Cycles of Norse Mythology

Tales of the AEsir Gods

Fiction - Mythology
900 Pages
Reviewed on 09/07/2019
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Engaging storytelling transports the reader to a different time/place/viewpoint and encourages their exploration of a subject.

A professional writer of 28+ years, Glenn Searfoss has authored numerous technical manuals (bills must be paid), as well as books in computer science, Kanji Character identification, natural history, science fiction, and mythology.

Glenn lives with his wife and two boxer dogs in a turn-of-the-century, brick farm house in Colorado, USA. When not busy making a living, he gardens, works on the house (there is always something with an old house), reads classic and not-so-classic literature, and does research for new book projects.

It is frustratingly easy to find out what happened to Odin, Thor, and Loki, but not the other participants in the battle, nor the goddesses and the animals that populated their world.) Delving into this world required more background and more tales from earlier in the mythology. Ultimately expanding this work to encompass the entire breadth of Norse Mythology.

'Cycles of Norse Mythology' is the culmination of 16 years intensive study of Norse myths that involved consuming research literature, translations of original works (from 900 - 1400 AD), and story compilations published since the late 1700's to the present. Through engaging, lyrical storytelling, this work presents the author's interpretation of the subject matter.

    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Cycles of Norse Mythology: Tales of the Aesir Gods is a work of rewritten fiction based on classic works, and was penned by author Glenn Searfoss. Working from sagas like the traditional poetic and prose Eddas of Norse mythology, Searfoss has created a new retelling of six key cycles of storylines to suit readers from young adult age upwards, and to bring a modern relevance and sensibility to the tales. Included in this extensive work are cycles focusing on Prophesy, The Victory Gods, The Sword of Vengeance, Premonitions, Ragnarok and Of Gods and Men. Popular heroes such as Thor, Odin and Baldur are heavily featured, as are the contracts they make with other lands, their battles, and their sufferings. Also provided is a helpful glossary of terms to keep the understanding going, as well as a guide to reading more on the fully complex mythos for readers who enjoy this retelling.

Author Glenn Searfoss has provided a loving recollection of the Norse mythology tales in a very compelling and engaging style for readers of all ages. The violence of the world of the gods is brought about with dynamic phrasing that isn’t lost in the old, passive style but brought forward lyrically to show it off for all its action and adventure. There is tenderness too, and well-chosen lexis which characterizes both heroes and villains, humanizing them during their moments of success and failure. Though the grammatical style continues to translate and refer to the original stories (of which there are over one hundred, impressively tackled), the simplicity of the text and the removal of many strange conventions of the Eddas allows for easy translation here. As a primer for readers looking to take in all the stories with ease, you should look no further than Cycles of Norse Mythology. A highly recommended read for mythology fans all around.

Ray Simmons

I grew up reading books about Greek mythology. My mother was a librarian and so those books were more available for me than they were for a kid who would have had to buy them. I loved Greek mythology. I still do. But in recent years I have found myself liking and respecting the Norse gods more than their Mediterranean brothers. That feeling became a confirmed fact after reading Cycles of Norse Mythology: Tales of the Aesir Gods by Glenn Searfoss. The Norse gods are much more interesting than the Greek gods in my opinion, but their stories are a lot harder to find. My first contact with Norse mythology was The Mighty Thor comic book published by Marvel Comics. That is a great place to start but Glenn Searfoss has taken me to a whole new level with Cycles of Norse Mythology.

What I like about Cycles of Norse Mythology most is that it is well-written and well-researched. I knew more about Norse mythology than the average reader when I sat down to read this book, but to my surprise and delight, there were stories here that I had no idea existed. That was a big plus for me. Then there is all the extra information and lore about the gods, their children and everything else in the Norse realm. This book is a treasure trove, and Glenn Searfoss deserves a seat in Valhalla next to Odin himself for putting together this magnificent book. I loved it and I’m sure many of you will too.

Christian Sia

Transporting, exciting, and utterly entertaining, Cycles of Norse Mythology: Tales of the Æsir Gods by Glenn Searfoss plunges the reader into the world of mythology and puts them into the company of powerful characters, gods, and heroes. The narrative features relevant themes, including creation, the conflict between gods and men, and the centrality of war in the affairs of men, the place of the sacred in the economy of life, and a lot more. The stories are unique, each standing out in style and plot, but with a culture and a belief system that permeates the entire collection. These stories are divided into different Cycles, including the Prophecy with hints of the myth of creation, the Victory of Gods (with divine characters like Thor, Geri and Freki, Ender, Baldur and Hodd, Ivalde, Loki, and many others), Battle with the Gods, and others.

The first thing that struck me as I started reading this book is the author’s unique phraseology, the suggestion of a time and setting that is uncommon to modern man. The lyricism in the writing creates a unique beauty in the narrative. The imagery is strong, and it creates vivid images in the minds of readers, like the whirls of drifting snow scattered before driving hooves as horse and rider scrambled along crests of desolate ridges “where screaming winds trailed the rumble of collapsing cornices of snow. The ghosts of what will be, haunted the air as the pair crashed their way through the white drifts, straining for each length, while the rider’s breath puffed a stream of soft curses…” The beauty of the prose, the elegance of style, and the seduction in the narrative voice; powerful elements that make readers feel as though these stories were taking place inside their souls. Glenn Searfoss takes readers to a mythical place and leaves them at the end feeling as though they awoke from beautiful dreams.