In this episode, we continue our series of stories from the Northeast of Iceland. This time around, Helgi Droplaugarson goes head to head with the powerful chieftain Helgi Asbjarnarson. While Helgi D. makes life difficult for his rival by undercutting him at every chance he gets, Helgi A. takes it all with patience. Does Helgi A. have a good reason for holding back? Or is he just biding his time as he waits for the right moment to attack? There's only one way to find out. Listen, as Saga Thing p...
Jul 14, 2017•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 32
Welcome to the first episode of Saga Shorts , a side project of Saga Thing where John and Andy review the þættir of medieval Iceland. In this episode, we provide a brief introduction to þættir and the difficulties one faces when trying to define the genre. If you’re not interested in those technical details, just skip ahead to 10:10, where we begin our review of Þorsteins þáttr stangarhöggs ( The Tale of Thorstein Staff-struck ). This fun little tale tells the story of an old Viking’s son named ...
Jul 05, 2017•59 min•Ep. 31
It's time to put the Saga of the People of Vopnafjord on trial. Who will go home with the honor of Best Bloodshed? Does this saga have the numbers to overtake the Saga of the Greenlanders in Body Count Density? Who has the best Nickname? Was anyone witty enough to earn the prize? Will Brodd-Helgi make it through Outlawry? And who will be selected to join John and Andy as thingmen? Along the way, we get into a few digressions (I know, you're shocked). Among the more interesting digressions is a b...
Jun 25, 2017•1 hr 7 min
The Saga of the People of Vopnafjord picks up where The Saga of Thorstein the White left off. It tells the story of two friends, Brodd-Helgi Thorgilsson and Geitir Lytingsson, and their rise to power. The two men share everything in the beginning, including a desire to have that which is not theirs. Their friendship only deepens when Brodd-Helgi marries Geitir's sister, Halla. Later, their son Bjarni is given to Geitir as foster-son. Things really couldn't be better between the two leading men o...
Jun 12, 2017•1 hr 43 min
Still full from the epic meal of Njal's Saga , John and Andy turn to lighter fare. In this episode of Saga Thing, we follow Thorstein the White as he grows older and older and older. Along the way, he has some children and loses his beloved wife. To make matters worse, he also loses his eyesight, which makes running the farm a bit more difficult. Fortunately, his son Thorgils is there to pick up the slack...until he's killed in a local disagreement between Thorstein the Fair and his rival Einar....
May 19, 2017•1 hr 17 min
Over the past few years, listeners have often asked us to do something with runes. And who doesn't love runes? Whether it's a fascination with the runic inscription as a point of contact with another time or a sense that the runes themselves are more than a mere phonetic symbol, there's something magical about them. Even the word, rúnar carries with it layers of meaning, at times denoting "secret, hidden lore, or wisdom" and others referring to the written characters themselves. In this Saga Bri...
Apr 21, 2017•43 min
At long last, it is time to put Njal's Saga on trial. You've listened to the saga summary for nearly a year. Now, find out who will take home the prestigious Best Bloodshed and Notable Witticism trophies. Discover exactly how many bodies hit the floor (give or take a few). Learn interesting facts you never knew you needed to know, like who among the many candidates for Nicknames turns out to be related to Hamlet of Denmark. Review the crimes of the saga's villains and consider along with the hos...
Apr 10, 2017•1 hr 39 min
The epic journey through Njal's Saga finally comes to an end. In this episode, we follow Kari Solmundarson on his quest to avenge the deaths of everyone he was forced to leave behind in the burning house. His targets are Flosi and the Burners. With so many against him, the odds aren't in his favor. But Kari is known throughout Iceland for his unmatched bravery and fearlessness. His pursuit of the burners carries him from Iceland to the British Isles and then on to Rome. Along the way, we'll take...
Mar 20, 2017•1 hr 48 min
In this, the penultimate episode in the Njal's Saga summary, we follow Flosi and the Burners as they bounce around the region seeking support for the inevitable legal case against them. Meanwhile, a slightly singed, but recovered Kari Salmundarson prepares his own case against the burners. And who better to help him than Thorhall Asgrimsson, the young protégé of Njal himself. Unfortunately, Thorhall’s got a nasty infection in his leg and the case falls to Morð Valgardsson. The threat of violence...
Mar 03, 2017•1 hr 41 min
Saga Thing returns after a not so brief holiday hiatus. When last we left you, the settlement for the slaying of Hoskuld Thrainsson had been disrupted by insults and threats of violence. We pick the story up as Flosi gathers his forces to surprise the Njalssons at home. When the surprise attack is spoiled by a wishy-washy conspirator, Flosi is left with the difficult task of finishing what he started regardless of the consequences. In this episode, we finally discover how the Saga of Burnt Njal ...
Jan 13, 2017•1 hr 29 min
In this episode, we leave the conversion behind and get back to Njal's Saga. Tensions are running high yet again thanks to the careful plotting of your favorite villain, Morð Valgardsson. Despite their troubled history with Morð, the Njalssons accept his friendship and quickly find themselves on the wrong side of the law. With a major lawsuit pending and most of Iceland turning against them, the Njalssons seek help from some of Iceland’s most powerful men, including such notable figures as Guðmu...
Nov 20, 2016•1 hr 43 min
In the second part of our Saga Brief on the conversion of Iceland, we discuss the conversion tactics of King Olaf Tryggvason, the Icelanders' controversial decision at the Althing of 1000, and the effects of Christianity on Icelandic culture. You might notice that Andy is a bit more subdued than usual in this one. He was sick during recording. Music: Intro to Saga Brief - from Icelandic Folk Music: Tröllaslagur Poem Song - Moorland by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Outro - Ólafur Liljurós...
Oct 09, 2016•1 hr 13 min
In the first part of this Saga Brief, we look at the story behind the conversion of Iceland. Music: Opening - “ Rúnatal ” by An Danzza with selections from History Channel's Vikings Intro to Saga Brief - from Icelandic Folk Music: Tröllaslagur Outro - Ólafur Liljurós...
Oct 01, 2016•1 hr 9 min
In this episode of Saga Thing, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment in Iceland’s history as the fierce Thangbrand arrives on a mission from King Olaf Tryggvason to convert Iceland once and for all. It turns out John and Andy aren't the only ones who love a good digression. This section of the saga is book-ended by action and violence brought on by the slaying of Thrain Sigfusson, but it's mostly about Thangbrand's visit to Iceland and the resulting divide between the growing number of Christian...
Sep 16, 2016•1 hr 31 min
In this episode, we travel to foreign lands with Thrain Sigfusson and two of the Njalssons. Thrain will find things easy going, but the prophecy of hard times for the Njalssons proves true. We'll also introduce you to two new players in the saga, the heroic Kari Salmundarson and the villainous Killer-Hrapp. This episode of Saga Thing is full of adventure, intrigue, and digressions. Join John and Andy as they discuss the politics of medieval Orkney, minor deities of the Norse pantheon, and the wo...
Sep 02, 2016•1 hr 48 min
This episode of Saga Thing is all about revenge. We conclude the Gunnar section of Njal’s Saga with a look into the aftermath of our hero’s death, the vengeance he demands, and the fate of his brother, Kolskeggi. If Njal wants to avenge his friend and secure his position in the region, he'll have to act fast. Fortunately, he's got his son, Skarphedin, and Gunnar's son, Hogni, as willing swords. Gunnar's ghost helps get things moving. While we don’t cover a lot of ground in the saga this time aro...
Aug 19, 2016•1 hr 13 min
Gunnar has been told that he will live to be anold man if he can avoid killing two men from the same bloodline and if he neverbreaks a settlement. Achieving this is easier said than done,especially since Gunnar’s personal body count increases every time a challengerappears. In this episode, Gunnar’spatience will be tested as Morð Valgardsson, Thorgeir Starkaðarson, andThorgeir Otkelsson plot to finish off their rival once and for all. But will they have what it takes to bringdown Iceland’s champ...
Jul 22, 2016•1 hr 3 min
In the third part of Njal's Saga, we find Gunnar suffering an identity crisis after being pulled into a series of feuds. As Njal tells him, this is the beginning of Gunnar's career in killing. In addition to a lot of fighting, this episode also features a discussion of saga-age masculinity, cheese theft, horse fighting, and famine survival. Yes, that's right. I said cheese theft. Listen and learn, people. Listen and learn. Click here if you're interested in any of the bibliography we mention . G...
Jul 19, 2016•1 hr 17 min
In this episode, we introduce Gunnar Hamundarson and his wise friend Njal Thorgeirsson. We'll follow Gunnar on a few adventures before he settles down with the lovely, but dangerous Hallgerd Hoskuldsdottir. If you thought Hallgerd was harsh in Part 1 of our summer saga, just wait until you see what she's up to this time around. Will the friendship of Njal and Gunnar survive the escalating violence spurred on by their wives, or will they be consumed by it and destroyed? There's only one way to fi...
Jul 08, 2016•1 hr 28 min
In this first part of our epic summer saga, we introduce Njal's Saga and the initial section where marriage, gender roles, and female independence are the central themes. We begin with the story of Hrut Herjolfsson, who leaves his bride-to-be in Iceland to fetch an inheritance in Norway. Along the way, the handsome young Hrut finds himself more involved in the royal family than is proper. Scandal! After getting ensnared in the web of the Norwegian queen mother, Gunnhild, Hrut will bring home a c...
Jun 03, 2016•1 hr 20 min
In this fun-filled episode, John and Andy offer their judgments on The Saga of the People of Reykjadal and Killer-Skuta . Listen and learn how a leather thong can really improve your spear-throwing distance. It’s true. You’ll also learn about the wonders of hearth bread with butter and be introduced to the BCDM, our newest method for calculating a saga’s body count. It’s an action packed episode with plenty of laughs and some good discussion of history and literature. Those of you who prefer a s...
May 06, 2016•1 hr 21 min
Come to Mývatn, where the scenery stuns, the flies bite, and swords sting! In this episode, we welcome Killer-Skúta back to Iceland. Not bound by the conditions of the settlement established by Áskel on his deathbed, Skúta is free to wreak vengeance upon those who dishonored his family. He’ll also have to contend with the various families in the region who don’t take so kindly to his handling of their kin folk. And that’s the story, more or less. Killer-Skúta certainly earns his nickname in this...
Apr 15, 2016•1 hr 12 min
In this episode, we travel to the northern districts of Thingey and Eyjafjord where the Askel the goði spends most of his time working out settlements to save the skin of his nephews. You won't meet a more saintly Icelander than the wise Askel goði, but you might question his loyalty to Vemund Fjorleifarson. But, as Vemund's uncle, poor Askel is caught between a rock and a hard place. Will his support of Vemund cost Askel the ultimate price in the end, or will he make an honest man of his waywar...
Apr 01, 2016•1 hr 33 min
It's time to put The Saga of Finnbogi the Strong on trial. Join us as we review the saga's more violent moments, count up the dead, and shed some light on a few nicknames. Who will be outlawed? Who will be chosen as thingman? Will Andy and John agree on the quality of the saga? You'll learn all this and more in the Final Judgments.
Mar 16, 2016•1 hr 19 min
Join us for the thrilling conclusion of The Saga of Finnbogi the Strong . In the first part of this episode, we discuss Finnbogi's evolving relationship with the Norwegian Earl Haakon, his trip to Constantinople, and his pursuit of Alf's daughter Ragnhild. Yes, Finnbogi's got his eye on the daughter of the man he killed on the way to Haakon's court. The second part of this episode takes us back to Iceland, where Finnbogi finds that fame isn't all its cracked up to be. With rivals emerging everyw...
Mar 04, 2016•1 hr 27 min
In this episode, we celebrate the life and accomplishments of the historical Rollo. Known to many as the envious brother of the incomparable Ragnar Loðbrok in the History Channel’s Vikings . While the historical Rollo may not have been Ragnar’s brother, Vikings gets a lot of things right. As an exile from his homeland, Rollo earned the nickname “the Walker” by wandering throughout northern Europe raiding and conquering everything in his path. Among his most significant conquests would come to be...
Feb 19, 2016•1 hr 34 min
The Saga of Finnbogi the Strong tells the tale of a farmer’s son who overcomes an ignoble birth and rises to become one of Iceland's greatest men, or so the saga author would have you believe. This obscure and rarely discussed 14th century saga is thought to have been written in response to Vatnsdæla Saga , where Finnbogi comes off rather poorly. In his own saga, Finnbogi proves to be an upright and noble figure who almost always does the right thing. With superhuman strength, he’s capable of di...
Feb 01, 2016•1 hr 13 min
The Saga of the Greenlanders might be the shortest saga John and Andy have tackled, but that doesn't mean they don't have a lot to say about it. In this episode, your stalwart hosts run through the usual categories and discuss the motivations behind Freydis' attack on Helgi and Finnbogi, debate the quality of Thorfinn Karlsefni's character, review some competing theories on Norse settlements in the North America, and share some recent scholarship that challenges our understanding of the conditio...
Dec 21, 2015•1 hr 22 min
In this episode, John interviews Loretta Decker of L'Anse aux Meadows. They discuss the archaeology of the site, the challenges of reconstructing Viking turf houses, and the value of the Vinland sagas for filling in the gaps.
Dec 07, 2015•1 hr 11 min
Once again, the New World beckons. In this episode, we travel with the children of Eirik the Red to Vinland. Yes, every single one of Eirik's children make their own expedition to North America in search of fame and fortune. This saga covers each of them. Leif Eiriksson is the first of his siblings to make the trip, but he's not the first Viking to spot land in the New World. According to this saga, that honor goes to Bjarni Herjolfsson (if you call it an honor, since he's later made fun of for ...
Nov 24, 2015•1 hr 7 min
