Someone started a thread about the movie adaptation of this book (The 13th Warrior) on the film board, so I thought I'd start one about the book here.
Crichton said that people either love or hate this book. I'm one of the lovers. The book is pretty unique, or at least I've not seen another like it. Crichton makes it look like a genuine ancient journal that was translated into English and republished in the modern world, complete with lots of scholarly footnotes. I think where the book really succeeds is that despite it's mock-academic tones, the book isn't any less thrilling as an action-adventure yarn. The pace is fast, the characters are colourful & likeable and the battles interesting and fun to read about. The relationship between Ibn Fadlan and Herger adds some unexpected heart to the story as well.
Like most Crichton stuff, some aspects of the plot borders on science fiction - Neanderthals in the 10th century AD? Yeahh....
I didn't really care that it was a re-telling of Beowulf. In fact, I didn't even realize this until the epilogue. It's a cool Viking adventure story, and one of my favourite Crichton novels.
Crichton said that people either love or hate this book. I'm one of the lovers. The book is pretty unique, or at least I've not seen another like it. Crichton makes it look like a genuine ancient journal that was translated into English and republished in the modern world, complete with lots of scholarly footnotes. I think where the book really succeeds is that despite it's mock-academic tones, the book isn't any less thrilling as an action-adventure yarn. The pace is fast, the characters are colourful & likeable and the battles interesting and fun to read about. The relationship between Ibn Fadlan and Herger adds some unexpected heart to the story as well.
Like most Crichton stuff, some aspects of the plot borders on science fiction - Neanderthals in the 10th century AD? Yeahh....
I didn't really care that it was a re-telling of Beowulf. In fact, I didn't even realize this until the epilogue. It's a cool Viking adventure story, and one of my favourite Crichton novels.
