Customer Reviews

Twilight Of Gods Bk01

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I got my first copy of Schmidt's Twilight of the Gods: the First Name, all the way back in '85. A cautionary note to readers: this book contains GRAPHIC scenes of sex and violence. I can say this paperback was NEVER intended for young readers. A superbly written tale that is essentially a fictionalized account of the creation of the Norse Pantheon. An excellent blending of fantasy fiction with Norse, Babylonian, and Asian Legends.

Borr, son of an Aesir chieftain (Aesir, as in Asgard for you viking/norse fans) while hunting treasure and glory teams his adventurers with a band of outlaws to raid caravans on a long desert route. After attacking an exceptionally rich caravan, and claiming his would-be bride, Borr leaves a wounded outlaw captian to die on the battlefield. Blackhearted Surt screams at his back "Take me with you or take my Curse!" to which Borr replies "I am Aesir, I do not fear It or you".

Borr returns home a wealthy hero, with a trained courtesan for a wife. their First born is Voden, concieved on the very battlefield where Surt was left to die, He will grow to be a mighty warrior, "Healer and Destroyer in confrontation with the evil Dark". Surt survives his wounds only by swearing allegiance to the Lord of the Dead, to fulfill his curse he must become supreme priest-king of the southern empire of Muspellhiem. While Surt and his servant Jormungand spend their years through harrowing adventures and quests for power, Voden is growing into a great warrior, and developing magical powers of his own. The challenges to the Aesir are many as they are beset by enemies all around, only by a shaky truce with their southern neighbors, the Vanir, are they able to survive. the story ends with Voden as a young teenager, embarking on his own quest, to find a magic well, and drink of the waters of knowledge. The story continues in "Twilight of the Gods II: Groa's Other Eye" and concludes with "Twilight of the Gods III: Three Trumps Sounding"

This is the first book of the Twilight series. If you like what Crighton does with the Beowulf myth, speculations about the extinction of the Neanderthal, and Arab history in "Eaters of the Dead", you'll love this. Borr of the Aesir, teams up with a Babylonian (Assyrian?) mercenary, Surt, to rob a rich caravan. When they are forced to part on less than good terms, Surt vows to destroy Borr and everything that he is. Surts curse will fall on his son, Voden, to face. Great use of Norse myths and introduces Babylonian (Assyrian?) legends in a rich, imaginative fasion. Don't know why Schmidt is not more well known.