Saga Thing

After a brief discussion of betrothal customs in medieval Iceland, John and Andy put Viglund's Saga on trial.  Will Viglund's axe juggling skills win him an award? Or will he be upstaged by his own horse? Who will be outlawed?  Who will earn a spot as thingman?  And how does Viglund's Saga compare to the other Warrior Poet sagas we've covered?  What value does it have as a saga?  So much to think...

The story of Viglund the Fair and his lady Ketilrid is a saga for lovers.  This fifteenth century tale, the last of our warrior poet's sagas, covers several generations.  Each generation features a case of true love coming up against the secular tradition of arranged marriage.  Can Viglund and Ketilrid overcome the obstacles set in their way and join at last in wedded bliss?  It never worked out f...

Krákumál is an autobiographical poem of the legendary Viking hero Ragnar Loðbrók, composed and spoken while Ragnar awaits his death in the snakepit of King Ælla.  We discuss the content and form of the poem, compare it to the Saga of Ragnar Loðbrók and His Sons, and examine the place of the History Channel's Vikings in the literary tradition of this legendary figure.  There's also some discussion...

In the second part of Saga Thing’s look at The Saga of Bjorn Champion of the Hitardal People, John and Andy discuss the merits of the text, argue over the size and ferocity of the dragon, investigate Thord’s ill-fated encounter with a stranded seal, and share some interesting tidbits from Icelandic law codes about pornographic sculptures and naughty poetry.  We also outlaw a rather deserving villa...

The title is a mouthful, but some might call this saga an underappreciated gem of medieval Iceland.  Like the other warrior poet's sagas, we’ve got a love triangle.  This time Bjorn, a dashing swashbuckler who sports the impressive title “Champion of the Hitardal People,” loses the girl to his conniving rival, Thord Kolbeinsson.  But this isn’t your average warrior poet saga.  Rather than a series...

In this episode, John and Andy discuss the problem of Thorveig's curse, Kormak's efforts to woo Steingerd, and the excellence of Bersi the Dueller.  It's time to judge Kormak's Saga.  Who will be chosen as thingman?  Who will be outlawed? Will the Scottish giant get the recognition he deserves for his brief cameo?  Download the episode and find out now!

If you’re a fan of erotic poetry and dueling, then this is the saga for you.  Join us as we follow Kormak as he follows the lovely soled object of his affection, Steingerd.  Yes, I said soled and I meant it.  She’s got nice feet and Kormak is just into that sort of thing it seems.  Who are we to judge?  Along the way you’ll meet the scoundrel Narfi, a witch in a questionable relationship with a wa...

Lusting for bloodshed?  Wondering about witticisms?  Will Hallfred be outlawed for seducing another man's wife or will he be chosen as thingman?  And will Andy stay awake through John's ramblings? Find out as we judge the Saga of Hallfred Troublesome-poet.

In this episode, we continue our journey through the Sagas of Warrior-Poets in  The Saga of Hallfred Troublesome-Poet .  Though you've never heard of him, this court poet for 3 of Scandinavia's greatest rulers is actually quite famous.  As his nickname suggests Hallfred's poetry often lands him in hot water.  He's a suave lover, a witty poet, and a capable warrior.  We'll sample some of the poetry...

In this episode, John and Andy square off in a fight for the ages as Saga Thing examines the Icelandic art of dueling. The Duel at Skiringshal by Johannes Flintoe

As always, we count up the bodies and offer praise to the wittiest saga lines before getting down to the more difficult choices.  With no clear villain in the story, who will be outlawed?  Would either Gunnlaug or Hrafn make a good thingman?  There's one clear gem of a thingman in this saga, but John's choosing first.  What happens when Andy doesn't get his way? Find out in the Judgment section fo...

Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue is a talented warrior-poet torn between his love for Helga the Fair and his quest for fame and fortune in the courts of Northern Europe.  Helga's father, Thorstein, gives him 3 years to travel and make a name for himself before his claim on Helga is forfeit.  Things get complicated when a rival for Helga's hand emerges in Hrafn the Skald, a court poet eager to get the best...

This time out, we've got the bitterly funny Bandamanna Saga, a much-beloved saga set in the mid-11th century and centered around the corruption of Icelandic law by the rich and powerful chieftains of that later age. The saga pits old money against the nouveau riche against a backdrop of legal wrangling and murder. Can Ofeig Skiðason and his estranged son Odd Ofeigsson put aside their differences i...

In our first ever Saga Brief, we explore the legendary Viking torture ritual known as the blood-eagle.  It's a brilliantly violent practice with a complicated, but fascinating textual history.  In short, it's perfect for the boys of Saga Thing.  Whether the blood-eagle is a historical method of ritual torture and execution or merely a literary motif designed to thrill and frighten, this is some pr...

In this special episode, we take a break from the family sagas of medieval Iceland and look forward to the second season of History Channel’s Vikings by delving into the medieval sagas and legends behind the show.  Discussion centers on The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and his Sons, but Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum, the Krákumál, and The Saga of Ragnar’s Sons are referenced here as well.  There’s a...

In this episode, meet the despicable and conniving Hen-Thorir, an unpopular businessman whose shameless lust for status and respect leads to a high stakes feud that consumes the Borgafjord district of West Iceland.  Loosely based on historical events, this is an instant classic noted for its brilliant acts of deception and social maneuvering. Through it's cleverly drawn characters and wonderfully...

It's time to judge Gisli's Saga. Join John and Andy on a tour through the saga's best bloodshed, body count, nicknames, and notable witticisms.  The titular character of Eirik's the Red's Saga was outlawed last time, will it happen again to Gisli?  Or will Andy defend him against the charges of murder and claim him as thingman? Find out in this episode of Saga Thing. Plus, it's your last chance to...

The tragic story of the outlaw Gisli Sursson, whose profound sense of honor forces him into violent action.  Whereas most Icelanders who receive the penalty of outlawry flee the land and seek their fortune abroad, Gisli refuses to leave his wife, Aud, behind to fend for herself.  Unfailingly devoted to his wife, Gisli slips through the fingers of the bounty hunters Bork the Stout, Eyolf, and Helgi...

It’s time to strike out for the west in the latest installment of Saga Thing. Join us as we sail through stormy and unpredictable seas in the Saga of Eirik the Red! The Vinland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of America: “Graenlendinga Saga” and “Eirik’s Saga” (Classics) The first of the two so-called Vínland sagas to be reviewed, Eiriks saga offers up a story that’s part travelogue, part bloodbath, an...

Who will win Best Bloodshed? How many bodies hit the floor? Who will win the award for best nickname? Who will be banished from Iceland forever? Will Andy get to honor his hero Snorri by choosing him as thingman? What do we really think of Eyrbyggja Saga? Find out in the latest installment of Saga Thing!

In Episode 3a, John and Andy discuss the difficulties of trying to cover Eyrbyggja Saga in one episode…which they then totally fail to do successfully.  So we present the first of a two-part episode! Never fear, there’s plenty here to enjoy.  You’ll meet Snorri the goði and his rival Arnkel Thorolfsson.   Listen as they battle for control of Snæfellsnes Peninsula.  This is a tale of fortunes and m...

Our grand quest to place the sagas of the Icelanders on trial begins with an acknowledged classic–the relatively brief (but totally epic) Hrafnkels saga Freysgoði. The story of a harsh chieftain who falls from power and rises again, the men who band together against him, and the horse at the center of it all,Hrafnkels saga offers a listener-friendly introduction to the complex and blood-drenched w...

Now that you're an expert in medieval Icelandic history, you're probably wondering about Icelandic literary expression.  And why wouldn't you?  In this episode, John and Andy answer the question they probably ought to have covered right away . . . what is a saga, exactly?  Strap yourself in for a whirlwind introduction to the genre of saga literature.  Expect to hear an overview of the different k...

In this second part of our first episode, we explore the socio-political structure of Commonwealth Iceland, its conversion to Christianity, and the end of the Commonwealth era. How does a man kill his enemy politely? Why was Iceland's religious future decided under a blanket fort? Who killed Snorri Sturluson in the basement with the knife? And what happens when John lets his sheep loose on Andy's...

Welcome to the first episode of Saga Thing!  After John and I recorded the Hrafnkel's saga episode, we decided it would be beneficial for both us and our listeners to cover some basic "backgroundy stuff" before going any further.  It was meant to be a quick 45 minute episode.  The result is three "mini-episodes" of varying lengths.   In this, our first installment of episode 1, we introduce the po...