Customer Reviews

Days in Midgard: A Thousand Years On - Modern Legends Based on Northern Myth

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Open The Poetic Edda at a random page - particularly Lee Hollander's canonical and nigh-unreadable translation - and you might find Norse mythology to be altogether too bizarre and cryptic to connect with. Such a reaction would be very understandable - Icelandic poetry is insanely complex and the stories seem to have been composed for an audience that already knew the background to the situations and characters. How, then, can we moderns find our way in? How can we translate the connection in our hearts into a form that permits speech and words?

As if attempting to solve this conundrum, some authors have attempted to retell the myths in a more modern vernacular. This has produced mixed results - some of these attempts are very successful, but even the best of these is vulnerable to well-intended but disappointing simplifications and distortions. Blunders such as painting Loki as one-dimensionally "evil" or Freya as a simplistic love goddess really fail to do this complex and subtle mythology the credit it deserves.

Thankfully Steven T. Abell has found a nigh-on perfect solution, and he presents this solution with wit, wisdom, and a knowing wink in the form of Days in Midgard: A Thousand Years On.

This book is an anthology of short stories which Abell originally composed for oral performance (and it would be quite a treat to see him perform I suspect). The stories are mostly set in modern times, or at least fairly recent times. They're stories of human beings living all sorts of different lives, and Abell is brilliant at conjuring their different universes like a chameleonic insider.

The fulcrum of each of these stories is that somehow the protagonist of each tale needs something to shift or to change in their lives. And that, obviously or not, is where the mythological figures - gods and goddesses - get involved: guiding, provoking, tricking, healing, challenging, and just being themselves.

The image of Thor and Loki walking into a diner (that gets held up by a robber with darkly comedic consequences); or Frigga hanging out at a beach-side resort; or Tyr as a biker who guides folk onto the way they need to go - well, this is potent stuff. Abell taps right into the beating pulse of Norse mythology and lets the red life of it gush out into a form with which almost anyone could relate.

Of course, the human protagonists have no idea that they are dealing with forces divine, and this adds to the subtle hilarity of the pieces. This is exactly how it is when gods walk the world, and Abell throws us right into the deepest heart of what Heathenism is at its best: a sacred bewilderment, a source of hope, a profound love of life, even in its miseries.

There's a deeper point that Abell makes with this book, perhaps not entirely explicitly: that form and essence are not identical. This book, though it ceaselessly echoes and references the forms of Germanic mythology, nevertheless strikes out in all manner of creative and original directions. And yet, by expressing the ancient creative spark - rather than, idiot-savant style, attempting to create a brittle simulacrum of old traditions - Abell demonstrates that authenticity is just as much about intention and innovation as it is attention to tradition.

Because truly I believe that the experience of these stories in the present is the closest thing we can have to what the original stories must have been like for the original Heathens. I occasionally talk about something called psychological reconstructionism - the idea that evoking the spirit of the ancient ways sometimes brings them into manifestation more powerfully than if we merely copy them slavishly. This book is potent evidence for the value of this idea.

The book is not only written for Heathens, and though it might seem cryptic and maddening at times to those not familiar with the mythological references, I suspect these quirky tales might also seduce the Heathen tendencies to the surface of many a reader or listener. Instead of the idiotic chest-beating that some Heathen authors adopt when trying to spread the word, this book entices and intrigues and delights. Such an approach is much sexier, in my opinion.

And there is something truly, truly sacred about reading stories of the gods and goddesses presented in this fashion. Abell deeply grasps the power and vulnerability of Tyr; deeply grasps the complex machinations of Odin's mind; deeply grasps the many-shaded richness of Loki's character (which is very welcome, given how confused so many people, even Heathens, are about this profoundly beautiful, profoundly flawed being).

Interspersed with the main stories are a string of short vignettes evoking scenes from the Icelandic landscape, always with a historical or mythological angle. This is a clever stratagem, because it situates the stories in strong supportive context, particularly for readers who are not familiar with Germanic Heathen traditions and myths. These intermissions help the reader to connect to their own sense of curiosity and wonder, and this serves to heighten the sometimes bewildering magic of the narratives on offer.

I think it is really telling that the gods in these stories appear as agents provocateurs in the cause of needed change. In Abell's vision they help us heal, let go, ripen, explore, and find our courage in the face of adversity. There is a powerful object lesson here about polytheism: these beings after which we are made deeply understand the fragility and beauty of our mortal predicament, and in their generosity are moved to act for our benefit (though some of the characters in these stories experience this generosity as hardship, being forced as they are to answer for the ill or cowardly decisions they have made).

Steven T. Abell truly is a skald, a word-magician, a galdor-master. He imbues these tales with a light-hearted gravity, weaves narratives that are exquisitely captivating. I really hope that this book penetrates deeply into modern Heathen consciousness - it has the power to help us all transform for the better. For life and myth are not separate, hermetically sealed realms, the one dismal and the other shining. The two are deeply entwined, the necessary condition for one another's sacredness. And in this book we find a beautiful, marvellous, magical invitation to roam the mysterious road that the old stories of northern Europe shelter so impeccably. Here and now the gods are vital and active and alive...and always with us, their mortal travelling companions.

Henry Lauer
[...]

Mr Abell's stories are well told and entertaining. If you have no familiarity with Norse mythology, they might not do much for you, but for those who have read the myths, it is fun to recognize the characters. More than just entertainment, many of the stories also provide food for thought, and are uplifting in that the protagonist learns something or grows personally.

A stunning collection of tales, set in modern times, yet illustrating the timeless truths behind our oldest myths.

These well written and captivating stories would make good reading even for those without a Heathen background. But for Heathens, they will have a special resonance. Most importantly, they will reconnect you with your own roots. Our heritage is not something to yearn for in a distant past, but something to savour in the living present, in our ordinary lives here in Midgard.

Sweyn
The Rune Primer: A Down to Earth Guide to the Runes

A must have for anyone that likes myth. For anyone that is a heathen this is even more of a must have because some of the stories are easily relayed to children for their enjoyment and spreading of the faith.

Having heard Mr. Abell tell stories in person, I can tell you he is a true storyteller in the oldest tradition of storytelling, both "live" and on paper. His stories have real heart; they're intelligent, sensitive and insightful...and deeply religious. But unlike a lot of religious fiction out there, such as the peddling twaddle of the "left behind" or "fireproof" series, you might miss the religion here. That's because Abell is a keen observer of the human condition, and moreover, he understands the religious feeling is not about rigid proselytizing, but about meaning, symbolism and human connection.

"Days in Midgard" is a collection of short stories about life, both ancient and modern, and how despite our current delusions to the contrary, and our obsession with technology and vapid ideological "isms"-du-jour, how really unchanging the human condition is. It starts with life 1000 years ago, and quickly fast forwards to day-to-day lives of everyday folk in the here and now. But underneath, or perhaps above this, the everyday characters of Abell's stories find themselves in the company of some special people who enter their lives for a short time. To students of ancient Northern European folk lore and mythology, these characters will be fairly easy to recognize, even though dressed in so-called "modern" garb. A brave trucker who is good with a hammer, a one-handed motorcyclist, an old one-eyed man who travels with two ravens, a beautiful but enigmatic woman by the sea, a housekeeper uncommonly wise in dealing with the heart--this is the essence of polytheistic thinking at its best, and shows the true beauty, mystery and genius of such a mode of thinking. This mode of thinking is of course the oldest one known to man, far older than the upstart monotheisms of the last two millenia. Rather than a way of being that is 2000 years old, the polytheist mindset is more like 200 *hundred* thousand years old. And this timeless, down to earth, and yet deeply moving way of being shines through in these stories, to show us how this way, this religious view, is not an ancient relic or an historical curiosity, but is alive and well right here and now, and is perhaps the truest way of understanding the human condition.

But this is still not the true joy of this book. The true joy is that Abell manages to convey his insights and thoughts to us in a manner that is easy to digest and boundlessly charming. Abell's stories have the advantage of being poetic, realistic, funny and serious all at once. He understands that true religious feeling does not lie in stale dogmatic assertions (and reassertions, and re-re-assertions), but in that sneaky feeling that something *meaningful* is going on, despite not knowing exactly what. That feeling, that sense of meaning and purpose and mystery, is what these stories convey so well without *telling us* when they are doing so and trumpeting moralisms loudly in our ears.

Abell is subtle about it, and shows a magnificent restraint in his execution. He trusts us to "get it", rather than beat us over the head with some "message" or "moral". He winks at us several times in each story, but doesn't make a lot of noise about it, since the stories aren't really about that, but about the realistic characters in them, and their joys, pains, and lessons. There are many ways to see each story, and he knows that, and trusts us to come to our own conclusions. This was a recurrent joy in each story he tells. His characters are strongly drawn, and real-feeling, with complexities and motives--there are no simple contrasts. This adds to the stories immensely, showing how such wise and earthy wisdom can coexist with high-minded ideas about gods in a way that blends perfectly.

I must confess, I could not put this book down; I read it in a single day. I got the feeling I was sitting around a fire, sharing a mead horn with Abell (again), and hearing him tell these tales in person. Since he is a man of uncommon intelligence and subtlety, the book was a joy to read. Further adding to this illusion are little snippets he adds throughout the book, amusing anecdotes and interesting facts about Iceland or ancient Germanic customs that seem relevant, sometimes immediately, sometimes providing "a ha!" moments much later in the book.

In all, I would recommend this book to anyone, not just those interested in Asatru polytheism or Pan-Germanic heritage, but to anyone who just likes a ripping good yarn about something meaningful that feels real but isn't, that touches the heart and tickles the intuition and nourishes the soul. Like all good storytellers, Abell knows that all stories are true, and some actually happened. None of these stories happened, but they are very much true, and they reward the intelligent reader. I hope this review has been helpful to you.

I met the author this year (2009) at Pantheacon in california. We share the same belief in the old norse gods. Steve is a damn good story teller. He's also a man who walks his talk and lives his beliefs.

Steve really brings the old gods into interaction with us, and living among us. The old gods did not die out or run away. Nor were the banished by us. They are here in midgard with us mortals still. It was us humans that with time, and a new forceful religion that forgot, or feared to remember them. They are still here to guide, aid, and teach those who may be open to them.

The author brings us many good stories in this book. He makes us think of the strange old man we see on the corner. Or of the beautiful woman on the beach who seems of other worldly beauty. The stories teach us to look deeper into our life, and life all around us. And to ask questions of what we see and know. It is a very good read for heathen and non-heathen. My favorite was "The Solstice Guests". Please ready the stories and enjoy them!

Mr. Abell is a brilliant writer who draws in the reader with evocative imagery and fascinating storylines. I found this book very difficult to put down. Each chapter brought a smile to my face as I recognized the elements of ancient Heathen tales. An experience as enthralling as fireside storytelling, Days in Midgard shares ancestral wisdom in the finest oral history traditions of pre-literate times of old.

Whether or not you know the Norse myths, whatever your religious persuasion, this is a beautiful, moving collection. Buy it.

Steven Abell is a very good story-teller, as he himself states. His stories are easy to read & to understand. They cover a variety of settings & times, & each one has some element of Norse Mythology in it. Some of the stories have more Norse mythological content than others to be sure yet each one is unique. He also threads the stories together with interesting information about Scandinavia & sets the timeline from a thousand years ago to the present. I was very pleased with this book & will read these stories again. If you know your Norse Mythology, you'll love how it's been woven into these modern stories.

This book is a treasure!
The pages of this book are a written testament of the myths as they live and breathe within our world today.
My only regret is that once having heard his newest tales from the mouth and the heart of the author, I will forever hear his voice reciting the tales in my mind! The regret lies in the fact that not enough folk have had this honor and even if I were to whisper them to my grandchildren as they slip into the dusk of sleep, I could never do them justice.

Steven Thor Abell is one of our finest modern storytellers in an age when we need them the most! Why? Read the book and then you will know "the rest of the story".