Blood and Judgment [Mass Market Paperback]

Lars Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2003

All Will Sverdup wanted was to play Hamlet in an amateur production. He never counted on getting sucked back in time and into the body of the original, historical Hamlet in sixth-century Denmark. His fellow actors (along with the real Hamlet) never expected to be transported to an alternative universe where Shakespeare's play was real--with them perfectly placed to live (and die) their parts. But now that the impossible has occurred, they must decide--do they dare play out their roles until the blood-soaked climax?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[The Year of the Warrior] is not for spiritual sissies . . . rowdy action and a realistic look at the human and spiritual costs of religious and cultural conversion."

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Baen (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743471733
• ISBN-13: 978-0743471732
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #446,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lars Walker is a native of Kenyon, Minnesota and a graduate of Augsburg College, Minneapolis. He grew up on a farm, and has worked as a crab meat packer in Alaska, a mail clerk, an administrative assistant, and a radio announcer, and is now librarian and bookstore manager for the schools of the Association of Free Lutheran Congregations in Minneapolis. He is editor of the Journal of the Georg Sverdrup Society, and is a Viking reenactor and Norwegian translator. His website is www.larswalker.com, and he blogs at www.brandywinebooks.net.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Walker......a postmodern CS Lewis!, June 18, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Blood and Judgment (Mass Market Paperback)

Brilliant! In general I dislike comparing one writer to another, simply for the fact that a good writer and a good piece of work should stand on individual merit. Yet for Walker I make an exception.....He is a traditional Lutheran and within his WONDERFUL novel he,like Lewis, matains a flow of Christian orthodoxy in his writings. Also like Lewis one need not be Christian to enjoy and embrace his works! Blood and Judgement is a beautifuly toned novel with a very unique plot.(If that sounds vague it is simply that I want everyone who reads this review to read for themselves this fine novel and do not want to give to much away!) I have also read his other novels and they are great as well! Buy them read them love them. +PAX

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A writer with great potential, January 13, 2004

By 

Dave (New Bern, NC, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blood and Judgment (Mass Market Paperback)

For someone who claims to be a "Christian" writer, Lars Walker has got a lot of guts! The book is full of cursing, it has a lesbian for one of the main characters, and it is rampant with adultery - yet the gospel is still presented effectively - and I don't care who you are - you can't help but walk away from this one without finding yourself pondering over what it all is supposed to mean for days.

I have never been much of a Shakespear fan - and this book (which revolves around an alterante universe in which the characters play out the roles from "Hamlet") hasn't inspired me to go out and read any Shakespear - and it really isn't necessary to enjoy this book.

I really think Walker has the potential to be on the same level as C.S. Lewis - as this book often reminded me of Lewis' style of fiction - minus some of the liberties that he takes in describing the sinfulness of his characters. Although you have one central plot - you have a lot of lessons learned along the way.

The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars was because it was sorely lacking in detail. Walker's technical ability to write and tell a story is extrordinary - but I found myself wishing he would have spent more time describing events and places. One thing that irratated me to no end was that he would use old actors and actresses (most of whom I had no clue of whom they were) to physically describe all of the characters in the book. For example, he would say something like, "so-and-so looked like Clark Gable" and leave it at that. I really felt like the writer was taking the easy road in going this route.

I have no doubt that if Walker can put the time in and really go the extra mile and be more detailed that he could very well be on par with the likes of Tolkien or Lawhead. I can't wait to read the rest of his books and I'm anxiously awaiting his next.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hamlet Revisited and Renewed, December 29, 2003

By 

Joshua Koppel (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blood and Judgment (Mass Market Paperback)

At a small university in the small town of Epsom, a theater group is preparing to perform a shortened version of Hamlet. The play is, of course, based on earlier stories and legends and possible history. The theater is actually an old church reputed to be haunted.

Things begin to heat up quickly. A professor discovers an old book that may prove Hamlet was plagiarized word for word. Then during a rehearsal, the troupe is sucked through the stage and into the real-life story of Amlodd (Hamlet). They find themselves in the roles they have been studying except for the professor who seems to have swapped bodies with Amlodd.

Not wanting to die like their play-characters, the actors try to disrupt the story but discover that the story has a lot of momentum. To make matters worse, one of their number seems to be channeling some form of deity.

I have to say that I now know more about the history of Hamlet than when I started to read, but it was not a history lesson. In fact, some of the later revelations would have been right at home in one of the finer novels of Richard Laymon. Some may find these revelations a little disturbing.

I would have to say that this is sort of a fantasy tale and sort of a horror story but that it leans more towards the fantasy. A very original book.