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The Tribes of Yggdrasil #1
Dawning of the Wolf Age
Some doors should never be opened.
“My name is Haldor Olsen. I was happy once. I had everything a man could want: a good job, a beautiful wife and an amazing son. In a flash it was ripped away. What remains is a raging ember of what I once was. The Hrymar came without warning, hungry for slaves. At first attacking ships, and then our first colony on Epsilon Eridani. Now they’re coming for Earth. I have to stop them… somehow.”
In 2013, two researchers deciphered a puzzle on an ancient Scandinavian runestone leading to contact with an alien race, the Alfar, 600 light-years away; A century later, millions would wish they'd never unlocked that secret.
The benevolent Alfar uplifted mankind technologically and taught them that 180,000 years ago, the Norse Gods seeded their world as well as Earth. The Gods instructed the Alfar to shepherd humanity to the stars once they'd advanced enough to unlock the secret on the runestones; this great gift became a curse.
As man plied the stars and began colonization, they encountered other advanced races, including the Hrymar, depraved slave traders.
In 2128, Haldor Olsen, a government explorer and sometime spy, becomes a reluctant hero when his home is attacked, and he's faced with losing everything he loves. He travels hundreds of light-years in a frantic race to save mankind from enslavement by an inhuman enemy.
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Brothers will fight and kill each other,
sisters’ children will defile kinship.
It is harsh in the world, whoredom rife
an axe age, a sword age
shields are riven,
a wind age, a wolf age
before the world goes headlong.
No man will have mercy on another.
- Voluspa
*Note: for those who've read my short story "The Yggdrasil Codex" it's included as the Prologue in my novel. If you've read the short story, just skip to Chapter 1.
“My name is Haldor Olsen. I was happy once. I had everything a man could want: a good job, a beautiful wife and an amazing son. In a flash it was ripped away. What remains is a raging ember of what I once was. The Hrymar came without warning, hungry for slaves. At first attacking ships, and then our first colony on Epsilon Eridani. Now they’re coming for Earth. I have to stop them… somehow.”
In 2013, two researchers deciphered a puzzle on an ancient Scandinavian runestone leading to contact with an alien race, the Alfar, 600 light-years away; A century later, millions would wish they'd never unlocked that secret.
The benevolent Alfar uplifted mankind technologically and taught them that 180,000 years ago, the Norse Gods seeded their world as well as Earth. The Gods instructed the Alfar to shepherd humanity to the stars once they'd advanced enough to unlock the secret on the runestones; this great gift became a curse.
As man plied the stars and began colonization, they encountered other advanced races, including the Hrymar, depraved slave traders.
In 2128, Haldor Olsen, a government explorer and sometime spy, becomes a reluctant hero when his home is attacked, and he's faced with losing everything he loves. He travels hundreds of light-years in a frantic race to save mankind from enslavement by an inhuman enemy.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Brothers will fight and kill each other,
sisters’ children will defile kinship.
It is harsh in the world, whoredom rife
an axe age, a sword age
shields are riven,
a wind age, a wolf age
before the world goes headlong.
No man will have mercy on another.
- Voluspa
*Note: for those who've read my short story "The Yggdrasil Codex" it's included as the Prologue in my novel. If you've read the short story, just skip to Chapter 1.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
Hugh B. Long
22 books33 followersHugh B. Long is an Award Winning Canadian Journalist and Best Selling Author. He writes full time, and is passionate about Science Fiction and Fantasy rooted in Viking Mythology. He also writes Norse and Viking themed non-fiction under his pen name – Eoghan Odinsson.
Graduating from the University of Aberdeen‘s School of Engineering in Scotland with his Masters of Science degree, he subsequently taught for the University, and was a dissertation advisor for graduate students.
In addition to his academic background, Hugh also holds a Black Belt in Shito-Ryu Karate, a Brown Belt in Budoshin Ju-Jitsu, and was study group leader in D.C. for the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts. (Historical European Martial Arts). Hugh has taught Martial Arts in Canada and the USA.
Hugh recently returned from a 10 year stretch working in the Washington D.C. area, and is now back in his native Ottawa Valley where he lives with his wife, son and two dogs.
Hugh is a professional member of the Canadian Author’s Association
Graduating from the University of Aberdeen‘s School of Engineering in Scotland with his Masters of Science degree, he subsequently taught for the University, and was a dissertation advisor for graduate students.
In addition to his academic background, Hugh also holds a Black Belt in Shito-Ryu Karate, a Brown Belt in Budoshin Ju-Jitsu, and was study group leader in D.C. for the Association of Renaissance Martial Arts. (Historical European Martial Arts). Hugh has taught Martial Arts in Canada and the USA.
Hugh recently returned from a 10 year stretch working in the Washington D.C. area, and is now back in his native Ottawa Valley where he lives with his wife, son and two dogs.
Hugh is a professional member of the Canadian Author’s Association
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 11, 2014
This book follows the interesting premise that the Norse Gods of Mythology had seeded worlds with the life of Humans, Alfar (Elves and Trolls) etc.. The great grandson of the man who discovered this is the protaganist in this book. His world is attacked by a warlike off shoot of the Alfar who are slavers, and his family are enslaved or killed.
The premise of the resurgence of polytheism in the future is interesting and unique. The book is full of quotes and accurate well researched references to Asatruar (Modern polytheist religion of the Norse). The characters are well developed and the plot is sufficiently captivating to keep you reading and waiting to see what comes next.
Some things do put me off on this book and make it less believable. The use of E and O pay grade rather than rank is unrealistic. Instead of private, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain you get e1, e2, e3, o1, o3 etc.. There are no NCO characters such as the old experienced Gunnery Sergeant, or old salt Chief Petty Officer. This makes what would otherwise be an epic book and plausible read into a good book worth reading that makes you cringe a little when it goes into describing the military side of the book ie a sniper would never be an E1 unless he has been busted down since it is a specialty that requires experience and training time that would denote a higher rank. The science as pertains to combat in space, and some of the other explanations need some work but I must say they are well described and makes this book a cut above the average space opera..
That's the negative part of this book but at the end of the day this book is well worth reading and I highly recommend it. I gave it 4 stars because of the military and science side but the story and premise makes this book a must read.
The premise of the resurgence of polytheism in the future is interesting and unique. The book is full of quotes and accurate well researched references to Asatruar (Modern polytheist religion of the Norse). The characters are well developed and the plot is sufficiently captivating to keep you reading and waiting to see what comes next.
Some things do put me off on this book and make it less believable. The use of E and O pay grade rather than rank is unrealistic. Instead of private, corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, captain you get e1, e2, e3, o1, o3 etc.. There are no NCO characters such as the old experienced Gunnery Sergeant, or old salt Chief Petty Officer. This makes what would otherwise be an epic book and plausible read into a good book worth reading that makes you cringe a little when it goes into describing the military side of the book ie a sniper would never be an E1 unless he has been busted down since it is a specialty that requires experience and training time that would denote a higher rank. The science as pertains to combat in space, and some of the other explanations need some work but I must say they are well described and makes this book a cut above the average space opera..
That's the negative part of this book but at the end of the day this book is well worth reading and I highly recommend it. I gave it 4 stars because of the military and science side but the story and premise makes this book a must read.
March 10, 2015
Star Wolves by Hugh B. Long is a space epic that opens in 2128, a little more than a century after Earth’s first contact with beings from another solar system. Humans have recently established New Midgard, the first colony outside the solar system of our Sun.
The first scene of the book introduces the Hrymar, a confederation of blood-thirsty tribes in the distant Alnitak AB solar system. The Hrymar appear primitive at first, but we soon learn that they possess highly advanced technology and are disturbingly curious about the newly discovered space-going race known as humans.
One of the most creative aspects of this book is that it is based on the premise that the Norse gods of legend are real. They left clues and guidance for modern people as well as for sentient beings from other planets. In the hands of Long, this idea leads to a believable fictional world populated by characters we care about. The main character is Haldor Olsen, who wants nothing more than to settle down on his little farm in New Midgard but willingly answers the call when help is needed. With New Midgard and Earth under attack, humans and their new allies must battle at a scale that once seemed impossible. We learn that the apparently idyllic levels of cooperation seen on Earth before the big battle had cracks that had not previously been noticed.
Star Wolves is a fast-paced and enjoyable tale that science fiction fans will savor. The story will leave you wanting more, and fortunately Book 2 is already available!
The first scene of the book introduces the Hrymar, a confederation of blood-thirsty tribes in the distant Alnitak AB solar system. The Hrymar appear primitive at first, but we soon learn that they possess highly advanced technology and are disturbingly curious about the newly discovered space-going race known as humans.
One of the most creative aspects of this book is that it is based on the premise that the Norse gods of legend are real. They left clues and guidance for modern people as well as for sentient beings from other planets. In the hands of Long, this idea leads to a believable fictional world populated by characters we care about. The main character is Haldor Olsen, who wants nothing more than to settle down on his little farm in New Midgard but willingly answers the call when help is needed. With New Midgard and Earth under attack, humans and their new allies must battle at a scale that once seemed impossible. We learn that the apparently idyllic levels of cooperation seen on Earth before the big battle had cracks that had not previously been noticed.
Star Wolves is a fast-paced and enjoyable tale that science fiction fans will savor. The story will leave you wanting more, and fortunately Book 2 is already available!
March 16, 2015
The author has a really good concept developed here. The action is fast paced and the characters are interesting, though only the lead really gets developed beyond superficial. The technology is logically consistent from current scientific theory and believable. This is a good new saga to lose yourself in. The only drawback that I've seem is that he could use a proof reader. There are the occasional mix up of character names, missed word, or misuse of the right word (to instead of too, their instead of they're type of thing.
February 15, 2015
I loved this book. To me it seemed a Stargate'ish Space Opera with heavy Norse influence. But it was quite a bit more than that. I will definitely be reading the second in this series to see what goes on from here.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews