Comments on: A Review of Paxson’s Essential Ásatrú http://aheathensday.com/2010/04/a-review-of-paxsons-essential-asatru.html The Life and Thoughts of a Modern Day American Heathen Mon, 07 May 2012 01:49:50 -0400 hourly 1 By: Ulfrun http://aheathensday.com/2010/04/a-review-of-paxsons-essential-asatru.html#comment-2368 Ulfrun Sat, 08 May 2010 22:11:52 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1478#comment-2368 Actually, I love the 13th Warrior, both the novel and the movie, despite the inaccuracies. I also quite enjoyed the CG Beowulf. It's actually a really good story, even if that story isn't really Beowulf. What a lot of people don't seem to understand about Beowulf is that, when you break it down, it's a very straightforward story and would make about a half hour long movie if they didn't play with it. In modern storytelling, people tend to like character development and growth. Something that doesn't really exist in the original, awesome though it is. I haven't seen Outlander. Also, my problem with Mists of Avalon isn't that it's a retelling, Ive read some Arthurian retelling that I like. I just think too many of the supposedly intelligent characters act rather stupidly. That's just me. My major problem is actually with the series as a whole though (The Forest House and whatnot). The problem is that each of the books in the series is the same story with the same characters and ending. Over and over again. I mean literally the same characters too. The implication is that there is reincarnation involved and that they keep playing out variations of the same story thru-out thier many lives. Actually, I love the 13th Warrior, both the novel and the movie, despite the inaccuracies. I also quite enjoyed the CG Beowulf. It’s actually a really good story, even if that story isn’t really Beowulf. What a lot of people don’t seem to understand about Beowulf is that, when you break it down, it’s a very straightforward story and would make about a half hour long movie if they didn’t play with it. In modern storytelling, people tend to like character development and growth. Something that doesn’t really exist in the original, awesome though it is. I haven’t seen Outlander.
Also, my problem with Mists of Avalon isn’t that it’s a retelling, Ive read some Arthurian retelling that I like. I just think too many of the supposedly intelligent characters act rather stupidly. That’s just me. My major problem is actually with the series as a whole though (The Forest House and whatnot). The problem is that each of the books in the series is the same story with the same characters and ending. Over and over again. I mean literally the same characters too. The implication is that there is reincarnation involved and that they keep playing out variations of the same story thru-out thier many lives.

]]> By: Sorn http://aheathensday.com/2010/04/a-review-of-paxsons-essential-asatru.html#comment-2366 Sorn Wed, 05 May 2010 14:04:03 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1478#comment-2366 I thought Brisingamen was pretty funny, really. I got a good laugh out of the other gods, particularly the one-eyed biker, the free love stuff is amusing, and, as I mentioned, you've got those classic cat names that've managed to find their way into various online Norse mythology resources. I also enjoyed Bradley's original Mists of Avalon, though, so I suppose we've got pretty different tastes (actually, I'm kind of a sucker for retellings in general; I'm also fond of The 13th Warrior, Outlander, and the 3D animated Beowulf, for example, and most heathens I know don't particularly like any of those). My standards for fiction are pretty loose. As long as it entertains me for a while, regardless of whether it was supposed to amuse me in that way or not, is okay by me. I have much different standards for nonfiction. If something in there seems wrong and isn't properly cited or supported, then the entire work becomes suspect to me. I have difficulty saying "well, at least I got a laugh out of it" like I can with fiction. I thought Brisingamen was pretty funny, really. I got a good laugh out of the other gods, particularly the one-eyed biker, the free love stuff is amusing, and, as I mentioned, you’ve got those classic cat names that’ve managed to find their way into various online Norse mythology resources. I also enjoyed Bradley’s original Mists of Avalon, though, so I suppose we’ve got pretty different tastes (actually, I’m kind of a sucker for retellings in general; I’m also fond of The 13th Warrior, Outlander, and the 3D animated Beowulf, for example, and most heathens I know don’t particularly like any of those). My standards for fiction are pretty loose. As long as it entertains me for a while, regardless of whether it was supposed to amuse me in that way or not, is okay by me.

I have much different standards for nonfiction. If something in there seems wrong and isn’t properly cited or supported, then the entire work becomes suspect to me. I have difficulty saying “well, at least I got a laugh out of it” like I can with fiction.

]]> By: Ulfrun http://aheathensday.com/2010/04/a-review-of-paxsons-essential-asatru.html#comment-2365 Ulfrun Mon, 03 May 2010 02:27:16 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1478#comment-2365 Sorn, I read Brisingamen. I really didn't like that book. The main character was useless and annoying. I'm not a fan of Paxson's fiction. For example, she's continued Marion Zimmer Bradley's mists of Avalon sries too. One of my most hated fantasy series. Other than a couple of her works of fiction this is the only book of hers I've read. I like it a lot more than any of those. It actually has some sense to it. Sorn, I read Brisingamen. I really didn’t like that book. The main character was useless and annoying. I’m not a fan of Paxson’s fiction. For example, she’s continued Marion Zimmer Bradley’s mists of Avalon sries too. One of my most hated fantasy series. Other than a couple of her works of fiction this is the only book of hers I’ve read. I like it a lot more than any of those. It actually has some sense to it.

]]> By: Martin Heitshu http://aheathensday.com/2010/04/a-review-of-paxsons-essential-asatru.html#comment-2364 Martin Heitshu Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:50:39 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1478#comment-2364 Interesting, as a relative newcomer, I wasn't aware of the controversy concerning the existence or non existence of Hel as a goddess. I don't have a hammer on my alter either; my Father was a gunner so I have 2 brass cannons instead ;-) Interesting, as a relative newcomer, I wasn’t aware of the controversy concerning the existence or non existence of Hel as a goddess. I don’t have a hammer on my alter either; my Father was a gunner so I have 2 brass cannons instead ;-)

]]> By: Sorn http://aheathensday.com/2010/04/a-review-of-paxsons-essential-asatru.html#comment-2363 Sorn Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:50:12 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1478#comment-2363 Thanks for the thoughtful review, Hrafnkell. I've never cared all that much for much of what I've encountered of Paxson's writing (mainly essays for the Troth and different seidhr-type groups), mainly because of the heavy emphasis on magic that you noted; mine's not a particularly magical practice, unless, as you say, all religion should be considered magical. I enjoy her fiction from time to time (Brisingamen is fun, if silly, and gave us those wonderful cat names, for instance ;) ), though I remember being rubbed the wrong way with her scenes of god-horsing in her retelling of the saga of the Volsungs. Sounds like this book might be worthwhile, though, so I might have to check it out sometime. OT, but what did you think of Ferguson's book? I've been curious about it for a while and will probably get it in paperback (supposed to be this fall, I think). I've read some pretty mixed reviews of it. Some people've found it very insightful, some seem to think the author reaches too far in his arguments without providing much evidence, and some feel it's basically a retread of Roesdahl's book, but with less going for it. Thanks for the thoughtful review, Hrafnkell. I’ve never cared all that much for much of what I’ve encountered of Paxson’s writing (mainly essays for the Troth and different seidhr-type groups), mainly because of the heavy emphasis on magic that you noted; mine’s not a particularly magical practice, unless, as you say, all religion should be considered magical. I enjoy her fiction from time to time (Brisingamen is fun, if silly, and gave us those wonderful cat names, for instance ;) ), though I remember being rubbed the wrong way with her scenes of god-horsing in her retelling of the saga of the Volsungs. Sounds like this book might be worthwhile, though, so I might have to check it out sometime.

OT, but what did you think of Ferguson’s book? I’ve been curious about it for a while and will probably get it in paperback (supposed to be this fall, I think). I’ve read some pretty mixed reviews of it. Some people’ve found it very insightful, some seem to think the author reaches too far in his arguments without providing much evidence, and some feel it’s basically a retread of Roesdahl’s book, but with less going for it.

]]> By: Ulfrun http://aheathensday.com/2010/04/a-review-of-paxsons-essential-asatru.html#comment-2362 Ulfrun Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:09:01 +0000 http://aheathensday.com/?p=1478#comment-2362 Good to have you back Hraf. Nice review. I have this book and I pretty much agree with your assessment. It's not perfect but I think it's a great introduction to Heathenism. Because, ours is a historical recon religion, much of the literature is either dense scholarly stuff or medieval sources of debatable translation. I think these are wonderful things but it can make things rather intimdating for those who are taking their first look at Heathenism. Paxson's book is accessible and mostly devoid of fluff and nonsense. Good to have you back Hraf.
Nice review. I have this book and I pretty much agree with your assessment. It’s not perfect but I think it’s a great introduction to Heathenism. Because, ours is a historical recon religion, much of the literature is either dense scholarly stuff or medieval sources of debatable translation. I think these are wonderful things but it can make things rather intimdating for those who are taking their first look at Heathenism. Paxson’s book is accessible and mostly devoid of fluff and nonsense.

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