Eaters of the Dead : With an introduction and running commentary read by Michael Crichton

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, excellent, excellent...!
Review: The originality that brought this book about is inspiring. It is historical and yet fantastic, molded from the epic poem of Beowulf in a "what if" situation that is entirely captivating. It is told through the chronicles of Ibn Fadlan in a 1st person perspective that, surprisingly, makes it even more thrilling. I loved the book, it's one of my all-time favorites, and I am looking forward to the movie, which I have not yet seen. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping it's even remotely as engrossing as the novel...!

Rating:
Summary: Purely Crichton!
Review: When I picked up this book, I knew it was fiction. Then I started to read it. Was it fiction or non-fiction? Crichton's writing style is so fluent. At the end of the book, he explained that the first few chapters were actually from the manuscript. I didn't know that!! Michael Crichton masterfully blended the manuscript with his tale. At the end, when the they find the center hut, it reminded me so much of Relic and Relicary. In the beginning, the footnotes were fun and interesting, but as the book progressed, the footnotes were annoying. Read this book before you see the movie! Read ALL of Michael Crichton's books also!

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, - be prepared for something different!
Review: Eaters of the Dead shares Crichton's imaginative powers with other excellent novels such as "The Andromeda Strain," "Jurassic Park," and "The Lost World." However, written as an historic manuscript, Crichton locks himself into a necessarily slower-paced work. While at times this means that the reader is absolutely convinced that Crichton is dealing with a true historical work, leaving the reader disturbed and questioning what he or she has long assumed, at other times it means that action sequences cannot be written as the fast-paced thrill-packed scenes that we became familiar with in Crichton's other works; rather, the manuscript-approach to this novel means that all of it -- including the action sequences -- must be written as a report, a kind of re-telling of the story. For fans of Crichton's work, this book is certainly recommended; however, for those new to or unfamiliar with his other books, this would not seem to be a good starting point -- this isn't the typical page-turner that Crichton has produced recently. Nonetheless, I was still left with a certain quantity of chills at the end of the book...

Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: I found this book the worst book I have ever read. I read it as'Eaters of the Dead' a horrible title. At least the new title isbetter. The style is a attempt to recreate the style of an original 10th century manuscript simply boring. The only reason I got through it was because it was so short. It will probably make a good movie because it's so simplistic. Anyone who thinks this was not fiction well, there's a sucker born every minute.

Rating:
Summary: A vivid and exciting veiw of viking life.
Review: This exciting tale makes you feel as if you are along side the band of warriors and the battle the wendol. Crichton does a fantastic job of changing writing styles.

Rating:
Summary: Quick read and lots of action that will make a great movie!
Review: I just read the 13th warrior(Eaters of the Dead) and it only took me about 3 hours. It's really interesting to see how Crichton added to the famous "Beowulf." He definitely made the story more inviting to read. Ibn's point of view is great. The outcast of the warriors who is forced to join in the fight against the Grendel gives us the best story by being blunt and specific.

Rating:
Summary: The most voyageous story I've ever read, makes me trapped in
Review: It was a great coincide for me when I bought "Eaters of the dead" in a bookstore at Copenhagen Airport, November 1997, as I started my journey to Norway, one of Scandinavian countries. The book seems to be my personal guide in entering the old time of the Viking countries. And the European--even they're the closest neighbour--prooved they didn't know anything about the Viking until Ibn Fadlan open up their minds. This is the must-read book and don't missed it.

Rating:
Summary: As of all outher of Chritons storeys one of the best.
Review: as the great epic tale of baowulf and grendal lives on in Chritons eyes as a little new and a little old tale all in one. its a good one

Rating:
Summary: One of my fav books!
Review: I found that this book was intriguiging and I couldn't stop. Ifinished it in one day. I found that I like books with the characterdevelopement that's straight out and it doesn't get messed up in the action parts and the parts that are serious. I found that this book is action-packed and very fundemental. There were many interesting parts in this book lik when Mr. Crichton explains about the Tus. I thought that the writing was very artistic. Crichton wrote like someone would in 922 A.D. and I found that very cool. Then, I decided to read it again. The second time was just as good because you miss so much the first time. So, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes interesting, artistic, and action-packed books. Peace!

Rating:
Summary: An early piece by Crichton
Review: Somewhere in the 70's I read Crichton: The Andromeda Strain, The Great Train Robber, The Terminal Man, and the Eaters of the Dead. Having formal training in the sciences, I found his writing very intriguing...there were no other authors at the time blending popular fiction with the sciences. In later years Crichton went commercial with Disclosure, Congo, Rising Sun, etc. In my opinion his early works carried a higher quality. He was honing his craft then even with the Andromeda Strain, his first screenplay. The Eaters of the Dead has haunted me, to a small degree, over the past 20 years. But, since the fossil record clearly demonstrates the disappearance of Neanderthan and Cro-Magnon long before the 10th century AD, this story is obviously purely fiction. My bet is that Crichton himself chuckles when he thinks of his craftiness in spinning such a yarn. Taken in this, I think the true spirit, of the piece, it is a good read.