tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post319143790533803226..comments2023-12-25T00:38:19.500-08:00Comments on Finding Wonderland: The WritingYA Weblog (archive): The Way of the WarriorSarah Stevensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534942492714970282noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-43920550458153952232006-12-15T14:09:00.000-08:002006-12-15T14:09:00.000-08:00Spoiler for ya: Halfdan was killed by the English ...Spoiler for ya: Halfdan was killed by the English at some point, after he'd taken over quite a bit of English territory. Where the author will take that is unknown, but, like so many other historically-based novels, I'm sure that it's beside the point.<br><br>What bothers me about this type of work is that it attempts to frame the characters in such a way as to allow the reader to actually "play along" with the character, when, in fact, I'm almost certain that the culture was quite alien to ours in so many ways as to defeat understanding except on an intellectual level.<br><br>For example, when's the last time you paid somebody's family for having killed someone? Not common for ya, eh? But, if it was an unfair killing, the family could take it to the AllThing and have someone rule on it ... and get some money out of the deal. AND be expected to just let it go, not to get after revenge because they'd been compensated for their loss.<br><br>Maybe not a great example, but it's one of the myriad ways in which the culture is different from ours, and a good example of a mentality which is quite difficult to mimic in the course of reading. And that's my point: if we can't really understand the mentality, the work is either 1) an apology, 2) an adulteration, or 3) a glorification of the time.<br><br>Do you feel that you know the vikings when you're done, or do you simply feel like you've had a nice, violent fantasy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-29090863978976296192006-12-15T14:14:00.000-08:002006-12-15T14:14:00.000-08:00I seem to recall the name Halfdan, true.To be hone...I seem to recall the name Halfdan, true.<br><br>To be honest, I don't always care for historical fiction for the selfsame reason you state; that it's so far outside of my experience that I don't really "get" it, and it's really, <i>really</i> violent. Halfdan's mother is sacrificed to go on Hrorick's death ship - she is buried with him because she is his favorite thrall. There's a great love story hinted at in this, but the character of Halfdan doesn't even go for it, which is good.<br><br>I don't know. I am not as great a student of Viking history as I should be, so I don't see myself seeking out the sequels. This is not to say that this isn't good, solid writing and perhaps an exciting and action-packed piece that some young adults might appreciate. This is definitely not to everyone's tastes!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com