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Norse Mythology
- Narrateur(s): Neil Gaiman
- Durée: 6 h et 29 min
- Catégories: Littérature et fiction, Fiction de genre
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Mythos
- Auteur(s): Stephen Fry
- Narrateur(s): Stephen Fry
- Durée: 15 h et 26 min
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Here are the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths, stylishly retold by Stephen Fry. The legendary writer, actor, and comedian breathes life into ancient tales, from Pandora's box to Prometheus's fire, and transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder. Learned notes from the author offer rich cultural context. This volume is a doorway into a captivating world.
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Amazing
- Écrit par Kindle Customer le 2019-10-04
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American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (A Full Cast Production)
- Auteur(s): Neil Gaiman
- Narrateur(s): Ron McLarty, Daniel Oreskes, full cast
- Durée: 19 h et 39 min
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Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life. But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow's best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday.
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Excellent presentation of Neil Gaiman's classic
- Écrit par Jeff le 2017-10-25
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Heroes
- The Greek Myths Reimagined
- Auteur(s): Stephen Fry
- Narrateur(s): Stephen Fry
- Durée: 15 h et 1 min
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In the newest installment of the best-selling series Mythos, legendary author and actor Stephen Fry moves from the exploits of the Olympian gods to the deeds of mortal heroes. Perseus. Jason. Atalanta. Theseus. Heracles. Rediscover the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths. Whether recounting a tender love affair or a heroic triumph, Fry deftly finds resonance with our own modern minds and hearts.
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Great stories wonderfully told
- Écrit par Valerie le 2020-11-22
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The Sandman
- Auteur(s): Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs
- Narrateur(s): Riz Ahmed, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton, Autres
- Durée: 10 h et 54 min
- Production originale
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When The Sandman, also known as Lord Morpheus - the immortal king of dreams, stories and the imagination - is pulled from his realm and imprisoned on Earth by a nefarious cult, he languishes for decades before finally escaping. Once free, he must retrieve the three “tools” that will restore his power and help him to rebuild his dominion, which has deteriorated in his absence.
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Overproduced
- Écrit par Dan Saul le 2020-08-02
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Neverwhere
- Auteur(s): Neil Gaiman
- Narrateur(s): Neil Gaiman
- Durée: 13 h et 48 min
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Richard Mayhew is a young man with a good heart and an ordinary life, which is changed forever when he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. His small act of kindness propels him into a world he never dreamed existed. There are people who fall through the cracks, and Richard has become one of them. And he must learn to survive in this city of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels, if he is ever to return to the London that he knew.
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Great, but not a masterwork
- Écrit par Utilisateur anonyme le 2019-08-16
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Celtic Mythology
- Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes
- Auteur(s): Philip Freeman
- Narrateur(s): Gerard Doyle
- Durée: 7 h et 31 min
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Most people have heard of the Celts - the elusive, ancient tribal people who resided in present-day England, Ireland, Scotland and France. Paradoxically characterized as both barbaric and innocent, the Celts appeal to the modern world as a symbol of a bygone era, a world destroyed by the ambition of empire and the spread of Christianity throughout Western Europe. Despite the pervasive cultural and literary influence of the Celts, shockingly little is known of their way of life and beliefs, because very few records of their stories exist.
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Amazing book on Irish Mythology
- Écrit par Rob Edward le 2020-04-13
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Mythos
- Auteur(s): Stephen Fry
- Narrateur(s): Stephen Fry
- Durée: 15 h et 26 min
- Version intégrale
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Histoire
Here are the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths, stylishly retold by Stephen Fry. The legendary writer, actor, and comedian breathes life into ancient tales, from Pandora's box to Prometheus's fire, and transforms the adventures of Zeus and the Olympians into emotionally resonant and deeply funny stories, without losing any of their original wonder. Learned notes from the author offer rich cultural context. This volume is a doorway into a captivating world.
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Amazing
- Écrit par Kindle Customer le 2019-10-04
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American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (A Full Cast Production)
- Auteur(s): Neil Gaiman
- Narrateur(s): Ron McLarty, Daniel Oreskes, full cast
- Durée: 19 h et 39 min
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Histoire
Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life. But just days before his release, Laura and Shadow's best friend are killed in an accident. With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday.
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Excellent presentation of Neil Gaiman's classic
- Écrit par Jeff le 2017-10-25
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Heroes
- The Greek Myths Reimagined
- Auteur(s): Stephen Fry
- Narrateur(s): Stephen Fry
- Durée: 15 h et 1 min
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In the newest installment of the best-selling series Mythos, legendary author and actor Stephen Fry moves from the exploits of the Olympian gods to the deeds of mortal heroes. Perseus. Jason. Atalanta. Theseus. Heracles. Rediscover the thrills, grandeur, and unabashed fun of the Greek myths. Whether recounting a tender love affair or a heroic triumph, Fry deftly finds resonance with our own modern minds and hearts.
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Great stories wonderfully told
- Écrit par Valerie le 2020-11-22
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The Sandman
- Auteur(s): Neil Gaiman, Dirk Maggs
- Narrateur(s): Riz Ahmed, Kat Dennings, Taron Egerton, Autres
- Durée: 10 h et 54 min
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Au global
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Histoire
When The Sandman, also known as Lord Morpheus - the immortal king of dreams, stories and the imagination - is pulled from his realm and imprisoned on Earth by a nefarious cult, he languishes for decades before finally escaping. Once free, he must retrieve the three “tools” that will restore his power and help him to rebuild his dominion, which has deteriorated in his absence.
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Overproduced
- Écrit par Dan Saul le 2020-08-02
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Neverwhere
- Auteur(s): Neil Gaiman
- Narrateur(s): Neil Gaiman
- Durée: 13 h et 48 min
- Version intégrale
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Histoire
Richard Mayhew is a young man with a good heart and an ordinary life, which is changed forever when he stops to help a girl he finds bleeding on a London sidewalk. His small act of kindness propels him into a world he never dreamed existed. There are people who fall through the cracks, and Richard has become one of them. And he must learn to survive in this city of shadows and darkness, monsters and saints, murderers and angels, if he is ever to return to the London that he knew.
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Great, but not a masterwork
- Écrit par Utilisateur anonyme le 2019-08-16
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Celtic Mythology
- Tales of Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes
- Auteur(s): Philip Freeman
- Narrateur(s): Gerard Doyle
- Durée: 7 h et 31 min
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Most people have heard of the Celts - the elusive, ancient tribal people who resided in present-day England, Ireland, Scotland and France. Paradoxically characterized as both barbaric and innocent, the Celts appeal to the modern world as a symbol of a bygone era, a world destroyed by the ambition of empire and the spread of Christianity throughout Western Europe. Despite the pervasive cultural and literary influence of the Celts, shockingly little is known of their way of life and beliefs, because very few records of their stories exist.
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Amazing book on Irish Mythology
- Écrit par Rob Edward le 2020-04-13
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The Viking Spirit
- An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion
- Auteur(s): Daniel McCoy
- Narrateur(s): Andrew Tell
- Durée: 10 h et 59 min
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The Viking Spirit is an introduction to Norse mythology like no other. As you’d expect from Daniel McCoy, the creator of the endearingly popular website "Norse Mythology for Smart People", it’s written to scholarly standards, but in a simple, clear, and entertaining style that’s easy to understand and a pleasure to listen to. It includes gripping retellings of no less than 34 epic Norse myths - more than any other book in the field - while also providing an equally comprehensive overview of the fascinating viking religion of which Norse mythology was a part.
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very entertaining!
- Écrit par Michael Boteler le 2020-02-24
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The Poetic Edda
- Stories of the Norse Gods and Heroes
- Auteur(s): Jackson Crawford
- Narrateur(s): Jackson Crawford
- Durée: 6 h et 24 min
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The poems of the Poetic Edda have waited a long time for a modern English translation that would do them justice. Here it is at last (Odin be praised!) and well worth the wait. These amazing texts from a 13th-century Icelandic manuscript are of huge historical, mythological, and literary importance, containing the lion's share of information that survives today about the gods and heroes of pre-Christian Scandinavians, their unique vision of the beginning and end of the world, etc.
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great translation
- Écrit par Amazon Customer le 2019-07-20
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Ásatrú for Beginners
- A Modern Heathen's Guide to the Ancient Northern Way
- Auteur(s): Dr. Mathias Nordvig
- Narrateur(s): David Marantz
- Durée: 3 h et 49 min
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Ásatrú is a spiritual belief system based around the pre-Christian folklore and mythology of Northern Europe. It gained popularity in the 1970s across Europe and North America and is still thriving today, sought out for its nondogmatic structure and emphasis on individuality, hospitality, and community-based values. Ásatrú for Beginners is a newcomer's guide to this spirituality.
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Mythology: Mega Collection
- Classic Stories from the Greek, Celtic, Norse, Japanese, Hindu, Chinese, Mesopotamian and Egyptian Mythology
- Auteur(s): Scott Lewis
- Narrateur(s): Madison Niederhauser, Oliver Hunt
- Durée: 31 h et 37 min
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Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....
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Good not great
- Écrit par Chelsea Patterson le 2020-05-16
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Good Omens
- Auteur(s): Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
- Narrateur(s): Martin Jarvis
- Durée: 12 h et 32 min
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The world will end on Saturday. Next Saturday. Just before dinner, according to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655. The armies of Good and Evil are amassing and everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except that a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture. And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist.
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Awesomeness
- Écrit par Amazon Customer le 2019-03-09
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Ragnar Lothbrok and a History of the Vikings
- Viking Warriors Including Rollo, Norsemen, Norse Mythology, Quests in America, England, France, Scotland, Ireland and Russia
- Auteur(s): Noah Brown
- Narrateur(s): Dalan E. Decker
- Durée: 8 h et 9 min
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Ragnar Lothbrok was a legendary warrior who left a legacy among the Vikings like none other. Today's popular TV show may have popularized Ragnar's story, but the real facts are not very well known. Discover the truth behind this Viking warrior and the rich history of the Vikings.
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Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection
- Auteur(s): Arthur Conan Doyle, Stephen Fry - introductions
- Narrateur(s): Stephen Fry
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Ever since he made his first appearance in A Study In Scarlet, Sherlock Holmes has enthralled and delighted millions of fans throughout the world. Now Audible is proud to present Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes: The Definitive Collection, read by Stephen Fry. A lifelong fan of Doyle's detective fiction, Fry has narrated the complete works of Sherlock Holmes - four novels and five collections of short stories.
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An Elementary Purchase
- Écrit par Gentleman Gamer le 2017-09-21
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The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
- Auteur(s): Douglas Adams
- Narrateur(s): Stephen Fry
- Durée: 5 h et 51 min
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Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last 15 years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
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Wow Stephen Fry
- Écrit par Utilisateur anonyme le 2018-05-27
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The Graveyard Book: Full-Cast Production
- Auteur(s): Neil Gaiman
- Narrateur(s): Neil Gaiman, Derek Jacobi, Robert Madge, Autres
- Durée: 8 h et 24 min
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Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy. He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead. There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy. But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack - who has already killed Bod's family…
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A new and Avid reader/listen of all things Gaiman
- Écrit par Russell Collins le 2020-09-24
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Greek Mythology
- Fascinating Myths and Legends of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes, and Monster from the Ancient Greek Mythology
- Auteur(s): Simon Lopez
- Narrateur(s): Neil Hamilton
- Durée: 11 h et 16 min
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Do you know that the Olympians weren’t the original immortals? Or that the Goddess Hera restored her virginity each year? The ancient Greeks wove one of the richest and best-preserved collections of stories of all the early civilizations, from the dawn of creation to the bloody siege at Troy.
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The Way of Fire and Ice
- The Living Tradition of Norse Paganism
- Auteur(s): Ryan Smith
- Narrateur(s): Roger Clark
- Durée: 9 h et 40 min
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The Way of Fire and Ice reimagines Norse Paganism with mystical practices and rituals for today's world as well as tips for building community and resisting fascism. This approach to working with Norse deities and beliefs is a living, adaptable tradition, representing a strong alternative to the reconstructionist perspectives of Asatru and Heathenry.
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thoughtful and insightful
- Écrit par Christoper Potter le 2020-05-01
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God of War
- Auteur(s): J. M. Barlog, Cory Barlog
- Narrateur(s): Alastair Duncan
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His vengeance against the gods of Olympus years behind him, Kratos now lives as a man in the realm of Norse gods and monsters. It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive...and teach his son to do the same. This startling reimagining of God of War deconstructs the core elements that defined the series - satisfying combat, breathtaking scale, and a powerful narrative - and fuses them anew.
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Mimir
- Écrit par Thomas Anderson le 2020-12-14
Évaluations de journalistes
Editors Select, February 2017 - Norse Mythology. Neil Gaiman. A project he's been working on for seven years, narrated by Gaiman himself. This book made me weak in the knees. Neil really lives this stuff, and you can tell he has a passion for the subject matter. As he points out in the prologue, myths are an oral tradition, and the best thing about them is how they change and evolve with each telling. And so they do here as Gaiman gives these ancient cultural tales a divine sense of character and voices the plethora of monsters, humans, gods, and giants exceptionally well. I swear, the moment you start listening to these intricate and enchanting tales, you won't want to leave the world that Neil has so deliberately crafted to be relatable, visionary, and entertaining.
Description
Introducing an instant classic - master storyteller Neil Gaiman presents a dazzling version of the great Norse myths.
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds; delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants; and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people. Gaiman stays true to the myths while vividly reincarnating Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin's son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki, the son of a giant, a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. From Gaiman's deft and witty prose emerge the gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to duping others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again.
Ce que les critiques en disent
"Neil Gaiman's retelling of Norse myths is destined to become a classic for both his sure-footed stories and his captivating performance.... The tales seem timeless, and Gaiman's melodic narration so strongly echoes the oral tradition of myths that it's as if the narrator has stepped out of the stories themselves." (AudioFile)
"In 'Norse Mythology,' Gaiman brings voice to the old myths so viscerally that listening to the audiobook every night for a week, I thought my bedroom might explode into Valhalla.... In fact the entire Norse pantheon, including dwarves and giants and demons, plays out as vividly as a novel or film.... Hearing the great myths spoken in a language from my present with a trace of ancient history physically broke me open, Gaiman's voice bringing the characters to life." (The New York Times Book Review)
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Ce que les auditeurs disent de Norse Mythology
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Évaluations sur Audible.ca
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- Taylor Chafe
- 2017-12-11
Fantastic!
An excellently researched, lovingly written collection of Norse Mythology. Gaiman did an incredible job both in the writing and narration
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- Eliza Badham
- 2018-08-17
A Magical Retelling
As always Gaiman performs beautifully I'm his retelling of the Norse Myths. This book has a great flow that allows the different stories to feel like one adventure through the lives of the Gods.
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- Shreya Sharma
- 2018-08-12
Absolutely brilliantly written and narrated
Extraordinary research and hard work have gone into this. I have only one wish - it should have been longer.
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- Raina Mermaid
- 2018-08-07
Didn't want it to end
I've always been a huge fan of Gaiman, but hadn't yet read this book. When I mentioned to a friend about wanting to learn more about the mythology they suggested this. It's an excellent primer, and expertly told in easy to understand stories. It was so entertaining, and Gaiman really delivers as the narrator.
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- Shawn Dawson
- 2018-06-15
Excellent
Neil Gaiman does a fantastic job narrating these stories. Great fun to listen to them.
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- roshalau
- 2021-01-08
Like hearing tales around a campfire
when you listen to the author reading his work, it's like going to a live concert. nothing better
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- Helen I Harper
- 2020-12-11
Entrancing
This book was not long enough! Neil Gaiman reds his work very well — he changes his voice enough so that you know who is speaking, but not with false exaggerated accents. Those who like, or are curious about, myths will love this.
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- Langer
- 2020-11-11
Excellent Compendium
This was clearly a labor of love for Neil Gaiman. He has collected 16 beloved Norse myths for presentation. And he translated them into interesting tales that are enjoyable. Unfortunately, the Gods are presented as inane. Gaiman notes early on that Thor is somewhat of an oaf in these legends, for example, but his presentation strikes the point home too heavily. I am used to Thor as presented by Marvel - a hero - so this interpretation may be accurate, but it's so over-the-top that the Norse Gods come across as ridiculous. It's a little disappointing. Gaiman does a fair job reading, but is nothing special and falls into using cartoonish voices for the "characters". Greek Gods were amoral creatures, too - but I have never heard them presented as absurd. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5
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- Amazon Customer
- 2020-11-06
like being by a campfire
a good book. the audio version is the way to go. I felt like I was by the campfire listening to someone tell me of great myths and Legends. but its only good if you think you would like to listen to over 6 hours of story telling. some of which you may have even heard before. If you are ok with that, you will enjoy this book as I did.
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- Anonymous User
- 2020-09-26
educational and entertaining
I enjoyed listening to this and thinking about Norse elders telling the children about the gods and how life works
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- Daniel Nichola
- 2020-04-10
Týr
I have always had a great interest in Norse Mythology and this book was the first book I have read on this subject. Reading "Norse Mythology" made me want to read even more on the...well...Norse Mythology. ... Apart from that, what made reading this book even more interesting is having the audiobook along with it. Neil Gaiman's passion and enthusiasm in narrating this book simply makes it better! ... As for the title of my review... I chose it because Týr deserves all the respect and admiration one could give, and thus, I entitled my review as so.
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- Firas
- 2019-01-06
Great audiobook!
This audiobook is great! The chosen myths are very interesting and quite entertaining. The audio is clear and well performed by the author himself (something I do appreciate). I definitely recommend it.
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- William Taylor
- 2018-05-10
As good as it gets without the old texts
Neil Gaiman nails the old tales in this book. If you're looking for great stories, impressive mythical storyscapes and a good time stop here and spend some time with the Norse Myths. Dwarfs, fallen gods, heroes, Thor's hammer, loss, sorrow, triumphs - it's all there. Love the Gaiman not only provides a forward where he explains his love of the Norse Myths, but that he narrates this one himself - his passion comes through in the telling. Also, as someone who has read direct translations of the original codex I'm pleased to report Gaiman stays true to the best records we have while updating the telling to be compatible with modern English - the old language can be very difficult to follow when translated literally. You'll thank Gaiman for bringing the language up to contemporary standards for you. If you are interested for either educations purposes (i.e what are the real myths, not the pop culture versions of Thor, Odin or Loki) or for the love of some good stories you won't be disappointed.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2019-12-05
Great book
I loved this book. Full of great stories. Would recommend to anyone even remotely interested in Norse Mythology.
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- Jefferson
- 2017-02-24
A Comedy-Tragedy of Gods Giants Dwarfs & Monsters
Near the end of the only romantic happy ending story in Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology (2017), Gaiman makes a brilliantly ironic aside: "Their wedding was blessed, and some say their son, Fjolnir, went on to become the first king of Sweden. He would drown in a vat of mead late one night, hunting in the darkness for a place to piss."
In his introduction, Gaiman says that "I've tried my best to retell these myths and stories as accurately as I can, and as interestingly as I can. . . . I hope that they paint a picture of a world and a time" of "long winter nights" and "the unending daylight of midsummer," when people "wanted to know . . . what the rainbow was, and how to live their lives, and where bad poetry comes from." He achieves his aims.
Gaiman also explains what fascinated him as a boy about the myths: they are full of tragic heroes and villains "with their own doomsday: Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods, the end of it all." In both Norse and Greek mythologies the gods and goddesses are powerful, flawed beings who embody human traits or forces of nature and give appropriate justice or unexpected trouble, and who appear in stories that feature origins, metamorphoses, and ethical messages on hospitality, oath keeping, and the like. But in the Greek myths, the main gods and goddesses just keep going.
Gaiman first introduces the three main "players" of the myths: Odin ("highest and oldest of all the gods," the wise, far-seeing, "all-father"), Thor (the thunder god, son of Odin, strongest, simplest, and most violent of the gods), and Loki (blood-brother of Odin, the supreme trickster, father of monsters, maker of an interesting but unsafe world). He relates the creation of the nine worlds and gods and giants. And then he tells thirteen stories. (Though they should be read in sequence, each story can stand alone, for Gaiman repeats a few details when referring to something in a later story that he's already introduced in an earlier one.)
The first two tales ("Mimir's Head and Odin's Eye" and "The Treasures of the Gods") detail how Odin got extra wisdom and how Loki staged (and interfered with) a magical artifact competition between two teams of dwarves. Then follow an assortment of violent comedy fantasy stories like "The Master Builder" (a reckless bargain, an amazing builder, and some cross-species conception), "Freya's Unusual Wedding" (the theft of Thor's hammer and some comical cross-dressing), and "Hymir and Thor's Fishing Expedition" (an outrageous tall tale). Interspersed among those are an origin story "The Mead of the Poets" (war + spit + blood + honey + dwarves + sex + eagles = mead and bards), an ominous story "The Children of Loki" (the fates of Loki's monstrous kids), and a love story "The Story of Gerd and Frey" (even a god may fall in love with a giantess). Ending things are a tragedy ("The Death of Balder"), a punishment ("The Last Days of Loki"), and an apocalypse ("Ragnarok").
Before Norse Mythology, I read the beautifully illustrated D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths (1967) for children. I found that the humor, violence, imagination, pathos, and plots are essentially the same in both, but that Gaiman gives more emotional, psychological, and physical detail. For example, what the D'Aulaires write in one sentence ("The mead made the gnomes feel so grand that they recklessly killed an old jotun, and when his wife came looking for him, they slew her too"), Gaiman develops for pages. Gaiman adds to the myths his own vision and "joy and creation."
Gaiman writes more violence, scatology, and sex than the D'Aulaires do, as when he recounts Thor doing what he does best ("Methodically, enthusiastically, one after the next, Thor killed all the giants of the waste, until the earth ran black and red with their blood"), or Odin escaping as an eagle ("Odin blew some of the mead out of his behind, a splattery wet fart of foul-smelling mead right in Suttung's face, blinding the giant and throwing him off Odin's trail"), or Odin seducing a giantess (nude bodies and nuzzling). His renewal finale, when golden chess pieces representing the gods, Loki, and the giants are found lying scattered in the grass, is more numinous and less Christian than the D'Aulaires'. He also belongs to the contemporary villain revision trend, making Loki and some monsters (like his children Hel and Fenris) a little more understandable and sympathetic than do the D'Aulaires.
In dialogue Gaiman writes a few jarring modern idioms, like "The temperature was all over the place" and "What kind of woman do you think I am?" And he tends to overuse fairy tale superlatives (e.g., "the gods drink the finest ale there ever was or ever will be" vs. the original Poetic Edda's "And now the gods/drink good beer").
But his writing is wonderful. His style features rich Norsy alliteration and description, like "a murky mist that cloaked everything hung heavily." He writes apt and evocative similes, like "She laughed as loudly as a calving glacier." He's often funny, e.g., "He tossed them [a pair of nefarious dwarfs], still bound and soaking, into the bottom of the boat, where they wriggled uncomfortably, like a couple of bearded lobsters." He writes a terrifying apocalypse: "The misty sky will split apart with the sound of children screaming." He's a master of the neat parenthesis, like, "(that was Naglfar, the Death Ship, made from the untrimmed fingernails of the dead)."
Gaiman is in fine fettle reading his audiobook. His Loki, Thor, Fenris, giants, and ogre lord are great. His wit, enthusiasm, and pauses and emphases are engaging. When a pretty giantess says to Odin, "my father would get quite irritable if he thought that I was giving away his mead to every good looking stranger who penetrated this mountain fastness," Gaiman pauses archly after "penetrated" to make us expect "penetrated his daughter." He paints aural illustrations the equivalent of the D'Aulaires' wonderful pictures. Listening to Gaiman's audiobook was a pleasure.
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- Elisabeth Carey
- 2018-03-01
Enjoyable retelling of Norse myths
Neil Gaiman says he first encountered the Norse myths in the pages of Marvel Comics. I first encountered the Norse Myths in the pages of school textbooks. I later discovered livelier versions, and he later discovered more complete versions, truer to the original sources.
One important difference is that Gaiman is an excellent writer, and he became interested in researching the myths and presenting them to new generations in a form both true to the sources and engaging for modern readers.
Or, in this case, as is most appropriate for ancient myths, listeners.
In his introduction, he discusses what we do, and tantalizingly, what we don't know, about the Norse gods. We know Odin and Thor and Loki, the Norns and the giants, and others, but there are also gods for whom only and some bare details remain, with no surviving stories to retell.
Both his words and his reading of them breathe life into the stories we have. None of the Norse gods are simple and straightforward evocations of merely a few traits, nor are they what we'd consider fully rounded characters. They are, nevertheless, compelling, especially with Gaiman, an excellent oral storyteller as well as an excellent writer, reading his own retellings of their tales.
It's a very good few hours' listening.
Recommended.
I bought this audiobook.
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- Amazon Customer
- 2019-12-05
Living words
I love books read by the author. Their spirit and intent make the words live.
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- Kevin Kopp
- 2019-10-07
Very Vanilla
I was hoping to hear some of the darker stories of the Norse Gods, but I was disappointed. Not bad, but not good. It was not for me.
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- David S. Mathew
- 2017-07-22
Welcome to Valhalla
I didn't know much about Norse Mythology, aside from Marvel comics, so I decided this would be a good crash course. Suffice it to say, I got my money's worth. The stories collected in here are absolutely glorious. If you at all like mythology, you owe it to yourself to check out this volume.
As a bonus, Neil Gaiman is just as fantastic a narrator as he is writer. What more could you want? Beyond highly recommended!
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- Christopher Doebler
- 2018-02-13
The True Tales of the Norse Gods
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
It really captures the most detailed versions of the Norse God myths in an easy to follow and entertaining way.
What other book might you compare Norse Mythology to and why?
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, as they are both collections of stories depicting larger than life characters.
Which scene was your favorite?
When Loki tricks the Dwarves into creating the most amazing items we know today as Norse symbols.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Loki cutting off the hair of Thor's wife in her sleep. I could actually feel the pain in that act.
Any additional comments?
I love Norse mythology but this book captured it so well, I will buy the hardcopy and read it as bedtime stories to my son when he is old enough to understand me. It is that good.
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- V. Bolliger
- 2019-05-21
it s a nice anthology but lack the epic touches
it is interesting, but the characters were a bit flat... the performance also isn't best... Neil is not my favourite narrator
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- Jim "The Impatient"
- 2017-05-08
OF COURSE IT WAS LOKI, IT'S ALWAYS LOKI
IT SEATED MORE PEOPLE THAN THE MIND COULD HOLD
I am a big fan of fairy tales, mythologies, tall tells and fables. Just like reading the Arabian Nights, it is important to me to get an idea of what goes on in the minds of different cultures and histories. This is even more fun than most, because of Loki. He is a trickster and is always causing mischief. The stories, as a whole, have a beginning, a middle and an ending. There are also several comparison to the bible that could be made. Did you know that Odin, sacrificed himself to himself on a tree and he was pierced in the side? Ragnarok has several similarities to Revelations.
NO ONE WANTED TO DRINK THE MEAD COMING FROM ODIN'S ASS
I will admit that there were times in which my mind wondered, but all in all some of these stories are excellent, and as a whole shouldn't be missed.
Neil Gaiman
I have never been a huge NG fan. I have even wondered at his popularity. I am glad he took on this project and helped to make these stories understandable and entertaining to the modern age. His narration is top notch. He is good enough to read for other authors.
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