Ray's Reviews > Norse Mythology

Neil Gaiman is a master of the short story and of fantasy, yet unfortunately Norse Mythology is not among his best.

Vikings may be having a cultural moment. This is a good primer on the tales of Odin and Thor and Loki etc. Written informally in the common vernacular, with a mix of Gaiman's own original take making for an authentic feel of reading the traditional mythology. It just still seems a bit too academic for me, it's not enough like modern fiction writing, and it doesn't always work.

Several of the short stories do stand out. And it is a good time to revisit these pagan gods. Note that this is nothing like Marvel's Thor movies, and far more similar in vein to Gaiman's Sandman graphic novel series that occasionally featured the Aesir...

It's short and doesn't take too much commitment, so a decent read for fantasy lovers and Gaiman fans in particular. Enjoy, but don't expect it to be among his best.