![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Got it. Read it. (Well, it's not that long.)
So.
We've got a bunch of pictures, most of which looks pretty familiar.
We've got introductions to each major character, with an intro from Hirst himself, a brief rundown of the historical background, followed by comments from actors, directors, costume people. Something similiar goes for the various major settings and a number of important scenes. There's some nice details there, and some nice anecdotes along the way.
Also, the book is divided into chapters introduced in the voice of various main characters.
Mostly, I'd say the book doesn't contain anything new. At least, not if you've had three years of being invested in the show already - and have already done the historical research on your own. It's not a book I'd recommend as an introduction to actual viking culture and history, but they do reference a number of the inspirations for various things. So that's good. Though it seems like sometimes the historical parts feel - well, once or twice I would have liked them to quote their sources.
Random stuff:
Apparently, Clive Standen, at least, thinks that Rollo and Lagertha were in an actual relationship before Lagertha and Ragnar got involved. Which contradicts the comic, but then, the comic can only be canon if we accept that Björn is not Ragnar's son, so, let's call the comic not canon. Anyway, I disagree with Clive, but that's my interpretation, so...
I wish they had included more concept art and less of the same pictures we've already seen.
I notice that, while they included a very brief version of the story of Sigurd and Brynhilde, then the bit about Aslaug skips the story about how she was the original Cinderella entirely. Like the tv show.
I like that the bit about the many sons of Ragnar included the bit about Ivar being "with no lust or love". Here's me still hoping the next gen seasons will include a canon aro/ace.
Also, there was stuff about Hvitserk raiding the Rus and Sigurd marrying the daughter of Aella - Judith? Well, age difference is somebody's kink.
Dear Donal Logue - please tell me where that statue of King Horik in Denmark is supposed to be? I've never heard of it, but we've got tons of statues in this bloody country, so that's hardly anything to go by.
Also, somebody, please point me in the general direction of the Old Norse poem with the line about fucking the Pope in Rome.
All in all, it's not an amazing book, but it's alright. I think it's a shame they didn't take the opportunity to include the comics in proper, large print and nice colours (and gave me a chance to actually read the third), but what can you do? And I suppose if the show lasts for a few more seasons well get a second edition, with more detailed chapters on the juniors and maybe stuff from, oh, I dunno, Cordoba? Or somebody could buy the rights to do a Vikings rpg?
So.
We've got a bunch of pictures, most of which looks pretty familiar.
We've got introductions to each major character, with an intro from Hirst himself, a brief rundown of the historical background, followed by comments from actors, directors, costume people. Something similiar goes for the various major settings and a number of important scenes. There's some nice details there, and some nice anecdotes along the way.
Also, the book is divided into chapters introduced in the voice of various main characters.
Mostly, I'd say the book doesn't contain anything new. At least, not if you've had three years of being invested in the show already - and have already done the historical research on your own. It's not a book I'd recommend as an introduction to actual viking culture and history, but they do reference a number of the inspirations for various things. So that's good. Though it seems like sometimes the historical parts feel - well, once or twice I would have liked them to quote their sources.
Random stuff:
Apparently, Clive Standen, at least, thinks that Rollo and Lagertha were in an actual relationship before Lagertha and Ragnar got involved. Which contradicts the comic, but then, the comic can only be canon if we accept that Björn is not Ragnar's son, so, let's call the comic not canon. Anyway, I disagree with Clive, but that's my interpretation, so...
I wish they had included more concept art and less of the same pictures we've already seen.
I notice that, while they included a very brief version of the story of Sigurd and Brynhilde, then the bit about Aslaug skips the story about how she was the original Cinderella entirely. Like the tv show.
I like that the bit about the many sons of Ragnar included the bit about Ivar being "with no lust or love". Here's me still hoping the next gen seasons will include a canon aro/ace.
Also, there was stuff about Hvitserk raiding the Rus and Sigurd marrying the daughter of Aella - Judith? Well, age difference is somebody's kink.
Dear Donal Logue - please tell me where that statue of King Horik in Denmark is supposed to be? I've never heard of it, but we've got tons of statues in this bloody country, so that's hardly anything to go by.
Also, somebody, please point me in the general direction of the Old Norse poem with the line about fucking the Pope in Rome.
All in all, it's not an amazing book, but it's alright. I think it's a shame they didn't take the opportunity to include the comics in proper, large print and nice colours (and gave me a chance to actually read the third), but what can you do? And I suppose if the show lasts for a few more seasons well get a second edition, with more detailed chapters on the juniors and maybe stuff from, oh, I dunno, Cordoba? Or somebody could buy the rights to do a Vikings rpg?