At long last, it is time to put Grettir's Saga on trial. Does the fight atop a whale carcass have enough appeal to win Best Bloodshed? Will Grettir's Saga break the Body Count record currently held by Eyrbyggja Saga? Will Andy and John outlaw Grettir or take him on as thingman? Does Andy finally decide whether Grettir's Saga is better or worse than Gisli's Saga? And will John ever stop talking about Nicknames? This saga is full of memorable moments, witticisms, and wonders, which is why this jud...
Oct 26, 2015•1 hr 36 min
In the thrilling conclusion to Grettir’s Saga , we follow the slender armed Thorstein Dromund on his quest to avenge his brother. Thorstein’s adventures carry him from the shores of Norway to the bustling city of Constantinople, where the exiled King Harald Hardrada leads a rag tag bunch of Scandinavians called the Varangian Guard. And if you thought the Grettir’s Saga author would pass up the chance to throw in another giant of saga literature, you were sorely mistaken. Sadly, Harald is only fe...
Oct 08, 2015•1 hr 20 min
The Saga of Grettir the Strong continues. In this episode, Grettir arrives home in Iceland only to discover that his father has passed away, his brother has been slain by Thorbjorn Oxen-might, and that he himself has been outlawed for the accidental burning of Thorir of Gard's sons in Norway. That's a lot to take in all at once. As an outlaw, Grettir is forced to lurk in the wilds, hide in caves, and rely on the kindness of others for food. Since Grettir's not terribly kind himself, he usually j...
Sep 22, 2015•1 hr 32 min
In this episode we follow Grettir through three of his most famous battles against an undead Kar the Old, a giant Norwegian bear, and Iceland's most famous draugr, Glam. We also catch Grettir stumbling in a clumsy fight for fire that will eventually seal his fate as an outlaw forever. This one runs a little longer than the average episode of Saga Thing, but with so much excellent material to cover, we just couldn't resist.
Aug 13, 2015•1 hr 31 min
The results are in and your votes have been tallied. Listen to the Quarter Court Results show to find out how your favorite candidates did. John and Andy also take time to answer your questions about podcasting, sagas, and which character they each resemble most. We'll provide links to some of the websites and other podcasts we mention on our own webpage www.sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com As always, thanks for listening!
Jul 23, 2015•53 min
In this epic multi-part episode, we tell the story of Iceland’s most famous and longest surviving outlaw, Grettir Asmundarson. Join us as we trace his life, from its tempestuous beginning to its tragic end. Before we delve into his amazing exploits as an adult, we must look back to his origins. In traditional saga fashion, we begin with his great grandfather, Onund Treefoot. We follow Onund’s efforts to resist the increasing power of King Harald Fairhair and his struggles to come to terms with t...
Jul 17, 2015•1 hr 15 min
Join us as we gather at the Saga Thing law rock for a Quarter Court to review the judgments for the first 10 sagas of the podcast (Hrafnkel through Bjorn Champion of the Hitardal People). After reviewing the greatest hits from each category, we turn it over to you, our loyal thingmen, to judge the winners. Cast your vote for Best Bloodshed, Nicknames, Notable Witticisms, Outlawry, and Thingmen by visiting our website sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com between June 12th and July 19th. We'll present t...
Jun 10, 2015•1 hr 17 min
It’s time to put Vatnsdæla Saga on trial. We've got plenty of bloodshed, a decent pile of bodies to count, too many nicknames for one episode, and much much more. This saga also boasts the largest number of potential outlaws we've seen, which raises the question: Will Hrolleif's crimes continue to go unpunished? John and Andy sift through all the villains and heroes for you. But with so many excellent men to choose from, who will make the cut and join the ranks of the podcast's thingmen? And jus...
May 29, 2015•1 hr 13 min
Join us for the second half of the epic tale of the Vatnsdal chieftains and their family over six generations. In this episode, we clumsily attempt to trace the final three generations of this remarkable family. We’ve crammed a lot into this episode and we barely scratch the surface. We pick up the story with the seven children of Ingimund Thorsteinsson (led by the bickering brothers Thorstein and Jokul) as they seek revenge against their father’s killer and begin a career as luck-favored witch-...
May 23, 2015•1 hr 12 min
The Saga of the People of Vatnsdal tells the story of one family over 5 generations (though John will insist on counting 6). We begin with Ketil the Large challenging his son, Thorstein, to find out what's lurking in the woods and killing everybody. Thorstein turns out to be a very lucky fellow who is soon married to the daughter of a famous earl in Gotland. Thorstein's son, Ingimund, is the central figure of this episode of Saga Thing. We follow Ingimund from his noble youth, through his glory ...
May 08, 2015•1 hr
After a brief discussion of betrothal customs in medieval Iceland, John and Andy put Viglund's Saga on trial. Will Viglund's axe juggling skills win him an award? Or will he be upstaged by his own horse? Who will be outlawed? Who will earn a spot as thingman? And how does Viglund's Saga compare to the other Warrior Poet sagas we've covered? What value does it have as a saga? So much to think about, so much to learn. Stop wondering and download the Judgments episode now.
Apr 03, 2015•1 hr 11 min
The story of Viglund the Fair and his lady Ketilrid is a saga for lovers. This fifteenth century tale, the last of our warrior poet's sagas, covers several generations. Each generation features a case of true love coming up against the secular tradition of arranged marriage. Can Viglund and Ketilrid overcome the obstacles set in their way and join at last in wedded bliss? It never worked out for the other warrior poets, so why would this one be any different? Listen to find out, if you dare! Thi...
Mar 26, 2015•1 hr 12 min
Krákumál is an autobiographical poem of the legendary Viking hero Ragnar Loðbrók, composed and spoken while Ragnar awaits his death in the snakepit of King Ælla. We discuss the content and form of the poem, compare it to the Saga of Ragnar Loðbrók and His Sons , and examine the place of the History Channel's Vikings in the literary tradition of this legendary figure. There's also some discussion of kennings, quirks of early modern scholarship, and the evolution of literary fads throughout histor...
Mar 05, 2015•1 hr 6 min
In the second part of Saga Thing’s look at The Saga of Bjorn Champion of the Hitardal People, John and Andy discuss the merits of the text, argue over the size and ferocity of the dragon, investigate Thord’s ill-fated encounter with a stranded seal, and share some interesting tidbits from Icelandic law codes about pornographic sculptures and naughty poetry. We also outlaw a rather deserving villain, choose our thingmen, and offer our thoughts on the saga’s overall quality. It’s a full episode wi...
Feb 12, 2015•1 hr 13 min
The title is a mouthful, but some might call this saga an underappreciated gem of medieval Iceland. Like the other warrior poet's sagas, we’ve got a love triangle. This time Bjorn, a dashing swashbuckler who sports the impressive title “Champion of the Hitardal People,” loses the girl to his conniving rival, Thord Kolbeinsson. But this isn’t your average warrior poet saga. Rather than a series of duels and fights, these men trade verbal barbs in some of the raunchiest poetry saga literature has ...
Jan 30, 2015•1 hr 28 min
In this episode, John and Andy discuss the problem of Thorveig's curse, Kormak's efforts to woo Steingerd, and the excellence of Bersi the Dueller. It's time to judge Kormak's Saga. Who will be chosen as thingman? Who will be outlawed? Will the Scottish giant get the recognition he deserves for his brief cameo? Download the episode and find out now!
Dec 15, 2014•1 hr 13 min
If you’re a fan of erotic poetry and dueling, then this is the saga for you. Join us as we follow Kormak as he follows the lovely soled object of his affection, Steingerd. Yes, I said soled and I meant it. She’s got nice feet and Kormak is just into that sort of thing it seems. Who are we to judge? Along the way you’ll meet the scoundrel Narfi, a witch in a questionable relationship with a walrus, and a surprising visit from a Scottish giant. Yes, this saga has a bit of everything. So what are y...
Nov 22, 2014•1 hr 5 min
Lusting for bloodshed? Wondering about witticisms? Will Hallfred be outlawed for seducing another man's wife or will he be chosen as thingman? And will Andy stay awake through John's ramblings? Find out as we judge the Saga of Hallfred Troublesome-poet .
Sep 20, 2014•1 hr 12 min
In this episode, we continue our journey through the Sagas of Warrior-Poets in The Saga of Hallfred Troublesome-Poet . Though you've never heard of him, this court poet for 3 of Scandinavia's greatest rulers is actually quite famous. As his nickname suggests Hallfred's poetry often lands him in hot water. He's a suave lover, a witty poet, and a capable warrior. We'll sample some of the poetry that made him famous, examine his difficult conversion to Christianity, and cheer as he gouges out the e...
Sep 17, 2014•57 min
In this episode, John and Andy square off in a fight for the ages as Saga Thing examines the Icelandic art of dueling. The Duel at Skiringshal by Johannes Flintoe
Aug 01, 2014•59 min
As always, we count up the bodies and offer praise to the wittiest saga lines before getting down to the more difficult choices. With no clear villain in the story, who will be outlawed? Would either Gunnlaug or Hrafn make a good thingman? There's one clear gem of a thingman in this saga, but John's choosing first. What happens when Andy doesn't get his way? Find out in the Judgment section for The Saga of Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue. The Parting of Gunnlaug and Helga by Charles Fairfax Murray...
May 16, 2014•1 hr 4 min
Gunnlaug Serpent-Tongue is a talented warrior-poet torn between his love for Helga the Fair and his quest for fame and fortune in the courts of Northern Europe. Helga's father, Thorstein, gives him 3 years to travel and make a name for himself before his claim on Helga is forfeit. Things get complicated when a rival for Helga's hand emerges in Hrafn the Skald, a court poet eager to get the best of Gunnlaug. Will Gunnlaug win the hand of his fair maiden, or will hearts be broken? Join us as we di...
May 02, 2014•51 min
This time out, we've got the bitterly funny Bandamanna Saga , a much-beloved saga set in the mid-11th century and centered around the corruption of Icelandic law by the rich and powerful chieftains of that later age. The saga pits old money against the nouveau riche against a backdrop of legal wrangling and murder. Can Ofeig Skiðason and his estranged son Odd Ofeigsson put aside their differences in time to thwart the combined forces of eight of the most powerful men in Iceland? What's Ospak Glu...
Apr 03, 2014•1 hr 11 min
In our first ever Saga Brief, we explore the legendary Viking torture ritual known as the blood-eagle. It's a brilliantly violent practice with a complicated, but fascinating textual history. In short, it's perfect for the boys of Saga Thing. Whether the blood-eagle is a historical method of ritual torture and execution or merely a literary motif designed to thrill and frighten, this is some pretty horrific stuff.
Mar 13, 2014•38 min
In this special episode, we take a break from the family sagas of medieval Iceland and look forward to the second season of History Channel’s Vikings by delving into the medieval sagas and legends behind the show. Discussion centers on The Saga of Ragnar Lothbrok and his Sons , but Saxo Grammaticus’ Gesta Danorum , the Krákumál , and The Saga of Ragnar’s Sons are referenced here as well. There’s a bit of history, a bit of myth, and a few laughs to be had along the way. If you’re unfamiliar with ...
Feb 23, 2014•57 min
In this episode, meet the despicable and conniving Hen-Thorir, an unpopular businessman whose shameless lust for status and respect leads to a high stakes feud that consumes the Borgafjord district of West Iceland. Loosely based on historical events, this is an instant classic noted for its brilliant acts of deception and social maneuvering. Through it's cleverly drawn characters and wonderfully plotted narrative, Hen-Thorir's Saga contrasts the noble with the ignoble, offering us a fascinating ...
Jan 30, 2014•1 hr 16 min
It's time to judge Gisli's Saga. Join John and Andy on a tour through the saga's best bloodshed, body count, nicknames, and notable witticisms. The titular character of Eirik's the Red's Saga was outlawed last time, will it happen again to Gisli? Or will Andy defend him against the charges of murder and claim him as thingman? Find out in this episode of Saga Thing. Plus, it's your last chance to hear John's impression of Gisli Wayne. How can you pass that up?
Dec 21, 2013•58 min
The tragic story of the outlaw Gisli Sursson, whose profound sense of honor forces him into violent action. Whereas most Icelanders who receive the penalty of outlawry flee the land and seek their fortune abroad, Gisli refuses to leave his wife, Aud, behind to fend for herself. Unfailingly devoted to his wife, Gisli slips through the fingers of the bounty hunters Bork the Stout, Eyolf, and Helgi the Spy time and time again. Join us as we review one of Icelandic literature's most endearing and he...
Dec 18, 2013•57 min
It’s time to strike out for the west in the latest installment of Saga Thing. Join us as we sail through stormy and unpredictable seas in the Saga of Eirik the Red! The Vinland Sagas: The Norse Discovery of America: “Graenlendinga Saga” and “Eirik’s Saga” (Classics) The first of the two so-called Vínland sagas to be reviewed, Eiriks saga offers up a story that’s part travelogue, part bloodbath, and part confusing as heck. In this episode, we’ll learn all about Eirik the Red’s bad habit of killin...
Nov 07, 2013•1 min
Who will win Best Bloodshed?How many bodies hit the floor?Who will win the award for best nickname?Who will be banished from Iceland forever?Will Andy get to honor his hero Snorri by choosing him as thingman?What do we really think of Eyrbyggja Saga? Find out in the latest installment of Saga Thing!
Oct 09, 2013•1 hr 16 min
