Neil Gaiman has authored books that are—hands down—modern classics. With novels like American Gods and The Graveyard Book, Gaiman has proven that he’s able to write to a huge and varied audience, and tell stories that captivate and enthrall readers. So what’s next for a guy like that? Obviously it’s time to tackle Norse mythology.
While some might only know of Norse gods from what they’ve seen in Marvel comics or the MCU, Norse mythology is actually incredibly vast and fascinating, and much like Greek myths, parts of that mythology has crept into our modern stories as well. (Just peep our Vikings recaps, for example.) Gaiman himself has read loads of Norse mythology over the ages, and he loves it so much we saw glimpses of their mythology in some of his books, most notably American Gods. So when Gaiman was approached by publishers at W.W. Norton to do some writing on Norse mythology, he jumped at the chance.
As the New York Times reports, Gaiman’s Norse Mythology will hit bookstores in February of 2017. While Gaiman is hoping the scholarship behind his book is solid, he’s really looking forward to retell the classic myths in a fascinating and engaging way to bring new readers to the myths. Norse Mythology will focus on the nine Norse worlds—Asgard, Vanaheim, Alfheim, Midgard, Jotunheim, Svartalheim, Nidavellir, Nilfheim, and Muspelheim—worlds that inhabit a wide range of creatures, from humans to dark elves to ice giants to gods to the dead, and everything in between. They’ll all show up in Gaiman’s mythological re-telling.
Even better, if you find yourself antsy while you wait for Thor: Ragnarok to hit theaters, Gaiman’s book will also be about the actual Norse myth of Ragnarok—which, for those who don’t know has a lot to do with the end of the world and the gods fighting a fire giant. Pretty fantastic, right? And before you can even ask, yes, you can absolutely expect to see appearances from Odin, Thor, and Loki, though probably not Tom Hiddleston, but I guess you never know, right? If Gaiman’s previous books have taught us anything, it’s that this book will be nothing short of amazing, and will be utterly impossible to put down. February can’t get here soon enough!
Are you a fan of Norse mythology? Will you read Gaiman’s Norse Mythology? What story from Norse mythology are you most hoping to find in Gaiman’s book? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
Image: BBC
