The Hammer And The Cross [Import] [Paperback]

Harry Harrison and John Holm (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 430 pages
• Publisher: Legend Books (1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0099260514
• ISBN-13: 978-0099260516
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,742,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, Excellent, Fantasic, January 19, 2005

By 

Rekker af Thor (Memphis, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hammer and the Cross Pb (Paperback)

I normally dislike alternate history. But this proved that people can pull this genre off. If you come to this book looking for stories about the Norse gods you won't find them. Instead, you find an Englishman who falls in among Viking raiders . He meets a Way-man(i.e. Asatruar) who tells him about the Asier and Vanir (Norse gods). His life from that point is then touched by his patron god (can't say who, it will spoil the book).
This is a grand story, filled with romance, action, adventure, mystery, and one suprise after another. I'm currently reading the sequel and so far it is proving to be just as impressive. You will not be disappointed if you buy this book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where myths are borne, October 23, 2000

By 

Maximiliano F Yofre "Maxi" (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Hammer and the Cross (Mass Market Paperback)

This alternate history tale is full of attractive ideas, images and characters. A very well documented background, reveals Harrison's researches. This novel shows how myths are created, the chosen Hero, rising from an obscure corner and going step by step on the path Gods or Destiny had forged. At the same time, Shef is not a puppet in their hands, his humanity is present, he is free to choose and he does so, not without paying the price.
The entire early middle age world is reconstructed accurately; its reality is overwhelming. Harrison has profited from his long period at Denmark, the Norse legends blended into the narrative and the Viking characters, with their regional characteristics (a Dane is different from a Norwegian and from a Sweden) shows it. Also we may trace hints of Mark Twain's "Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's court", and that excellent movie that was "Alfred the Great" but recreated in a new and brilliant scheme. The inventions and rediscoveries are plausible, they make me think about a genius like Leonardo da Vinci, transported some centuries ahead of his time.
A book to enjoy and read more than once.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brutally realistic, yet idealistic, historical fiction., February 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Hammer and the Cross (Mass Market Paperback)

Being both a historian and a fantasy fan, I loved this book. Harrison's recreation of the brutality of the so-called Dark Ages adds an element of realism sorely lacking from most fantasy novels. Moreover, he's gotten most of his history right. On top of all the brutality, though, is the desire of Shef and his cohorts of "the Way" to create a less brutal, more human society, all the while being manipulated by the various gods of Norse mythology. For those who liked this book, try "A Game of Thrones" by George Martin. The story line takes a lot from the War of the Roses, and Martin is Harrison's equal in depicting the brutality of medeival life.