quote: J. R. R. Tolkien's writings, especially The Silmarillion, were heavily influenced by the indigenous beliefs of the pre-Christian Northern Europeans. As his related novel The Lord of the Rings became popular, elements of its fantasy world moved steadily into popular perceptions of the fantasy genre. In many fantasy novels today can be found such Norse creatures as elves, dwarves, and frost jötnar. In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, the character Fenrir Greyback was derived from Norse mythology, as seen above. Norse mythology has also greatly influenced popular culture, in literature and modern fiction. (See Marvel Comics' The Mighty Thor or Neil Gaiman's The Sandman (Vertigo) also Neil Gaiman's novel American Gods)
Posted by kmbboots (Member # 8576) on :
Tolkien is the author that immediately came to my mind. His work is very heavily based on Norse Mythology. Especially the ring stuff (right out of the Volsung sage) and most of the "creatures" - trolls, "crafty" dwarves, dragons and their hoards. And the languages as well.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Guy Kay's Finovar Tapestry series is heavily influenced by both Celtic and Norse mythology, including hanging for a tree and direct encounters with mysterious gods bound by otherworldly rules. More Celtic influenced than Norse, but both are present.
There is a lot of fantasy inspired by Norse mythology, but not a lot of high fantasy other than Tolkien. But almost all fantasy has elements of the Norse mythos, if not their gods.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Kay's Last Light of the Sun also has Norse elements.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Thanks for the answers, y'all.
Posted by Jake (Member # 206) on :
quote:Originally posted by twinky: Kay's Last Light of the Sun also has Norse elements.
I thought about suggesting that one, but it can't really be called either epic or high fantasty, can it?
Posted by Darth_Mauve (Member # 4709) on :
The Ring of the Nibelung!
Wagner anyone? You can't get much more Epic than a 9 hour German opera. Its easy to find a written translation.
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
quote:Originally posted by Jake:
quote:Originally posted by twinky: Kay's Last Light of the Sun also has Norse elements.
I thought about suggesting that one, but it can't really be called either epic or high fantasty, can it?
True. I could have suggested The Prince of Nothing, since Cnaiur's tribe is clearly based on the Norse, although without a lot of the mythology. Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: Do any of you know of any epic or high fantasy series which use Norse Mythology?
I don't think it has magic, but Judson Roberts's 'Strongbow Saga' is about Vikings.
Posted by Wingracer (Member # 12293) on :
Ive been reading the Icelandic Sagas and there is definitely some rich source material there for good Fantasy.
Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :
I read a "saga" once, not a novel but a translation of the text of a long-running feud between two Norse families who kept bringing grievances like murder and other offenses to the annual gatherings at which people could ask for redress. It was more entertaining than most high fantasy for me, and every few chapters the narrators described, in a matter-of-fact fashion, the exploits of some beserker, some monster, some fetch, or some wizard. I'll attempt to find the title and post it.
Posted by Flying Fish (Member # 12032) on :
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