Customer Reviews

Norse Myths and Legends (Usborne Illustrated Guide to)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

While the illustrations owe much to fantasy role-playing games rather than reflecting actual Viking art, the information packed into this litle book is superb, and serves as an excellent introduction to the Norse myths and legends.

This is the book that drew me to Norse Mythology in the first place. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful, and the stories are all very good too. Heck, I would recommend this book on its illustrations (by Rodney Matthews, by the way) alone, but I don't have to. YOU NEED THIS BOOK!

Norse Myths and Legends
By Cheryl Evans & Anne Millard
Illustrated By Rodney Matthews

Considering that this book is mainly targeted at children from the ages of 7 to their early teens, the information presented here is mythologically accurate and relatively well researched, (if somewhat abbreviated). In fact I'd recommend it for anyone who wants a very quick refresher course on Norse Mythology regardless of their age group.
One reviewer mentioned that the art work looked, "Asian... and was terrible". I think that the artwork is at the very least, colorful and attention grabbing. Humm.... and the attention span of a 7-12 year old is how long? A book targeted toward this age group needs all the help it can get just to keep them interested and off the video games. On a more adult level, I thought that the illustrations were quite good. Granted they were not in the more "traditional" Frank Frezetta, realistic Norse or Conan mode, but they were however, rather haunting. It almost seemed to me that the subjects were otherworldly, elfin or even slightly alien. Well, that doesn't sound like any Norse God I've ever seen! At least the illustrator had the outstanding good sense not to illustrate this work with the half-nude Neo-Greek art style that seems to be decorating so many Norse Mythology books.

I really liked the "Who's Who" section at the end of the book. It was accurate and concise. The English pronunciations listed after each subject will be a great help for young readers or anyone not familiar with Germanic/Scandinavian inflections. Granted there are a few minor errors in the work but not terrible ones. Having worked on and off in the RPG/War Gaming Industry since the late 1970's I'd give this work a B as a RPG (Role-Playing-Game) aid. A good generic information source for RPG's on the Norse "Who's Who?", but not specific/detailed enough for most rabid Roll-Players.

All and all a good fun read with killer (no pun intended) illustrations. I bought this copy to read to my Grandson's. Now I have to order 4 more copies because all of the Grandchildren want their own copy, (and they can't have mine)! Enjoy!


In Frith,
Spence the Elder

"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"
M. Addams

I picked up this book and the Usborne Greek Myths and Legends when I was about 8 or 9. I had gotten interested in Greek Mythology and wanted a book, and this one was right beside the Greek one. To this day, this book is one of my favorites.

This was the book that got me interested in Norse legends and mythology. For those of you who don't know about it, I think it is for more interesting than the Greek or Roman myths that are all that most people know.

This book is chock-full of some of the most interesting tales I've ever read. Even as an adult, I go back to it every so often to re-read some of the stories. It presents them in a way that even a kid can understand and enjoy. The art is also one of my favorite parts. The subjects definitely do not appear Norse (their only flaw), but the lavish scenes and rich colors more than make up for this. Whenever I think of a scene from Norse mythology, the Rodney Matthews's illustrations are the images that come to mind.

This book will always be my standard for Norse mythology, and it will always have a place on my shelf.

The wonderful book, Usborne illustrated guide to Norse Myths and legends is a must buy for anyone who likes reading adventuresome tales. This book is filled with good facts on norse myths and legends. The illustrations are one of a kind and simply breath taking. This fact filled book also includes a who's who that has painstaking details. This book is one of a kind and is a MUST buy.

The art is terrible. All the characters are ugly; one wonders are these the gods? Odin and Frigg are pure Asian. Odin looks like some ancient Korean bad man, and Frigg looks like a geisha girl. If the illustrations mean anything to you, pass up this book.