Suggestions for Epic Viking Story? -- myArmoury.com

Anders Backlund

So anyway, I'm kinda playing with the idea of writing this huge viking epic, most likely in the form of a graphic novel script.

So I'm just wondering, what would you guys want to see in or expect from a good viking myth? Is there anything you think I absolutely shouldn't have? I'm currently looking for themes, but pretty much any suggestions at all are welcome. Recommended research is also great, though I don't plan to read through all the old sagas or anything.

I'm thinking of having a fairly realistic setting with a wholy unrealistic story. Kinda Pirates of the Caribbean style, so to speak, only with vikings rather then pirates. My default approach is that historical correctness is a nice thing to have provided it doesn't get in the way of my storytelling. Wink

Alex Hiniotama · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject:

Yeah , I have had yet to read a "capturing" if you will, novel on viking epic events. However i do like the story of "Erik the Red" you could really make a good novel on him and his extreme ways.

Shawn Henthorn · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject:

How about a group of Rus traders or Varangian make their way to Baghdad and ingage in intrigue and whatnot....kind of an Icelandic saga meets Arabian Nights kinda thing.

Anders Backlund · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 5:51 pm Post subject:

Chad Arnow · myArmoury Team

I expect great Viking names (Skeggi, Hrolf) and great monikers like "tree-foot" (someone with a wooden leg). Also, great sword names are a must.

So Hrolf Tree-Foot could have his sword "Shield Splitter". A good formal duel is always welcome.

Anders Backlund · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject:

Gavin Kisebach · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 5:57 pm Post subject:

First off I would reccomend reading as many sagas as you have time for. The Online medieval and classic library is a good place to go for that (aka OMACL). I would also reccomend that you become familiar with kennings. These are a very specific lterary device that will bring a lot of authenticity to whatever wolrd you create; assuming authenticity is a priority.

Anders Backlund · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 6:02 pm Post subject:

Gavin Kisebach · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 6:35 pm Post subject:

Kennings are pseudonyms for various objects. Norse and Saxon poets used them frequently, and apparently they are not the same as "naming", as a kenning would apply to anything of that type. The poet and the audience were all familiar with kennings (to ken is to know) but a great poet would be expected to have a wide reportoir of kennings, often very clever.

For example, a kenning for a spear is "fish of battle", because a winged spear is shaped like a fish. Building on that kenning, the poet might call a shield "net of fishes", and the audience would all laugh at the clever kenning.

Wikipedia has an article on this as well. I don't think you should go berserk with the kennings, but it might help spice up some dialogue. Understanding how they work would be a good start to understanding how the norse spoke to each other.

Here's one from Beowulf
Beowulf: "In the end each clan on the outlying coasts beyond the whale-road had to yield to him and begin to pay tribute"

Here the whale road refers to the sea. In some cases kennings are very macho, like "Wound flame" for a sword, but other times they are intentionally silly, like "the leek of battle", also for a sword. Axes are almost always kenned as she-trolls, or giantesses, and usually reflecty the destruction they render on shields.

Anders Backlund · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject:

Jean Thibodeau · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 7:25 pm Post subject:

Reality based or can there be " Mythic " elements: Gods, magic, monsters ?

Alternate history, time travel, aliens ? Just talking possibilities or genres not necessarily suggesting that the story include such elements.

One thing that just popped into mind is that around the time of the Vikings coming to the New World the Earth was sort of warmer and the North West passage might have been navigable during the summers.

Vines in Newfoundland and Greenland was actually green during a natural cycle of global warming. Razz

Anyway, a longship in the story could have crossed the North West passage and Vikings could have crossed the Pacific and reached Japan and China and ended up crossing Asia and getting back to Viking lands on foot/horse.

Oh, in Japan we can have the fun of Knight versus Samurai or at least Western Viking swordsmanship versus Samurai.

Getting there and away from there and back to Europe picking up treasure, making friends and enemies along the way.

As Vikings they need not be 100% good guys as we would judge things in a modern context but at the same time not immune to generous impulses.

As with any novel creating varied characters with interesting and contrasting personalities as well as interesting things to do and learn.

Some mystery or core story arc as they deal with different situations and cultures.

Now the hard part is writing something. Wink

Lin Robinson

Anders Backlund · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject:

Michael Ekelmann · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 8:40 pm Post subject:

Ok, stuff I'd like to see in a Viking story: Sea-kings battling it out on the bloody deck of a drakkar while their warbands look on. Heroes catching spears in mid air and throwing them back. A good swine-array charge. A shieldwall upon which the enemy's charge breaks like surf upon the rocks. Berserks biting shields and hurling really cool inventive insults, then going postal. Doomed rearguard actions that are celebrated in song. Pimped out drakkars, painted longhouses. Magic swords, magic horns. Troll-born wizards, lucky heroes. Honoring the fallen, even if they are the enemy. a blood eagle, even if the Vikings never really did that.

Stuff I wouldn't want to see: Good armour covered by bondage gear. Women in fur and maille bikinis. (not that I'm against that sort of thing, it just belongs at the Renfaire and Comiccon) Modern sentiment dressed in Viking age clothes ( you know, free the thralls, equality for everyone, don't do the odd strandhogg, that sort of thing) Horns on helmets.

Anders Backlund · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject:

Ryan Moody · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject:

I just finished reading a really good series by Tim Severin, an historian, explorer, and author. It's called "Viking", it's about Thorgils Leifsson, the son of Leif Eriksson, and his journies throughout his life, all over the ancient world. Although it's obviously fictitious, it's also really well researched and written in a realistic style. It's also very entertaining, which is always a bonus. There are three books in the series, and they might give you a good starting point or some tips for a narrative about vikings.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/026-0158965-7970870...%5Fcode=qs

Gavin Kisebach · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 11:39 pm Post subject:

Anders Backlund · Posted: Mon 14 Jan, 2008 11:59 pm Post subject:

Jeroen Zuiderwijk · Industry Professional

The best possible Viking epic already exists: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097289/ Wink

David Huggins · Posted: Tue 15 Jan, 2008 12:09 am Post subject:

Hi Anders,

A 'Viking' epic, phew a tall order that one! 'The Long Ships'' considered a Swedish Classic contains all of the elements of an epic and I would highly recommend it to get a flavour of what an viking epic should be.

For further references, check out our myspace profile page http;//myspace.com/jorvik_vikingr which contains a suggested viking age fiction reading list. Good luck.

Best

Dave