Norsa saga translations?

[Valkyrie-Favor]

So, I'm writing a series of novels based on Norse mythology and Viking culture. I've got my characters and basic plot worked out, and I'm working on some scenes right now, but in order to iron out the plot I'll need some new source material. The novels will take place mostly on Midgard, but the plot will be driven mostly by gods, goddesses, and the einjerjar. I realize I'll have to make a lot up myself, but I'd like to be true to the mythology where I can.

Does anyone know of some really good translations of the Prose Edda, Poetic Edda, and other important works? Alternate transliterations, footnotes, references etc would be really nice, and kenning explanations would be nice in the poetry (It's hard to get my head around this completely different system of poetry). Cheap or free would be a plus, too

[Forlorn Drifter]

This would be really hard to do correctly. First and foremost, which area are you pulling your info from? Norway, Sweden, and Finland are pretty similar in their writings and translations, but Iceland and German are completely different. IE, Fenris vs. Fenrir, and other questions like that.

There was one book we have in the junior high library I could look at for you. It's pretty well written, and the artwork throughout is well done. It is intended to be a children's book, but it is still quite well done.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

Hey, kids' books are great for the artwork at the very least. Most of my info so far comes from Snorri, but my studies of Viking culture in general are from all over northern Europe. In the novel, Midgard is going to be entirely Viking Age civilization so specific countries aren't important in there - however, I do see why it's important to be consistent.

[J T]

I learned everything I know about Norse mythology from playing Odin Sphere, Valkyrie Profile, and Shin Megami Tensei.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

Valkyrie Profile is (obviously) my favorite game, and I love its artistic style and brilliant music and gameplay and atmosphere and, er, Lenneth, but there's very little in the way of mythology there. Midgard is more inspired by traditional fantasy, although it's very well done, and everything is screwed up. The Vanir all seem to be Jotuns; Surt, a fire god, commands the ice giants, Freyja is Aesir, etc.

In fact, the Valkyries were never warriors at all - they only claimed dead souls and brought them to Asgard to fight and get drunk. My story also stars a fighting Valkyrie, so that's okay. Deviation from the myth is fine. You can tell they did their research because they knew about things like the Nibeliguen, but changed it extensively and made it their own. Resulted in one of the greatest games ever, but not much for novel writing

[Forlorn Drifter]

Any bringing in of Ragnorak in the story? I'd love to read someone's interpretation of Thor fighting the Midgard serpent.

DAMNIT!! Now I want viking legos from Europe...

Ahem, I'll try to find the book tomorrow, didn't have time today.

[BoneSnapDeez]

I would suggest playing The Lost Vikings on SNES while listening to black metal.

[Forlorn Drifter]

I would suggest playing The Lost Vikings on SNES while listening to black metal.

More specific-Amon Amarth.

[Nemoide]

A bit of searching led me to this potentially interesting book Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs by John Lindow. It's more of an overview than a translation, but it looks like good stuff.

There's also an "Oxford World's Classics" edition of the Poetic Edda. I'd suspect that this edition will meet your needs: the work of serious scholarship, with notes and introduction, and is pretty cheap.

[Valkyrie-Favor]

That looks like a really cool book, but it's not a saga...actually, I think it's a dictionary I'd totally love to have it but it's not what I need.

Well-researched websites are great too. One particular goldmine is The Viking Answer Lady's site. Tons of detailed, reliable information on culture based on lit and archaeology. There's stuff about thralldom and poetry about alcohol and an explanation of how kennings work...it's all breif but well done and all cited so you should read every article even if it's just for pleasure, and then track down the sources too!

I love me some Ensiferum and Slechtvalk so no worries there. I don't have Lost Vikings...that game's pretty expensive, and Valkyrie Profile is pretty hard on the viking budget to start with lol.