Not your Marvel Thor and Loki
Review of Neil Gaiman's "Norse Mythology" (2017)
When Neil Gaiman, master of modern fantasy and creator of The Sandman, decides to retell ancient Norse myths, you might expect something wildly experimental.
Instead, in Norse Mythology (2017), he does something far braver – he steps aside and lets these ancient tales speak largely for themselves, serving as their faithful custodian rather than their reinventor.
Welcome to a world where Thor isn't a Hollywood heartthrob, but rather a quick-tempered, red-bearded god who occasionally dresses as a bride to retrieve his stolen hammer.
Gaiman strips away centuries of pop-culture varnish to reveal the stark, strange, harsh and surprisingly humorous original tales of the Norse gods.
"The Norse myths are the myths of a chilly place."
From Ravens to Ragnarök
Unlike Greek mythology's sprawling pantheon, Norse myths focus on a smaller cast of characters whose fate is already sealed. Gaiman masterfully introduces the key players:
"Odin the all-father, who sacrificed his eye to see everything that happens, and who gave his name to Wednesday."
Thor was not subtle...but his heart was generally in the right place."
"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."
These gods know they're doomed - Ragnarök, the twilight of the gods, looms over every tale like storm clouds over a fjord.
Drawing primarily from the 13th-century Prose Edda and Poetic Edda, Gaiman keeps his prose is crisp and clean, letting the strangeness of the stories speak for itself.
He brings out the humour in Thor's adventures, the tragedy in Baldur's death, and the complex family dynamics that drive so many of these tales.
His description of the gods' reaction to Loki's schemes captures this perfectly:
"The gods looked at each other, uncomfortable and embarrassed, as people do when someone has said something that is both true and unpalatable."
The collection's brevity might disappoint readers hoping for a comprehensive look at Norse mythology. Many fascinating minor tales and characters are left unexplored.
Plus, Gaiman's straightforward retelling sometimes lacks the deeper analysis or context that might help readers understand these stories' historical and cultural significance.
The Final Verdict
Norse Mythology succeeds brilliantly as both an introduction to Norse myths and a reminder of why these stories have endured.
While it may not be the most comprehensive collection, it captures the essence of Norse mythology: its humor, its darkness, and its underlying fatalism.
These aren't sanitised fairy tales or superhero movies - they're something older and stranger. You'll find gods who are petty, violent, and foolish, yet also capable of great wisdom and sacrifice.
The collection ends, as it must, with Ragnarök, but even here there's hope: after the twilight of the gods, a new world rises from the ashes. It's a fitting metaphor for these tales themselves: eternally ending, eternally beginning anew.
Pro-tip: Read with your ear.
Gaiman’s voiceover for the audiobook release can lift Mjölnir. Try reading the paperback while listening to the audiobook.
Next read:
If you're enchanted by Norse mythology, try Joanne Harris's The Gospel of Loki for a first-person retelling from the trickster god's perspective.
Gaiman's own American Gods offers a modern take on these deities.
For a different mythological tradition, try Stephen Fry's Mythos or Madeline Miller's Circe.
In non-fiction, Kevin Crossley-Holland's The Norse Myths provides a more scholarly approach.
And Nancy Marie Brown's Song of the Vikings introduces you to the medieval Icelandic world that preserved these tales.