Norse Mythology
by Neil Gaiman, Anna Llisterri · first published 2016
53% recommend40% neutral7% critical
Why HN recommends it
A readable, retold introduction to Norse myths that serves as a gentle entry point. Its accessible prose makes it a good choice for anyone curious about the topic.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki―son of a giant―blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. Gaiman fashions these primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins
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…sufficient time on their hands to do that, I think the epic would greatly benefit from a rewrite into modern prose, not unlike the fantastic work that Neil Gaiman did not too long ago with his excellent Norse Mythology novel.[0] [0]https://www.amazon.com/Norse-Mythology/dp/B01M1DYSHD/
on “How to Read “Gilgamesh”” ↗I loved Norse Mythology by Gaiman, but there are others readable versions of norse epics. For example, Children of Odin[0] is in the public domain, there are free english audiobooks, and is very enjoyable. There is some version…
on “How to Read “Gilgamesh”” ↗Norse Mythology by Neil Giaman is very good if you like such things. The audio book is especially good as it is narrated by the author. https://www.audible.com/pd/Norse-Mythology-Audiobook/B01LWUJ...
on “Huginn: Create agents that monitor and act on your behalf” ↗…Business: Customer-Centric Selling by Michael T. Bosworth, John R. Holland, Frank Visgatis 4. Best in Technology: An Introduction to MultiAgent Systems by Michael J. Wooldridge 5. Best in Mythology: Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman 6. Best in "Deserves a mention regardless of category": On Writing by Stephen King 7. Best in Mathematics: A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science by Barbara Oakley 8. Best…
on “What is the best book you read this year? (optional: why?)” ↗…but that was one of my favorite reads of this year. If you haven't read Frankenstein or Dracula then I would highly recommend them. I personally enjoyed Frankenstein much more than I thought I would. Norse Mythology and Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman are also fun reads. If you want some non-fiction, Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer is a very engaging read.
on “Ask HN: Non-sci-fi fiction recommendations?” ↗…incomprehensible in a game of Telephone, either with other people or with themselves. In public policy they call it, "Something must be done, this is 'something', so we must do it." Neal Gaiman did a compendium of Norse Mythology, and in it he claims that Thor says, "When something weird happens I always assume Loki is involved. It saves time." That's the line that stuck with me the most out of that entire book. The people who…
on “The X-Y Problem” ↗Any good modern English translations of the Sagas that you would recommend? On a related note Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology is a great introduction to that topic.
on “Study: DNA corroborates “Well-man” tale from Norse saga” ↗…(notably missing: Njal's Saga, but that's also available separately). There are more sagas, though. Just not of the Icelanders. For example the saga of the Volsungs. If you are interested in general norse mythology then yes, Gaiman's book is really nice. The Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda are primary sources and not a difficult read. Everything I mentioned (except Gaiman's) is published by Penguin and is a good…
on “Study: DNA corroborates “Well-man” tale from Norse saga” ↗…environments, etc. I don't like it. Another example: I was re-reading the Lord of the Rings recently and I couldn't get Peter Jackson's big screen images out of my head while reading. Same thing with Gaiman's Norse Mythology—for the first few stories all I could see was Chris Hemsworth's Thor, running around in my head as I read Gaiman's interpretation. In time, my mind seems to come up with its own imagery that's a mash-up…
on “Consider Phlebas Published by the Folio Society” ↗…Golden Braid Shoe Dog Creativity Inc High Output Management Game of Thrones Book 1,2,3 Never Split The Difference Presuasion Like Switch Mans Search For Meaning The Hard Things about Hard Things Norse Mythology Ted Talks How To Talk to Anyone How to win friends and influence people Mckinsey Mind Mckinsey Edge Influence Extreme Ownership Everything Store Inner Game of Tennis Book of Joy Phoenix Project…
on “Ask HN: Which books are you reading in 2017?” ↗…fly. I think they even used it on Supernatural at some point. Not as a name, but as a pun on the name. Copyright is kind of loose. Gaiman and Marvel can both base a character off of the character of Norse mythology because that character is public domain. That doesn't mean either is a reference to each other. There are certain character traits that are contained within that mythology. Certain things are added by…
on “Disney Claims Trademark over Loki” ↗…https://twitter.com/babsdraws/status/1166461271396507648 & https://www.midtowncomics.com/product/1883000 which still goes for $20 or $30 on eBay, very uncommon for a modern second printing of anything. This has nothing to do with the Norse mythology or Neil Gaiman's American Gods novel.
on “Disney Claims Trademark over Loki” ↗Gaiman's Norse Mythology is quite readable, though it is VERY inaccurate. It's better read as an "inspired by Norse Mythology" book. Basically, it's fan fiction.
on “Study: DNA corroborates “Well-man” tale from Norse saga” ↗…what I read for my work (MS in CS), so I'll stick with fiction. This year was slow for me reading-wise. Not a whole lot: - The Blind Owl / Sadegh Hedayat - Prince of Annwn (Mabinogion Tetralogy #1) - Norse Mythology / Gaiman: read it before accusations came out - Brief Interviews with Hideous Men / David F Wallace - A Connecticut Yankee ... / Mark Twain (not yet finished)
on “Ask HN: What did you read in 2025?” ↗I had that Greek Myth book plus D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Mythology.
on “The case for not sanitising fairy tales” ↗