Eaters of the Dead (1976) re-up - Michael Crichton

Written by Michael Crichton
Read by Simon Vance
Format: MP3
Bitrate: 64 Kbps
Unabridged

Eaters of the Dead: The Manuscript of Ibn Fadlan, Relating His Experiences with the Northmen in A.D. 922

Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Released: Jan 26, 2016
Length: 5 hours

It is 922 A.D. The refined Arab courtier Ibn Fadlan is accompanying a party of Viking warriors back to their home. He is appalled by their customs–the gratuitous sexuality of their women, their disregard for cleanliness, and their cold-blooded sacrifices. They enter the frozen, forbidden landscape of the North–where the day’s length does not equal the nights. Where after sunset the sky burns in streaks of color–Fadlan soon discovers that he has been unwillingly enlisted to combat the terrors in the night that come to slaughter the Vikings, the monsters of the mist that devour human flesh.

But just how he will do it, Fadlan has no idea.

Reviews…”I have to confess, the first time I read this book I thought it was a real manuscript, and that Crichton was just putting it in book form…until I got to the epilogue. That was when I understand that Crichton was an amazing storyteller. I found out that Crichton did the book out of a bet that he could not make Beowulf interesting. And what a book he came out with!

What I found truly captivating was that it was written as a manuscript. The whole thing reads like a travel journal of an extremely observant man. Written matter-of-factly with no attempts of embellishments or even attempts to make the story more dramatic. It’s a great book.”

Another…
The history diverges into a “What if” story when Ibn Fadlan is forced to join warrior Buliwyf and his company’s quest to the north. Their mission? To protect the lands and defeat the deadly mist monsters.

What Crichton tries in his novel is to recreate Beowulf into a factual story, coupled with a detailed explanation of Viking lifestyle and philosophy. It works at certain parts, especially during the journey to the north and with the characterization of Buliwyf and Herger, but stumbles with the mist monster legends and prophecies, which feels out of place because of the realistic portrayal of events.

Nevertheless, the story is action-packed, and the unique retelling indeed brings diversity to Crichton’s works.”

Eaters of the Dead was adapted to the screen in 1999 as The 13th Warrior, starring Antonio Banderas.