Eaters of the dead

the manuscript of Ibn Fadlan relating his experiences with the Northmen in A.D. 922

by
No cover

Eaters of the dead (1976, Knopf)

193 pages

English language

Published Sept. 6, 1976 by Knopf.

ISBN:
9780394494005

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4 stars (1 review)

The year is A.D. 922. A refined Arab courtier, representative of the powerful Caliph of Bagdad, encounters a party of Viking warriors who are journeying to the barbaric North. He is appalled by their Viking customs — the wanton sexuality of their pale, angular women, their disregard for cleanliness . . . their cold-blooded human sacrifices. But it is not until they reach the depths of the Northland that the courtier learns the horrifying and inescapable truth: He has been enlisted by these savage, inscrutable warriors to help combat a terror that plagues them — a monstrosity that emerges under cover of night to slaughter the Vikings and devour their flesh . . . (source)

Also contained in:

27 editions

reviewed Devoradores de cadaveres by Michael Crichton

Review of 'Devoradores de cadaveres' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Muy interesante el uso aquí de hacer pasar la obra por un estudio de un manuscrito y otras fuentes antiguas, incluyendo pies de páginas con discusiones del tema que aportan muchos datos culturales e históricos. La historia es sumamente original, pero quizás la historia es muy detallada en el comienzo y el final está narrado mucho más rápido, me hubiera gustado profundizar más en los wendol o el conflicto.

Subjects

  • Ibn Faḍlān, Aḥmad, fl. 922 -- Fiction
  • Beowulf -- Adaptations
  • Epic poetry, English (Old) -- Adaptations
  • Heroes -- Scandinavia -- Fiction
  • Northmen -- Fiction
  • Monsters -- Fiction
  • Vikings -- Fiction
  • Dragons -- Fiction