This is one of the more fascinating books I’ve read recently. It’s the
tale of a viking lord named Erling in the days of Olaf Tryggveson, when
Scandinavia was beginning to become a Christian land. Erling is not only
one of the first Christian lords in Norway, but also the first Christian
in his own domain, and much of the drama comes from the clash of faiths,
and the struggles between the followers of Odin and the followers of the
White Christ.

To a large extent, it’s an historical novel. Erling is an historical
figure, as are many of the viking notables he meets. It’s also a fantasy
novel, for the followers of the White Christ must overcome not only
the worshippers of the old gods, but supernatural forces as well. And,
most atypically (as I pointed out a few days
ago), it’s a work of Christian fantasy, and a remarkably good one.

The viewpoint character is an Irishman named Ailill. Having just
been kicked out of the abbey in which he had been a novice on account of
his manifold sins, Ailill arrives at his parents home just in time to be
taken captive by viking raiders. On the way back to Scandinavia the vikings
cut his hair in a priest’s tonsure, in hopes that with his monk’s robes
they’ll be able to get a good price for him at the slave market; there
are a few Christians there, and sometimes they will pay good money to
redeem a priest from slavery.

And, in fact, that’s more or less what happens. Ailill is purchased by
Erling, whose previous priest had been murdered by Erling’s father.
Ailill is given the choice of coming back to Erling’s home and being his
priest, with all the risks that that entails, or being sold again. The
difficulty is, Ailill’s nothing but a failed monk, and one with a serious
grudge against God; he’s taken no vows and is certainly no priest. But
freedom is better than slavery, and he lies to Erling and accompanies him
home.

The result is a fascinating, inspiring (and frequently humbling) story.
On the one hand we have Erling’s political and religious struggles, and
as Erling is (after his father’s death) one of the great men of Norway
during a tempestuous time, that’s an exciting tale indeed. And then,
on the other hand, we have the personal story of Ailill, failed monk,
who must perforce grow into his faith and his role as priest, and
learn to care for the flock that God has sent him. And perhaps best
of all, Walker doesn’t attempt to whitewash history. Erling is (and
historically was) gentle in his attempts to convert his people, but
King Olaf brings Christ with the edge of his sword. The Church is made
up of sinners, then and always, and the result is what you’d expect.

Walker handles the problem of how to mingle fantasy elements and
Christianity with ease. He simply feigns that old gods have a certain
reality, and that they and other less powerful beings (faerie,
essentially) are being displaced by the new religion. The work thus
feels all of a piece.

As I say, I found the story humbling–the fortitude and determination of
these early Christians in the face of hardship is almost impossible to
believe, and yet I know that Walker has portrayed them accurately. It
makes me a little less satisfied with myself, in all truth.

I should add, Lars contacted me after visiting this blog, and asked if
I would like to read any of his books. I said sure; they are published
by Baen Books, who publish a number of authors I quite like, so I figured
they couldn’t be too bad. I was quite pleasantly surprised by how much I
enjoyed this one.