I almost stopped reading this book after I started the introduction and became bored and uninterested. The book is written as if it is a translation of an ancient text and the introduction attempts to ground this fiction in a plausible history with an explanation of its fictional writer and the controversies around the “text’s” authenticity and accuracy. This is fun if you care about the completely made-up backstory to a completely made-up story but I wasn’t interested. I’m glad I picked it back up and skimmed through the first couple of chapters because once the Northmen are introduced the book really takes off and is one of my favorite books so far.

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Eaters of the Dead is the novel that the 1999 movie The 13th Warrior is based on and both are loosely adapted from the story of Beowulf. The movie is excellent. It stars Antonio Banderas as the Arab emissary to the Caliph Ahmad Ibn Fadlan and it offers a very good cinematic interpretation of the book. While I could continue on about the movie this review is not about the movie it is about the book. That being said the book is just as compelling as the movie and was a pleasure to read.

The main character Ahmad Ibn Fadlan is forced from his relatively easy lifestyle in the Middle East and required to go north by the Caliph, where he is then forced to travel with a group of 12 barbaric heathens to aid a nearby kingdom plagued by murderous monsters. The group is led by Buliwyf, who is to become the new king of his tribe after the old king has died, and when the son of King Rothgar, an ally to Buliwyf, requests Buliwyf’s help Ahmad is thrust into this adventure when a very old woman known as the “angel of death” reads the bones and determines that the 13th warrior must be a foreigner and thus Amhad is selected against his desires.

With the help of Herger, a Northman who can translate the northern tongue, Ahmad travels with the northern people to the kingdom of Rothgar. He observes the Northmen and is initially disgusted by their lack of hygiene, lack of written ability, multiple gods, their polyamorist lifestyle, and love of violence but during his time with these warriors, he finds value in their ways and is forever changed by his harrowing experiences fighting the eaters of the dead. Spoiler: the eaters of the dead are even more barbaric and disgusting than the Vikings.

I am very impressed with Michael Crichton’s ability to write in a way that feels exceptionally authentic to the time period and perspective of the narrator while also being completely accessible and smooth. It is unpretentious, with just the right mix of poetic exposition and straightforward language. The writing is casual and conversational as we read the report of this fictional adventurer who is giving real-time reactions to completely foreign endeavors. As Ahmad discovers his inner-hero we also learn of the hidden vulnerabilities and humanity of the seemingly barbaric and animalistic north people. It is a great example of a story that contains deepness within a fairly simple premise.

This book offers readers a suspenseful action adventure with a ton of heart and personality. It was very enjoyable to read and I recommend it. I also recommend watching the movie if you haven’t seen it. There are some notable differences but they both complement each other as compelling historical fiction based in the Viking genre and neither experience takes away from the other. Eaters of the Dead is worth the read!

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