The Hammer and the Cross [Hardcover]

Harry Harrison (Author), John Holm (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 1993

A fantasy adventure set in the 9th century. With plans under way for a Christian crusade against the pagan Viking lords of England, an English boy finds himself a pawn between those Vikings who would live in peace and those who seek only war.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this rich and exciting alternate history, Harrison ( Stainless Steel Visions ) evokes the spirit and atmosphere of the so-called Dark Ages with wit, sensitivity and impeccable research. England in the ninth century suffers from frequent Viking attacks, and when King Ella of Northumbria captures the infamous Ragnar, he vents his people's fury in a particularly humiliating execution. But Ragnar has four devoted (and equally cruel) sons, who vow to pillage all of England in revenge. As they establish a beachhead, burning villages and taking prisoners as slaves, Shef--bastard son of a Viking raider--enters the Viking camp in order to rescue his stolen adopted sister Godive. In doing so, he becomes the linchpin in the many-sided struggle between factions in the Viking camp; between one small English kingdom and another; and between followers of a new Viking sect that reveres learning and invention and the Church, which fears the loss of English tithes. Harrison eschews simple dichotomies in portraying a world where a pagan religion challenges Christianity to found a more humane and tolerant society. Readers need not be experts in medieval history to appreciate the story of Shef's rise from slave to king of a kingdom that never was but should have been.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Intriguing alternate-world yarn set in England during the turbulent ninth century, from the veteran author of the Stainless Steel Rat series, etc. King Ella, having deposed Osbert, now rules Northumbria--but his rule is swiftly challenged by invading Vikings, while the Christian Church absorbs all wealth and destroys any who dares oppose it. King Edmund of East Anglia is soon defeated and killed by Vikings led by the avenging sons of Ragnar (he was a mighty Viking jarl tortured to death by Ella), who have sworn to conquer all England. Fleeing from the battle is Shef, a young, despised smith, bearing a blade he has forged himself, and upon which Viking swords break. Seeing no future with the broken East Anglians, Shef joins the Viking encampment, where he discovers practitioners of the Way--a civilized version of the old Norse religion eager for new ideas and offering freedom of worship. Shef sides with the mighty warrior Brand, whose allies of the Way intend to dispute the leadership of the Vikings with the Ragnarssons. An inventive genius, Shef rediscovers ancient Roman war-machines and develops some new ones of his own. To supplement the Viking battle-fury, he invents new tactics based on stealth, misdirection, and cunning, and uses untrained but keen and biddable Saxons to man his machines. Finally, the Church appeals to Rome for help, and stirs up the kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex to battle Shef. Shef maneuvers the Mercians, however, into fighting the Ragnarssons, while Alfred of Wessex sides with Shef. But then Rome sends a great force of Franks across the Channel to expunge Shef's hybrid armies and whip Alfred into line. Fascinating sinewy, brutal, and fine--and never mind the sometimes wobbly plot and rather thin characters: few historicals are as powerfully evocative of time and place as Harrison's tremendous saga. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 430 pages
• Publisher: Legend paperbacks (June 3, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 009926241X
• ISBN-13: 978-0099262411
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,641,189 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)   

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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.