Saga: A Novel of Medieval Iceland

by Jeff Janoda

This retelling of the ancient Saga of the People of Eyri is a modern classic. Absolutely gripping and compulsively readable, Booklist said this book, "does what good historical fiction is supposed to put a face on history that is recognizable to all." And medieval expert Tom Shippey, writing for the Times Literary Supplement said, "Sagas look like novels superficially, in their size and layout and plain language, but making their narratives into novels is a trick which has proved beyond most who have tried it. Janoda's Saga provides a model of how to do pick out the hidden currents, imagine how they would seem to peripheral characters, and as with all historical novels, load the narrative with period detail drawn from the scholars. No better saga adaptation has been yet written."

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Fantasy

376 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2005

Reviews

[Cornapecha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado bastante. Por empezar por lo negativo, lo peor son los nombres. Hay montones de personajes que se llaman Thor-algo y en determinados momentos es complicado saber quién es cada uno. Otro punto (relativamente) negativo es que al estar basado en relatos de la tradición islandesa el tono es, digamos, "clásico", así que no esperes batallas épicas, dragones cruzando el cielo ni ejércitos avanzando sobre el campo de batalla. Si eso es lo que esperas, olvídate.

El libro trata sobre la vida de los primeros habitantes de la isla, familias que llegaban de Noruega alrededor del siglo X buscando una tierra virgen donde crecer y escapar del agobio del rígido feudalismo nórdico de aquella época. Por hacer un paralelismo un poco bruto, al estilo de la conquista del Oeste en EEUU, casi mil años después, porque la propiedad de la tierra era del primero que llegaba, la reclamaba y era capaz de defender esa reclamación. La historia transcurre un par de generaciones después de esa llegada. Los nuevos islandeses se enfrentan a una tierra poco generosa y a un clima severo, así que hay mucho trabajo duro y poco tiempo para batallitas.

Pero aún así, Janoda sabe hilar un relato muy intenso, en el que la ambición, la codicia y la tradición tejen un fresco muy interesante. También creo que por ser gallego y nacer en una cultura en que la posesión de la tierra es un eje central de la vida, tan importante como en esa Islandia primígena, me ha atraído lo que cuenta el libro. Todo ello refrescado por el exotismo de una sociedad de la que no hay demasiado material para todos los públicos y que se nota que Janoda conoce al dedillo. Ah, y el elemento fantástico imbricado en la vida cotidiana, algo tan gallego también.

Recomendable si te gusta la narrativa histórica sin grandilocuentes batallas, o si eres de un sitio donde la gente podía matar si un vecino le movía el marco de una propiedad ;)

[Estibaliz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2.

Novela histórica basada en las sagas islandesas, cuyo espíritu recoge de forma convincente y amena. Una auténtica historia sobre la lucha por el poder, repleta de traiciones y venganzas, un tanto repetitiva en algún momento. Le falta algo para ser verdaderamente apasionante, pero en todo caso es una buena lectura y mejor exponente del subgénero.

[Daniel Velazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me pareció excelente, aunque la trama no te engancha desde el inicio, realmente hace una magnifica descripción de la Islandia medieval.

[Kcatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I ... I like it.

The names were confusing. A bunch of times I found myself staring at a name, trying to remember who that person was. But I could mostly keep track of the characters. I didn't realize that they were all named after Thor, because nobody really invoked the god Thor in the book.

It was a beautiful story. Janoda captured perfectly the harsh, cruel, unsatisfactory life for the Norse in Iceland. Most of the characters were given their time and their voices, and never were they painted as all good or all bad. They were human - harsh, but human. (Except for Thorolf. But he was a right bastard, so whatever.) And the twisting, turning plot always kept you on your toes.

And the takeaway from this book? Justice is complicated, and never completely right.

[Rob Trump · Rating 3 out of 5]

An endless feud of blood and politicking (mostly politicking) in medieval Iceland. Wonderfully light touches of the fantastic in with the mundane. Psychologically and morally opaque, which can be fun but can be frustrating.

[Rob73 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juego de tronos Islandés.
Entretenidísima novela basada en una saga Islandesa, en la que los primeros habitantes de la isla, luchan por el poder.
La he disfrutado de principio a fin.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting through this one. Essentially, the book is a novelization of historical events as passed down through oral tradition and culminating in the "Saga of the People of Eyri,". Since I am not familiar with the source material, I simply read it as a novel of medieval Icelandic cultures.

I did enjoy the writing style quite a lot and I appreciated the author’s ability to paint a nice portrait of the landscape of the small portion of Iceland where the story takes place. But I did struggle with several aspects, especially the characters. There is no central protagonist to root for (although several could be considered the protagonist at various parts of the novel) and I found myself somewhat adrift. The plot is basically about two chieftains caught in a long-lasting power struggle over land ownership and the shifting loyalties of their followers. If anything, reading this book has convinced me of the need for explicit laws to follow and not leaving important decisions in the hands of whomever happens to hold power at any particular time. With a power struggle at the core, the plot naturally results in plenty of bloody one-upmanship and death.

Another thing that I struggled with was the confusing character names. It was difficult to keep straight characters whose names include: Thorbrand, Thorfinn, Onund, Thorgils, Oreakja, Thorleif, Thormod, Thorodd, Orlyg, and Thorolf, and many many more. I suppose there is not much the author can do about that considering the story is based on historical material.

Finally, I took real issue with the chapter titles, which often acted as spoilers. Why on earth would you title a chapter, “Of the Death of xxx” or “Of the Slaying of xxx” or “Of xxx Humbled”. It really cuts down on the suspense of what’s coming, especially a climactic one-on-one battle when you know who is going to get struck down.

Perhaps my reading experience would have been better had I been familiar with the original sagas but unfortunately I cannot enthusiastically recommend this novel.

[Ian Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Saga" is a refreshing departure from the current slew of "Viking lit" chock full of tattooed, battle-hungry warriors, shield walls, shield maidens, dragon ships, church raids, rape and pillage, feasting, drunken debauchery and sword craft. Not that there is anything wrong with these types of tales as entertainment, but they are hardly historical and 99% fiction. Jeff Janoda achieves something much more difficult, a Viking story that transports you back to 10th century Iceland, as it really was. His vivid descriptions capture the reality of Iceland: the cold dark winters, the black sea, the howling wind, the precarious food situation. It's a place of stark natural beauty that demands unceasing hard labor in order to merely survive. We follow the fortunes of two rival "gothi" or local chieftains, as they maneuver their followers and plot the others' downfall, presumably so they can acquire more land, and therefore power. While the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, Mr. Janoda weaves in abundant historical details; we see how they dress, how they spend their days, what they eat, their home life. We also see their religion, their politics and law, their code of honor, and belief in the Otherworld, where elves are a real and malevolent presence. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting a sense of how medieval Icelanders really lived, versus the mass-produced Hollywood versions.

[HimarBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cuando encontré un libro de vikingos en Islandia, me sentí obligado a comprarlo. Me encanta la cultura vikinga e Islandia me fascina por lo que supuse que esta combinación, plasmada en un libro, iba a gustarme.
Quizá tenía unas expectativas muy altas pero no sentí ese enamoramiento que esperaba y esas ganas de beberme cada página de la novela.
Los capítulos son, a mi juicio, excesivamente grandes por lo que creo que hace que la novela se ralentice demasiado. Además, la noté con poca acción. El autor, a veces, se concentraba mucho en hablar sobre las particularidades jurídicas ya no solo de la civilización nórdica sino también de la islandesa en particular y que si no lo combinas bien con esas dosis de acción, hace que la novela pueda ser un poco tediosa.
Por otro lado, se aprende mucho acerca de la civilización islandesa de la época a pesar de ser una historia ficticia, y esto, para alguien que le gusta esta temática, resulta un relato muy interesante y enriquecedor.
En definitiva, esperaba una novela de ritmo alto y con mucha acción pero después de leerla, su valor recae sobre el conocimiento que te otorga sobre las costumbres, tradiciones y folclore de los vikingos islandeses más que la historia que se cuenta en sí.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha gustado bastante. Llevaba tiempo sin leer novela histórica, y ha sido una vuelta al género que he disfrutado mucho. La historia, per se, no resulta especialmente épica o sorprendente, pero ahí reside gran parte de su valor, pues Janoda crea una estampa muy realista y atractiva de leer de la Islandia del siglo X. Refleja bastante bien (creo yo) el espíritu de las sagas nórdicas, pero la novela no es tan complicada de seguir, al tener mayor espacio para desarrollarse con calma. También el tema sobrenatural lo lleva con mucho tino, sin plantear una novela de fantasía, pero sin tampoco racionalizarlo de forma innecesaria, logrando ponerte en la cosmovisión de les protagonistas. Muy recomendada.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book rated a rave review by Professor Tom Shippey and a mention in his magnificent book on Vikings, Laughing Shall I Die: Lives and Deaths of the Great Vikings, both of which it richly deserves. This is a fine novel, based on an Icelandic saga, of a violent time and place, and I highly recommend it.

[Terri Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Janoda put a new spin on a very difficult subject. Iceland has long been mysterious and takes a lot of study to write a good period piece with a new story. Jeff once told me that he put years of research into this story and it shows. The story has you on the edge of your seat and totally involved. I found it difficult to put it down. I do hope to read more of his work some time. Must read.

[Moriquen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book last night and I really liked it. The story always has a nice pace and you feel like all of this could have actually happened. Janoda gives you a real look into a society that is in a constant struggle to survive the harsh surroudings (and each other). The ending was a bit of an anti-climax, but it suited the story very well!

[MIG_ASE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flojo. Al final muchas hojas para no contar nada, al menos nada que no fuese bastante obvio desde le principio. 400 hojas para presentar a los personajes y 10 para el desenlace que además era previsible, ... incluyendo moralina (ya sabes, quien a hierro mata ...)

Le doy 3* por la ambientación en la Islandia medieval y ya.

[Lluís Vella Escola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malgrat ser una història de ficció, ajuda força a conèixer els ritus, costums i forma d'organitzar-se de la població islandesa dels voltants de l'any 1000. Amb un fort component místic i amb esperit didàctic, aprenem la importància dels sacrificis i els esperits en la vida diària dels vells nòrdics.

[Benjamin Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this retelling of the sagas, or at least one of the sagas. The characters are interesting, their motivations are fascinating - the desire for land and power, the machinations - Janoda brings it all to life very effectively. He has obviously done his research, and brings a great deal of understanding to these dark, medieval times.

[Esteban García · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una historia bien desarrollada, mantiene la atención a medida en que se van revelando los conflictos entre familias.
Las lealtades se ponen en entredicho y quiénes deben hacer cumplir la justicia no necesariamente son tan honorables como aparentan.

[Jessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pesar de confundirme un poco con los nombres, me gustó bastante

[Rana Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing - complicated but amazing. Don't miss the glossary at the back, it will help you so much. One of my favourite books.

[Olivia Cinta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es muy entretenido, me encantó

[Karen Ruymann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take this journey.
This novel is so different than any historical fiction you have read. The medieval Icelandic cultural ideals are fascinating, if a bit brutal. The novel is well paced, the plot captivating.

[Sara]

I'm not sure I can give this a star rating. It wouldn't be fair. This is a work of historical fiction based on legendary Icelandic sagas, but since I'm not familiar with the source material, I could only read it as a work of fiction. Many reviewers on Amazon seem to be much more familiar with the sagas, so they are a better resource for learning about this book in its proper context. Scholars of medieval Scandinavian history and literature really seem to like it a lot.

That said, I'll write a little review just based on me reading the book as a work of fiction. In this context, I would give it 3 stars, which is supposed to mean "I liked it."

This book is about a group of people living on a remote peninsula in western Iceland, I believe sometime in the 900s A.D. There are several chieftains, their retainers, slaves, and freedmen who do not yet have full rights. Various characters are linked by blood, marriage, or other social relationships like chieftain/retainer or chieftain/slave. They live close to each other on farms on which one can barely make a living. Everything from wood to decent food is scarce, so people end up fighting a lot over what land and resources there are. Inheritance becomes a huge issue.

When a freedman is murdered, the tense situation between neighbors becomes explosive. Events are set in motion that affect everyone living near the fjord. Over the course of a number of years, loyalties are tested and blood feuds simmer, never forgotten, until the time is right for revenge. Ghosts and dark "elves" lurking in the shadows make people fearful. The wheelings and dealings of the scheming, often power-hungry chieftains also make life interesting (sometimes in a good way, but not usually) for their retainers, slaves and freedmen.

The historical details here were great. I loved reading about what people ate, what they did all day, what they thought about their gods, what weapons they used, how they fought, how they made and interpreted law...all of that. This book really gives an in-depth look at people's lives in a very different time and place. It's a medieval world where rotten whale meat might be a treat, but it's also a complex society where people are concerned not only with strength of arms, but also with trying to find a way to live somewhat peacefully according to law. Of course, human nature is always the pesky ol' problem it always has been. People have the same regrets, fears, jealousies, rivalries, etc. that they have today, and they don't always act rationally.

So, I liked the historical detail. Some of the characters were colorful as well. But since there wasn't a main character (probably a function of the story being based on earlier source material), I felt like there was no one to really connect with or root for. This kept me from engaging as deeply with the story as I might have and made it a slow-moving read for me. All in all, I was glad I read it. I learned a lot of interesting things and enjoyed the way everything and everyone in the story was intricately interconnected.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a novelized retelling of the "Saga of the People of Eyri," written by a nameless Norsemen around 1270 AD. Set in 10th-century Iceland, the novel weaves a darkly grim narrative tapestry, the component threads of which are the lives of chieftains and slaves, farmers, warriors, and fishermen, each struggling to prosper in a harsh land that is convincingly rendered through Janoda's obviously extensive research.

Foremost in importance both to the story and in the lives of its characters is the annual "Thing," a legal assembly for redressing wrongs--complete with elected jurors--that stood out in stark contrast to the less progressive forms of justice existing in the wider world of feudal Europe. It is within this surprisingly egalitarian social structure that the characters enter into a struggle over control of the precious land available to them on the unforgiving island of rock and ice. This is not to say that strength of arms, treachery, and even a ritualistic adherence to practices founded in both religion and cultural superstition do not come into play, but these elements simply augment the struggle which is ultimately one of political, economic, and legal machinations.

Most impressive is the manner in which Janoda manages to shift among various characters' perspectives, keeping the reader emotionally invested in the story without ever really establishing clear heroes or villains. Rather, each character possesses virtues and flaws, and one finds oneself sympathizing with characters who initially seem villainous while simultaneously finding it difficult to relish the victories of the would-be protagonists in situations where the ends don't always seem to justify the means. The result is far from an easy read; the journey from cover to cover is variously uncomfortable, emotionally taxing, and quietly unsettling, but it is a compelling and ultimately rewarding experience.

Also, while the ambiguity in terms of protagonist is initially disconcerting, the more the reader learns about the culture of the medieval Icelandic Free State, the more it becomes apparent that this approach is particularly well suited to the subject matter. At one point in the story, a visiting Norwegian merchant is dumbfounded by the fact that the people of Iceland eschew the more warlike approach to dispute resolution practiced elsewhere in the world. A chieftain provides the merchant with the following answer: "We are too tightly woven in the Free State to march off and slay each other in long lines, shield beside shield. Our enemy is often our best ally's cousin, or uncle. It is good and wise and altogether a manly thing to protect oneself within the Law, with others to argue for you, and seek an answer that gives everyone honor." It is the insularity of Iceland, the shared burden of living and working with each other to eek out life from the wintry soil and the surrounding sea, that allows such a system to work--indeed that forces such a system into place. This system is artfully mirrored by Janoda's unconventional narrative choices.

[Jessica Strider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pros: engaging, intricate plotlines, lots of political intrigue

Cons: the names are confusing for the first few chapters

Jeff Janoda took the Icelandic sagas and turned them into living stories. Reading his prose felt like listening to a storyteller. He has just enough description to give you a sense of place and people, religion and culture. His characters develop throughout the novel, some becoming more naive, others growing up fast. There's a lot of political intrigue, and just enough action to keep you reading.

The story is about the various feuds begun when Thorolf cuts the hay from both his meadow and that of his neighbour, Ulfar. When Ulfar tries to get satisfaction for this theft, he's forced to change allegiance, an act that spirals into a cold war for land and influence.

One of the most fascinating things about the story is the idea that with so much interbreeding, blood feuds are simply not practical. So most legal affairs are dealt with at the yearly Thing, where the Gothi, clan leaders, pass judgement. Of course, once some of the Gothi start taking matters into their own hands, blood feud becomes a real possibility.

The only complaint I had about the book (and it would have been impossible to get rid of) was the number of names that started with a 'T'. Thorbrand, Thorgils, Thorleif and Thorolf are all major characters introduced in the first few chapters. The author provides a glossary of names, but I never looked at it, choosing to flip back to earlier passages to help get the names straight.

This is an excellent novel and if you have any interest in Iceland, medieval or otherwise, I highly recommend it.

[Clarice]

Sadly, I had to abandon this novel - not because I wasn't enjoying it, but because the eBook copy is defective.

The first defect I noticed was when Chapter III ended abruptly in the middle of a sentence. Although I worried that I might be missing more than the end of a sentence- maybe I was missing a paragraph or even half of the chapter - I decided to "soldier-on" hoping I hadn't missed anything important to the overall plot.

Then, when the same problem occurred in Chapter IV, I decided to quit reading. This was at the 32% mark and, although I was REALLY enjoying the story, I didn't want to invest any more of my time reading only to possibly discover that more chapters (maybe even the LAST chapter) were incomplete.

My first course of action was to alert the author to the problem and see if he would be willing to provide a corrected/complete e-copy of his book. To his credit, Mr. Janoda responded promptly and offered to mail me a paper copy. Unfortunately, this wasn't an acceptable solution for me. My old eyes need the option of enlarging text and the back-lighting provided by my eReader.

So, I returned the eBook to Amazon for a refund and suggested they discontinue selling the eBook version of "Saga" until these glaring omissions were corrected.

[Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Medieval Iceland, two farmers fight over a piece of land. When Ulfar turns to a local chieftain for help, he sets in motion a series of events, of schemes and counter-schemes, that will not be put to rest until much blood has been spilled and the political landscape of Swan’s Fjord has been changed forever.

Saga is a wonderful book based on the old Icelandic sagas. The story is fantastic and the storytelling does it justice. Janoda manages to build and maintain suspense. and the climax is masterfully pulled off. He also manages to capture the element of “cabin fever” in a landscape that forces families to be indoors for many months each year. This was one of those books that I felt sad to finish, wishing it could have kept going. Definitely a rare treasure of a book and highly recommended!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a little bit of a tricky read because the names were hard to keep track of. I found it bizarrely interesting. It didn't have the usual elements of a book that draw me in but I still persisted in reading it. If I had to describe it, I'd say I was somewhat emotionally detached from the characters and despite much excitement at times in the plot, I never really experienced it in the same way I usually do with books I read. I did appreciate the setting due to a course I took in college on Scandinavian epics and sagas.

[Booknerd Fraser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somebody at NPR tried to tell me this was a fantasy, but that's not the case. This novel is anthropological if anything, full of dour, sour Icelanders jockeying for power and position in 970s western Iceland. Very interesting colorful characters, but not a lotta laughs. It's a modern re-write of one of the Icelandic sagas, so there is some authenticity.

[Michael A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as I toured the ring road in Iceland, and it was fascinating to imagine the historical characters as we crossed the country. The book supplied a enjoyable version of the culture and history of the early settlers of Iceland. The author was realistic and included the violence that occurred in the competition for resources.

[Gusdiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

On it's way to becoming an excellent historical novel, when the characters become fully developed, flushed out and invogorating the novel ends. The one line missing from the book is "the dead will have their say". Why not love the characters instead of just studying them?