats an eye at this because when you deal with a pantheon of gods, beasts, mortals and magic, nothing is off the table. The imagination present in these tales is pure gold, and Norse myths do not disappoint.
First the main characters:
(Yes, I am using pictures from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's important to include pictures of Sir Anthony Hopkins whenever possible)
Odin is known as the all-father and occasionally wanderer when he needs to check things out in Midguard. He is highest upon the gods and oversees Valhalla, the Hall where Valkeries brings warriors who have fallen in battle with honor.
“He gave an eye for wisdom. More than that, for knowledge of runes, and for power, he sacrificed himself to himself.” (Gaiman)
Odin sacrifices himself to himself. Have you ever heard of anything more metal? He hung himself on a tree and accessed magic. He foresees ragnarok and plays a significant (and slightly crude) role in delivering the poetry of mead to the realms. He might be my quiet favorite.
Thor is Odin's son and god of thunder. He is the strongest of the gods and not always the brightest, but when his wife Sif’s hair is stolen, Thor immediately states that the they was Loki’s doing. And his reasoning of this conclusion is my favorite quote in the book.
“'Because,' said Thor, 'when something goes wrong, the first thing I always think is, it is Loki’s fault. It saves a lot of time.'” (Gaiman)
Thor is smarter than he appears. This book contains many stories of both Thor and Loki, and Thor is correct for Loki is almost always to blame when things go awry. Though despite Loki's knack for being the center of attention, whenever Thor is involved in a myth there is sure to be a throw down or at least some hilarity. Notable stories include: Thor dressing up in drag to retrieve his hammer and Thor taking part in a drinking competition.
Loki is the god of mischief, appearing in many of the stories, and lives up to his title in all of them. Without Loki, Norse mythology wouldn’t be nearly as exciting and delightful. A fact that is not lost on Gaiman, who explains it best here:
“So now you know: that is how the gods got their greatest treasures. It was Loki’s fault. Even Thor’s hammer was Loki’s fault. That was the thing about Loki. You resented him even when you were at your most grateful, and you were grateful to him even when you hated him the most.” (Gaiman)
Even one of the key players in ragnarok, the end of times in Norse Mythology, happens to be Loki's son Fenrir, a giant wolf. Loki has also fathered Jörmungandr, the world serpent, and Hel, the woman who appears beautiful on one side and dead on the other who rules over Hel where all the deceased who did not die with honor go. I especially like Gaiman's portrayal of Hel. She is totally content with her new job. Loki uses trickery and manipulation to get what he wants, stir up trouble, and getting out of trouble. He would make a great sitcom.
I highly recommend giving this book a go. You'll learn about the myths surrounding a culture, stories that have been told and re told for ages, and the tales are so dynamic and imaginative that you'll want to share them with all of your friends. Just ask my friends, I made them listen to me retelling them myths that Gaiman already articulated far better than I. So stop looking up Loki on Wikipedia and read Gaiman's Norse Mythology which gives a new life to these myths. There's no angle, twist, or new perspective; it's like an old masterpiece cleaned up for new generations to enjoy.
