Runelore: A Handbook of Esoteric Runology

Rating:
Summary: Awsome!
Review: By far the best book on runic metephysics ever written and by far exceeds the quality of any book on runes. Throw your Ralph Blum books and pop this one open......you will see why! Hail Odin!

Rating:
Summary: a GOOD book
Review: Runelore is a compendium of the basic historic and fact-file knowledge of the runes as a whole. With a good solid base Thorsson explains in understandable words the big world of runes. With a first seccion based on historical facts, a second one wich takes deeper onto the meaning and stiles of runes and lastly one seccion of esoteric knowledge it takes you deep with a slice of literacy not seen everywere. A masterpice for the not-so-initiate and a pretty nice source book for the i-know-a-little-about-that guy.

Rating:
Summary: An enjoyable and informative read
Review: Runelore is an esoteric text on runework that is more leaning towards Thorsson's personal ideas on the subject, but he presents these ideas readably, eloquently, and with adequate support for his findings. A recommended read for the runester!

Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: This book is divided in two parts. First part, Historical Lore, presents a history of the runes in a more realistic, scientific view using examples form archaeology to support certain hypothesis of how the runes where invented (examples of runic writing with explanations are found throughout the book especially in the first part). The first 5 chapters of the book are chronologically organised and present the rune evolution from the oldest findings to the most recent ones (modern age actually). Chapters 6, 7, 8 try to explain the utility of runes for the old norse (or for other civilisations who took the runes from the old Norse) and also give written examples which try to explain the runes. Especially useful are chapters 6 and 7, which try to explain the runes and the runic inscriptions. The second part, Hidden Lore, uses a philosophical and psychological approach to explain the runes. Chapter 9 is especially useful and probably the most important chapter within the book because here all the runes are explained in great detail (beginning with page 114 and ending with 141 is a very essence of the book). Chapters 10 is also useful because it shows the cosmological view of the Old Norse and the connection with the runes (24 pathways between the 9 worlds, 24 runes). Chapters 11, 12 display even more information about the runes and the way of thinking of the Old Norse. The last chapter, 13, has a nice description of the gods of the old Norse but this chapter lacks the great detail which is found in the other chapter (this last chapter give some helpful hints but is more like a conclusion of the book, the good ending).
This book is pretty good, and that's why I gave it 5 stars but in truth it deserved 4 stars because it lacks the really deep explanations of the Old Norse's way of thinking.

Rating:
Summary: A indepth reader
Review: This book is not for the light hearted, it is very detailed in the mystery of the runa and the gods that made and worked them. Some think this work is satanic and if your not used to the myths of the old gods or if your biased in belief of religion you may think that.
Edred is a scholar in the ancient ways of the germanic tribes and although this book is PACKED with information he can be long winded sometimes.
Covers everything from the origins of the runes to creating your own runes and spells.
So if you want to do some serious reading and thinking this is the book, if you want a light over view youl be better off passing this one.

Rating:
Summary: For the Vitki
Review: This one maybe a little too complicated for the beginner. But the true Vitki will love this one i bet. There is nothing satanic in this book as a few others have claimed. This book goes into the rune and gives you the inner vision of the power of each rune. This is a great companion to his other book Futhark. Both are great and accurate. Edred Thorsson is a true master of his craft.

Rating:
Summary: Well Researched
Review: Thorsson easily escapes the major trap that most "Pagan Revivalists" fall into in regards to ancient religion, that of not knowing jack squat about the subject. Runelore provides a much more historically based arguement for the cultic use of runes than any other work currently available. There is ample historical backing to his other arguements, and they are concise and clearly presented. Thorsson is well beyond the "Blank Rune" or "Celtic Rune" level that other "Runesters" wallow in, though his Ogham book perhaps stretched it a bit. In this book, Thorsson may have carried his Odhinn centered tendencies a bit too far, even going contrary to the evidence in declaring Loki, Baldr, and Heimdal to be hypostases of Odhinn. However, Runelore should be interesting even to Teutonic Historians, as Thorsson can safely speculate beyond the limits of scholarly propriety, and therefore show us how the ancient Germans may have actually percieved the Universe

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Very well done. Truly the best runic study book on the market.

Rating:
Summary: A decent book... BUT
Review: While this book is perhaps one of Edred's best work to date, I would like to point out that he is actually more into Satanism than anything runic. A lot of his dark philosophical beliefs permeate the work. You have been forewarned.