Vendel is renowned for the splendid artifacts found in its pre-viking graves. But the place itself receives a lot less attention.
In the Realm of Runes
Follow the viking road to the rune-filled land. Runriket, just north of Stockholm, boasts the world’s densest concentration of runestones.
Explorations on the Western Fringe of Eastern Geatland
Some historic sites found in the western fringe of Östergötland include those of the famous Röksten and the iconic pendant of Freyja.
The Danevirke of the Geats
Unlike the renowned Danevirke, the Götevirke lies across the landscape like a lifeless snake, forlorn and forgotten.
Beowulf the Gute?
A new theory by Swedish archaeologist, Bo Gräslund, about the identity of Beowulf’s Geats has spread like unfettered dragon-fire in Sweden while going almost entirely unnoticed in the Anglophone world.
Here Comes the Sun!
Nothing warms the soul like a little Eastern Geatish Bronze Age thug-life parody.
Beavis and Butt-Head Starring Odin and Thor
Heh heh. Hammer. Heh heh hmmm. Do you have goat-mead for my lung-hole? Heh heh. Hammer! Heh heh heh hmmmm hammer hammer hammer hammer!
Livet är bra!
When it comes to thoughtful gifts, what says “I love you” more than a grim Norse parody of a popular fashion brand?
Announcing the 2023 Barbarian Aggression World Tour!
And by “world tour” I mean two isolated brewery book signing events.
Back in Black (and Gold): “The Impudent Edda” Drops from the Gallows
The final installment of the The Edda Trilogy is being let loose from the noose (that’s kept it hanging around) on Odin’s Day, November 22nd.
Translating The Impudent Edda
Check out The Impudent Edda‘s official information page here (you know, if you feel like it, I guess). Translating an archaic literary work from a semi-foreign language to English is always a solitary task, and one that will probably be automated by AI in the near future, ultimately eliminating the […]
Tending the Sheep: Re-Imaginings of Ancient Scandinavian Stories
This meager, little post is simply about my new list of The Best Re-imaginings of Ancient Scandinavian Stories which is now available at Shepherd. Shepherd is a hip, young site that features lists of favorite books arranged according to a theme as chosen by individual writers themselves. It’s an interesting, […]
Trollywood, Sweden is the Place to be
Trollhättan: the City of Trolls. Or more aptly, the City of Troll Hats, since that’s what its name actually means. It’s a hilly, craggy place, with a mighty river running through it, and in the olden days the rocks that protruded from the riverbed reminded the locals of the headgear […]
Drink Beer and Listen to Ambient Norse Music at Idle Hands
On October 24th, Matt Smith and I will be commiserating, consuming beer, and listening to ambient Norse music at Idle Hands Craft Ales in Malden, Mass. We’ll also be peddling our wares (because that’s the kind of people we are). This event was originally scheduled for March of 2020, but […]
Beavis and Butt-Head Starring Odin and Thor
ODIN: Huh huh. Huh huh. THOR: Heh heh. ODIN: Huh huh. Huh huh. Vikings are cool. Johan Hegg looks like a viking. Huh huh. THOR: Heh heh heh. This song rules. Heh heh. ODIN: Huh huh huh. Of course you like it, it’s like, all about you, and how you, […]