hardcover
English language
Published Oct. 29, 2001 by Bloomsbury Publishing.
In this inventive, short, yet perfectly formed novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back.In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he's had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy.Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle-three creatures with a strange story to tell.Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined-a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.It's going to take a very special kind of twelve-year-old boy to outwit the Frost Giants, restore peace to the city of gods, and end the long winter.Someone cheerful and infuriating and …
In this inventive, short, yet perfectly formed novel inspired by traditional Norse mythology, Neil Gaiman takes readers on a wild and magical trip to the land of giants and gods and back.In a village in ancient Norway lives a boy named Odd, and he's had some very bad luck: His father perished in a Viking expedition; a tree fell on and shattered his leg; the endless freezing winter is making villagers dangerously grumpy.Out in the forest Odd encounters a bear, a fox, and an eagle-three creatures with a strange story to tell.Now Odd is forced on a stranger journey than he had imagined-a journey to save Asgard, city of the gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it.It's going to take a very special kind of twelve-year-old boy to outwit the Frost Giants, restore peace to the city of gods, and end the long winter.Someone cheerful and infuriating and clever . . .Someone just like Odd.
A tale of love and beauty and resilience, in the usual Gaiman's style which I love - I read the version illustrated by Chris Riddell, and it's amazing. I recommend it.
it's no secret that i love neil gaiman and he didn't disappoint.
this book is aimed at the younger ones so it's a more straight-forward story: very mythic/legends type stuff. in fact, many of the characters are norse gods, and live up to their reputations. odd (sounding alot like the endearing 'bod' of the graveyard book) is the boy that grows in more ways than one when he conquers a giant.
i read this aloud to my children, and ds - himself a fan of all thing mythology - knew alot of the side plots that were only hinted at. consequently, i think this book would serve as a great gateway to starting norse mythology with somewhat reluctant children.
