I loved the movie Erik the Viking as a kid, and a few years ago I saw that our library had this, which looked . . . odd and interesting. It wasn't a novelization of the movie, it looked like it was aimed at . . . kids? I finally got around to it this summer and I can't believe I've waited so long! When I was ten I lived in Europe. I dreamed of living on a sailing vessel with vikings. My grandest hope would be to row an oar for a chief, or run afoul of spirits and dragons while voyaging to the end of the world. The land was young and every breath I would take would yield to myth.

It might be said as a mild criticism that Jones has not written a book for girls as well as for boys; the absence of strong female characters and/or a female perspective might be construed as disadvantageous. However this is not a grievous sin of omission or commission. My daughter at 7 thrilled at playing chess with death and watching the vikings engage in a battle of wits with the old man of the sea. During the evenings we read this book together we both were sailing the seas as viking together. As such I highly recommend it for all ages over 6.

Erik learns from the wise woman Freya that Fenrir the wolf has swallowed the sun, plunging the world into the age of Ragnarök. Erik resolves to travel to Asgard to petition the gods to end Ragnarök. Freya informs him that to do so he must seek the Horn Resounding in the land of Hy-Brasil. The first note blown upon the Horn will take Erik and his crew to Asgard, the second will awaken the gods, and the third will bring the crew home. Erik sets out with a crew of all ages and professions from his village, including Harald, a Christian missionary who does not believe the myths. Variety magazine gave the film a positive review: "The idea of telling the story of a Viking warrior who thought there must be more to life than rape and pillage is an amusing one", and concluded that it was "an enjoyable film". [11] Vincent Canby of The New York Times gave it 3 out of 5 and wrote: "Doesn't measure up to the best of the Python films, but it consistently entertains through the occasional gags that do not work and dialogue that is sometimes obscured by sound effects." [12] a b Willman, Chris (1 November 1989). " 'Viking' Fumbles With Too Few Laughs". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 10 October 2020. Viking, member of the Scandinavian seafaring warriors who raided and colonized wide areas of Europe from the 9th to the 11th century and whose disruptive influence profoundly affected European history. These pagan Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish warriors were probably prompted to undertake their raids by a combination of factors ranging from overpopulation at home to the relative helplessness of victims abroad.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 0 out of a possible 4 stars, calling it "An utterly worthless exercise in waste and wretched excess, uninformed by the slightest spark of humor, wit or coherence." [13]

SAGA - which means the author, Terry Jones (yes, one of the great Monty Python), has written this in the style of the old Icelandic tales with short episodic chapters that form one overarching story. Canby, Vincent (28 October 1989). "Review/Film; A Viking Antihero Runs Amok With Idealism (Published 1989)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015.

Erik's crew prepare to escape in their ship with Aud and the Horn safely aboard. Arnulf refuses to join them, denying that the island is sinking, up to the very moment he and the other islanders are swallowed by the waves. Aud, who witnessed Snorri's murder and was able to recover the mouthpiece, sounds the first note on the Horn. The ship is propelled over the edge of the flat Earth and into space, where it comes to rest upon the plane of Asgard. Erik sounds the second note to awaken the gods, and he and his crew climb a path made of stars to approach the great Hall of Valhalla.Arriving at Hy-Brasil, Erik and crew are astonished to find it a sunlit land where the people, who dress like ancient Greeks, are exceedingly friendly and hospitable (if musically untalented). Erik promptly falls in love with Princess Aud, daughter of King Arnulf. During one of their romantic encounters, Erik hides from Arnulf using Aud's magic cloak of invisibility. Jones starts out by explaining that as a kid he loved the idea of the Viking sagas, and then he read them and . . . it was just a long list of lineage followed by some very basic details of lives . . . what I secretly thought myself reading most sagas! I mean, there are some standouts (Hello, Njal's Saga!) bur overall they are pretty standard histories of the people of certain areas. Which is great that they recorded that but not like, gripping reading. Caoili, Eric (15 July 2009). "Eurocom's Mystery Terry Jones NES Game: Erik the Viking". GameSetWatch . Retrieved 24 December 2018. A video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System was in development by Eurocom and was to be published by Video System and Kemco but was cancelled before release. [9] Reception [ edit ]