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Day of the Giants
Battle of the giants. Leif Svensen's neighbor, come to warn him that the farmers were going to take violent action against his dog for killing their livestock, mentioned that he'd seen an angel the night before. "Big blonde woman on a white horse, singing loud enough to raise the dead, about a hundred feet up in the air."
Then, on his way to find his madcap twin, Leif met the stranger who knew his name and who spoke of "the Fimbulwinter already upon us." Fimbulwinter! The dreadful winter that in Norse mythology preceded Ragnarok - the final war between the gods and the giants! Fimbulwinter - which presaged the Day of the Giants.
Leif Svensen and his brother were caught up in the destinies of a real but alien world. For if the giants triumphed, they would overrun Earth; and if the Aesir - the gods - won, Earth would be their footstool.
Then, on his way to find his madcap twin, Leif met the stranger who knew his name and who spoke of "the Fimbulwinter already upon us." Fimbulwinter! The dreadful winter that in Norse mythology preceded Ragnarok - the final war between the gods and the giants! Fimbulwinter - which presaged the Day of the Giants.
Leif Svensen and his brother were caught up in the destinies of a real but alien world. For if the giants triumphed, they would overrun Earth; and if the Aesir - the gods - won, Earth would be their footstool.
128 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1958
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181 people want to read
About the author
Lester del Rey
635 books117 followersLester del Rey was an American science fiction author and editor. Del Rey is especially famous for his juvenile novels such as those which are part of the Winston Science Fiction series, and for Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction branch of Ballantine Books edited by Lester del Rey and his fourth wife Judy-Lynn del Rey.
Also published as:
Philip St. John
Eric van Lihn
Erik van Lhin
Kenneth Wright
Edson McCann (with Frederik Pohl)
Also published as:
Philip St. John
Eric van Lihn
Erik van Lhin
Kenneth Wright
Edson McCann (with Frederik Pohl)
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 3, 2009
In a mere 128 pages, Lester Del Rey tells a better story than most modern writers can in 500. Day of the Giants feels astonishingly slim next to the mammoth tomes which are de rigueur these days, but that slimness just points up the fact that most of those gargantuan books are simply padded.
The book is very strongly reminiscent of the Compleat Enchanter series by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt. Both feature modern twentieth-century men who are unexpectedly faced with the world of Norse mythology. But while the situation was expertly played for laughs by de Camp and Pratt (the Compleat Enchanter series is rightfully considered a classic of the genre), in Day of the Giants del Rey plays it straight. Fimbulwinter has descended on the Earth, Ragnarok approaches, and two twin brothers - one a war hero, the other a farmer - have been taken up to Asgard by Loki and Thor to play a role in the final battle.
The interaction of modern science with magic and mythology is always interesting. I consider one of the failures of the Harry Potter series to be J.K. Rowling's relative neglect of that topic. For example, didn't witches care about the threat of nuclear war, or or ecological collapse? Surely witches who grew up as Muggles, as Harry did, must have been aware of those dangers - so why weren't they addressed? The idea of two societies existing side by side, with one unknown to the other, has all sorts of interesting possibilities...none of which were addressed by Rowling.
It's true that the issue of science vs. magic has become a cliche in modern genre fiction. But it certainly wasn't a cliche in 1959, when DotG was published.
In Day of the Giants, the interaction of science and mythology is handled in a much more satisfying way (I am tempted to compare the relative page counts of DotG with the Harry Potter series, just for laughs). del Rey's handling of the characters is never awkward or clumsy. By the end of the book, I found myself more satisfied than I've been at the end of many a weightier tome.
I suppose that there's no way that a 128-page novel is ever going to be reissued by a modern publisher, so Day of the Giants will remain a curiosity, only to be found in libraries and used book stores. That's a pity, because it deserves a wider readership. It's not a classic that will last for the ages, but it's a very well-written, entertaining book that many modern genre writers would do well to emulate.
The book is very strongly reminiscent of the Compleat Enchanter series by L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt. Both feature modern twentieth-century men who are unexpectedly faced with the world of Norse mythology. But while the situation was expertly played for laughs by de Camp and Pratt (the Compleat Enchanter series is rightfully considered a classic of the genre), in Day of the Giants del Rey plays it straight. Fimbulwinter has descended on the Earth, Ragnarok approaches, and two twin brothers - one a war hero, the other a farmer - have been taken up to Asgard by Loki and Thor to play a role in the final battle.
The interaction of modern science with magic and mythology is always interesting. I consider one of the failures of the Harry Potter series to be J.K. Rowling's relative neglect of that topic. For example, didn't witches care about the threat of nuclear war, or or ecological collapse? Surely witches who grew up as Muggles, as Harry did, must have been aware of those dangers - so why weren't they addressed? The idea of two societies existing side by side, with one unknown to the other, has all sorts of interesting possibilities...none of which were addressed by Rowling.
It's true that the issue of science vs. magic has become a cliche in modern genre fiction. But it certainly wasn't a cliche in 1959, when DotG was published.
In Day of the Giants, the interaction of science and mythology is handled in a much more satisfying way (I am tempted to compare the relative page counts of DotG with the Harry Potter series, just for laughs). del Rey's handling of the characters is never awkward or clumsy. By the end of the book, I found myself more satisfied than I've been at the end of many a weightier tome.
I suppose that there's no way that a 128-page novel is ever going to be reissued by a modern publisher, so Day of the Giants will remain a curiosity, only to be found in libraries and used book stores. That's a pity, because it deserves a wider readership. It's not a classic that will last for the ages, but it's a very well-written, entertaining book that many modern genre writers would do well to emulate.
January 21, 2025
2.5 stars, really. I loved the scientific explanations applied to the fantastical elements! The lighter gravity in the realm of the final battle, for instance, and the gravitational effects of Giants, the metallurgy and skill of the dwarfs explained a bit, the mini-wormholes, essentially, that the Bifrost can opens. I also appreciated and wondered if Stan Lee and Jack Kirby read this book (could very well have, since both were big readers, and it came out only a few years before their Thor comic), because Mjolnir having control over magnetic force, the Valkyrie's horses being smart enough to strategize and understand human/Gods plans and needs? Those were in Marvel's Thor and Valkyrie comics, too, but I don't remember those points in the actual myths.
That's what I liked. What I didn't like was how uninteresting the Aesir are! Thor was always kind of a chowderhead in the myths, but this was the most boring Loki I've read, especially after fortysome years reading stories of the comic version, and a decade of Hiddleston's portrayal, and, of course, the myths. This Loki is a plot device, does some magic as needed, but doesn't have much of a personality. We don't get to see him scheming, we don't really see his Trickster/duplicitous side, but he tells us that's his reputation, and it's mostly undeserved (well, okay, that's a Loki line for sure). We're told he's a mischief-maker, but not shown that, other than one inexplicable scene in which Heimdallr and Loki play a 3 Stooges bit on Leif, which has no set up (we've seen no hint of either mirth or betrayal from Heimdallr before this) or result; it just happens, isn't mentioned again or contextualized, and Leif doesn't react, which is odd, since he's very reactive the rest of the time. It reads like, perhaps on editorial command, all mention of it was taken out, except they forgot to edit out the actual action.
The moments that really had me exclaiming "Oh, come on!" though, were the dumb portrayals of the women. At one point, the protagonist, Leif, clocks a Aesir woman attending him after being hurt, and not only does she collapse (that might've been the word actually used), she doesn't instantly get up and clobber him. These are Aesir, Goddesses; some human dope isn't going to overpower one! When he hit her, she should've laughed, unfazed, and tossed him back onto the bed, using one hand, and threatened him with disembowelment if he tried that again.
The 1950's sexism got worse with the love interest, Fulla. She swoons over Leif and he uses cute pet names for her like "you little fool!" and basically acts like an ass toward her. It was tiresome, especially in Ch. 9, their big "romantic" scene. Ugh. More science, please, less sexism, paternalism, and human chest-thumping. From the way this tale is told, it's a wonder the Gods ever survived thousands of centuries without this brilliant human farmer to set them right!
I'm glad this was a short book.
That's what I liked. What I didn't like was how uninteresting the Aesir are! Thor was always kind of a chowderhead in the myths, but this was the most boring Loki I've read, especially after fortysome years reading stories of the comic version, and a decade of Hiddleston's portrayal, and, of course, the myths. This Loki is a plot device, does some magic as needed, but doesn't have much of a personality. We don't get to see him scheming, we don't really see his Trickster/duplicitous side, but he tells us that's his reputation, and it's mostly undeserved (well, okay, that's a Loki line for sure). We're told he's a mischief-maker, but not shown that, other than one inexplicable scene in which Heimdallr and Loki play a 3 Stooges bit on Leif, which has no set up (we've seen no hint of either mirth or betrayal from Heimdallr before this) or result; it just happens, isn't mentioned again or contextualized, and Leif doesn't react, which is odd, since he's very reactive the rest of the time. It reads like, perhaps on editorial command, all mention of it was taken out, except they forgot to edit out the actual action.
The moments that really had me exclaiming "Oh, come on!" though, were the dumb portrayals of the women. At one point, the protagonist, Leif, clocks a Aesir woman attending him after being hurt, and not only does she collapse (that might've been the word actually used), she doesn't instantly get up and clobber him. These are Aesir, Goddesses; some human dope isn't going to overpower one! When he hit her, she should've laughed, unfazed, and tossed him back onto the bed, using one hand, and threatened him with disembowelment if he tried that again.
The 1950's sexism got worse with the love interest, Fulla. She swoons over Leif and he uses cute pet names for her like "you little fool!" and basically acts like an ass toward her. It was tiresome, especially in Ch. 9, their big "romantic" scene. Ugh. More science, please, less sexism, paternalism, and human chest-thumping. From the way this tale is told, it's a wonder the Gods ever survived thousands of centuries without this brilliant human farmer to set them right!
I'm glad this was a short book.
May 2, 2020
Ian of sffbc says "Lester del Rey developed a very interesting version of Loki in his short (very short) novel, "The Day of the Giants" (1959), originally published in 1950 as the even shorter "When the World Tottered."
And now that I've read it, I agree with Ian. I bet Neil Gaiman liked this when he was a kid. Maybe Rick Riordan, too. Del Rey might have liked Mark Twain's Connecticut Yankee, and another book that I can't recall right now about a modern guy who time travels to the past and uses his talents to become a big shot, maybe in Italy, maybe a few hundred years ago, maybe written in the 1950s?
Anyway, this is quick and fun. Nothing special, not worth recommending. Sexism is pretty bad but not as bad as some of the Heinlein's that ppl persist in praising.
And now that I've read it, I agree with Ian. I bet Neil Gaiman liked this when he was a kid. Maybe Rick Riordan, too. Del Rey might have liked Mark Twain's Connecticut Yankee, and another book that I can't recall right now about a modern guy who time travels to the past and uses his talents to become a big shot, maybe in Italy, maybe a few hundred years ago, maybe written in the 1950s?
Anyway, this is quick and fun. Nothing special, not worth recommending. Sexism is pretty bad but not as bad as some of the Heinlein's that ppl persist in praising.
September 29, 2024
This is a quick read. I thought it was ok but a bit dated.
March 28, 2019
I've really been enjoying Lester Del Rey's fiction lately. He's a great writer, with great characters and very original ideas. "Day of the Giants" is a short novel, and is borderline fantasy/science fiction in that the fantasy elements are explained with intentionally vague pseudo-science, or at least the intimation that there is some sort of scientific explanation that the narrator simply doesn't understand, although one might conclude the narrator's rationalism simply deludes him into this.
In any event the book's cover with flying saucers prominently depicted in front of shadowy giants helps obscure whether this will be pure science fiction or science fantasy, and Del Rey is not terribly concerned about such distinctions.
Ii is tempting to compare it to Poul Anderson's Norse fantasies, although Anderson is much more faithful to the essential doom and gloom of Norse mythology. Del Rey's story is a very American re-imagining of the Norse myth of Ragnarok. I call it an American version of the myth because Del Rey's narrator struggles with the pessimism and barbarism of the Norse mythos, and uses ingenuity and optimism to overturn the prophesies of doom. It's rather like stitching a happy ending onto the epic of Gilgamesh, and yet somehow it works. It shouldn't, of course. It is a travesty. But a fun one!
In any event the book's cover with flying saucers prominently depicted in front of shadowy giants helps obscure whether this will be pure science fiction or science fantasy, and Del Rey is not terribly concerned about such distinctions.
Ii is tempting to compare it to Poul Anderson's Norse fantasies, although Anderson is much more faithful to the essential doom and gloom of Norse mythology. Del Rey's story is a very American re-imagining of the Norse myth of Ragnarok. I call it an American version of the myth because Del Rey's narrator struggles with the pessimism and barbarism of the Norse mythos, and uses ingenuity and optimism to overturn the prophesies of doom. It's rather like stitching a happy ending onto the epic of Gilgamesh, and yet somehow it works. It shouldn't, of course. It is a travesty. But a fun one!
November 26, 2016
I read this last night as a break from reading Henry Green. It's short and sweet, though the mad action of the conclusion(and even before) is a bit confusing at times. The name Lester del Rey is well known among sci-fi enthusiasts, particularly those of a certain age(like me). This book is Lester's re-imagining of Ragnarok as if the Gods in Asgard and the Frost Giants we actually aliens linked to Earth via a Rainbow Bridge(or something). A couple of Earth twins(Scandinavian of course) get involved as the Gods(Thor, etc.) seem to require their help. There's plenty that's not really explained very clearly but it was a lot of fun to read.
- Ironic that I inadvertently selected a Norse mythology/sci-fi tale shortly after reading TWO books about the Vikings.
- The romantic stuff is a bit weird and off-putting.
- This is reminiscent of "The World of Tiers"
- More of that anachronistic smoking behavior.
- Oh yeah, there is a strong suggestion that Heimdallr is a traitor but then this thread is abruptly and totally dropped. Makes no sense ...
- The cover art seems to have very little to do with what's inside. There are NO flying saucers in the story!
2.75* rounds up to 3*.
- Ironic that I inadvertently selected a Norse mythology/sci-fi tale shortly after reading TWO books about the Vikings.
- The romantic stuff is a bit weird and off-putting.
- This is reminiscent of "The World of Tiers"
- More of that anachronistic smoking behavior.
- Oh yeah, there is a strong suggestion that Heimdallr is a traitor but then this thread is abruptly and totally dropped. Makes no sense ...
- The cover art seems to have very little to do with what's inside. There are NO flying saucers in the story!
2.75* rounds up to 3*.
February 23, 2014
I found this book years ago in a used book store and have enjoyed it many times. It is a short book but a good one, a SciFi retelling of Ragnarok, the last battle between Odin and Thor, and their enemies, the Giants! By the time it wraps up I wish it was ten times longer. It is a classic anachronistic adventure story where our hero, a modern man, gets caught up in what he thought were myths and legends but turn out to be all too real. This book is a real page turner and I recommend it to all lovers of SciFi or Fantasy.
May 1, 2016
This was a piece of my childhood and it gets five stars for nostalgia alone. It was a different experience reading it again as an adult, but there were scenes in this book that had stayed with me for decades. In many ways a typical science-fiction/fantasy story, it came along about the same time as Thor comics and other popular interest in Norse mythology. A fun escape. More thoughts: Sects and Violence in the Ancient World.
Read
February 22, 2014I read this book in my childhood. All this talk of Ragnarok reminded me of it and I had to go find it.
Prior to this book I knew nothing of the Viking mythos. This one is not heavy on it, but treats the world of the Norse Gods as a form of alternate universe that impacts our own Earth.
As with most of the classic SF from the period it focused more on story telling than on hard science and told great stories!
Prior to this book I knew nothing of the Viking mythos. This one is not heavy on it, but treats the world of the Norse Gods as a form of alternate universe that impacts our own Earth.
As with most of the classic SF from the period it focused more on story telling than on hard science and told great stories!
August 3, 2017
This is a mashup of science fiction and Norse mythology. In 128 pages Lester Del Rey tells the story of how Ragnarok is thwarted by American twin brothers from the 20th century. He assumes that the reader is already familiar with Norse mythology or is willing to go to the public library and do the research. It is an exciting adventure story, worth reading if you can find it. The "romance" parts are weird and creepy by 21st century standards.
February 4, 2016
An exceptional SiF/Fantasy story. The modern man transported to the Norse gods to help in the final battle with the giants. Great read and excellent story. High Recommended
March 14, 2023
Reads like a bad fanfic, tbh. The writing itself isn't awful, but the plot: eh.
Additionally, unless you REALLY know your Norse mythology, you'll be sort of lost, as del Rey wastes no time explaining the who, the what, etc. Let's just say that Google was my friend throughout this 128-page semi-slog.
Not bad for a pulp, but hardly something I'd recommend.
Additionally, unless you REALLY know your Norse mythology, you'll be sort of lost, as del Rey wastes no time explaining the who, the what, etc. Let's just say that Google was my friend throughout this 128-page semi-slog.
Not bad for a pulp, but hardly something I'd recommend.
October 19, 2020
Unlike what the cover shows, this is actually Del Rey's version of the Norse Ragnarok legend. He uses twin brothers from a midwest farming community as the POV character, who get brought to Asgard by Valkeries to be heroes to fight the giants.
Interestingly, his Loki is actually practically a good guy. He's still a schemer, of course, but his plots are all for the common good in trying to prevent the downfall of the gods, with Odin's other sons in the villain role instead.
Rather than show the gods as mystical figures, it's portrayed more as 'science, sufficiently advanced, seems like magic'.... but with the added wrinkle that the gods themselves don't know how things work, they just follow tradition and hope for the best. It really made for a nice contrast, and showed why the gods needed a few humans, and vise versa.
Leif, the main character, adds a much needed dose of common sense and know how as Loki's protege, while his soldier brother Lee helps Thor lead the troops.
Well worth the read for any fan of the Norse.. just ignore the cover. (It's not even GOOD stock sci fi art!)
Interestingly, his Loki is actually practically a good guy. He's still a schemer, of course, but his plots are all for the common good in trying to prevent the downfall of the gods, with Odin's other sons in the villain role instead.
Rather than show the gods as mystical figures, it's portrayed more as 'science, sufficiently advanced, seems like magic'.... but with the added wrinkle that the gods themselves don't know how things work, they just follow tradition and hope for the best. It really made for a nice contrast, and showed why the gods needed a few humans, and vise versa.
Leif, the main character, adds a much needed dose of common sense and know how as Loki's protege, while his soldier brother Lee helps Thor lead the troops.
Well worth the read for any fan of the Norse.. just ignore the cover. (It's not even GOOD stock sci fi art!)
July 19, 2013
The cover art was chosen inappropriately. There are no flying saucers.
There is no "alien" invasion, either, unless the residents of Asgard and Valhalla are to be considered "aliens."
Poor, poor pigeonholed master del Rey.
Nice apocalypse tale though, good for an evening's unwind.
There is no "alien" invasion, either, unless the residents of Asgard and Valhalla are to be considered "aliens."
Poor, poor pigeonholed master del Rey.
Nice apocalypse tale though, good for an evening's unwind.
August 11, 2015
A good book about Thor, Loki and Asgard. The cover of the book makes no sense. There were no flying saucers in the book.
March 26, 2017
50 yrs
I read this as a teen 50 yrs ago and been looking for a copy for at least 20. Some of the best juvi sci fri.
I read this as a teen 50 yrs ago and been looking for a copy for at least 20. Some of the best juvi sci fri.
June 9, 2018
A fun, engaging read incorporating tales of the Norse Gods and Ragnorok with a different take.
May 22, 2019
A good read steeped in 1950's social perspectives (brave men, frightened women) that you'll need to stick on a shelf and suspend.
September 30, 2021
Yeah it is dated, especially the romance bit, but this book is the best Sci Fi combination with Norse Mythology. Shame it is out of print.
April 20, 2019
I first read this book in 1962 as a teenager in Kentucky. it awakened a love of Norse myth in me . Now late in my life I.m glad for the chance to read it again
it has had up well a d an going to recommend it to my friends who are currently involved with Neil Bauman a d Mr. Wednesday
it has had up well a d an going to recommend it to my friends who are currently involved with Neil Bauman a d Mr. Wednesday
October 15, 2022
The cover is deceiving but I'm thankful for that. Modern man having to help the norse gods at the time of ragnoroke, it was a fun read. Classic style, quick, and no modern PC stuff.
December 28, 2023
Man. Just real weird messaging. Best part about it is it's short length
March 27, 2019
A fast-paced science fantasy adventure story by old pro del Rey using North Mythology as a springboard. I'd been unfamiliar with this work before grabbing it in the library book shop and guessed it was considered at most a minor effort by the well-known science fiction. No longer. Mostly unpredictable and highly satisfying.
And yes, what an inappropriate cover!
And yes, what an inappropriate cover!
July 2, 2024
I first read this book more than forty years ago, and got prompted to revisit it after seeing some of Wagner's operas on stage. It isn't a particularly good book - as the world seemingly heads towards Ragnarok an American farmer and his soldier brother gets called on by the Norse gods to give his aid in the battle against the ice giants. the premise is absurd, but the book is short enough that it is possible to finish it before that becomes too obvious.
May 29, 2015
Good book
Bought it in Mandan ND at owl bookstore in the 1970's. Don't know what happened to paperback copy. Might still have it. Owl bookstore was great. Bought the hobbit and the Lord of the rings trilogy there too. Read them all in a week.
Theocpowell@gmail.com
Bought it in Mandan ND at owl bookstore in the 1970's. Don't know what happened to paperback copy. Might still have it. Owl bookstore was great. Bought the hobbit and the Lord of the rings trilogy there too. Read them all in a week.
Theocpowell@gmail.com
July 30, 2025
I didn’t think a story so large could fit into a book this small, but this epic of 130 pages doesn’t disappoint.
Also the cover suggests aliens and I can assure you there are disappointingly no aliens.
Also the cover suggests aliens and I can assure you there are disappointingly no aliens.
November 12, 2014
1985 grade B-
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews