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Summary: Good and short sometimes collides.
Review: The first book I read by Crichton was the disasterious Timeline. I now curse myself for reading it. However, I gave Crichton a second chance. Eaters of the Dead is about a Arab minstrel named Ahamad ibn-Fadlan (there's a much longer name in the book) leaves his city of Baghdad as ordered by the King, and sets off on a long journey to the Northlands. I really liked this book. The action scenes were short, but there were many. A nice combination of real stories and Beowulf, the famous poem. Rothgar and Ahamad are my favorite charecters. I wish there was more to say about this book. Well, If you hated Timeline, pick this book up, you'll love it!
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Summary: A COMPELLING COMBO OF FACT AND FICTION!!!
Review: I'm not a Michael Crichton fan, however I did find this book to be very interesting in its exploration of the world that existed a thousand years ago. The unique methodology used by Crichton involves combining elements of actual accounts written, presumably, by Ibn Fadlan (an Arabic-speaking courtier, who travelled far and wide and lived to write about his interesting travels) and creating a continuation that is fictional and speculative, but still very entertaining. One must be careful not to take such works as actual snapshots of history however. What is useful to note is that Ibn Fadlan attempts to be a very objective observer, who lapses into cultural display of disgust when confronted by some of the habits of the Norsemen, but he represents what many a modern man's reaction. At the time, the Arabs had forged a vast empire stretching from southern Europe to the borders of India and China, and they had created a civilization that fused together elements of Greco-Roman hellenism, Persian influences, and various regional contributions to create a universal state that was as inclusive as the Roman Empire (at the end) and Alexander the Great's vision of a single human nation. The result of such enlightenment was a renaissance that helped shape the more long-lasting European Renaissance as the Arabs preserved Greek learning and imported Indian mathematics and developed theories of their own about astronomy, physics, mathematics, and sociology. Ibn Fadlan's account gives us a glimpse of the little known civilization of the Norsemen of ancient Scandanavia, who raided as far south as the Caspian and Black Seas and were noted for their ferocity in warfare and their seemingly "uncouthe" mannerisms. Michael Crichton deserves credit for venturing into somewhat uncharted territory and making it work.
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Summary: crichton leads
Review: It's one of my favourite books. It is written in a very good style and I think that everybody should read it.
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Summary: I'VE READ IT TWICE
Review: This book shows how versatile Michael Crichton is as a writer. He can write fiction, techno-thriller, nonfiction, and, with this work, he has proved that he can write fantasy and breath new life into a classic story. Basically, The 13th Warrior is about an Arab who goes to the land of the Vikings. According to Crichton, the first four chapters or so are based on actual texts. After that, Crichton starts to bring more elements from Beowulf into the story. For you fantasy fans out there, this book has lots of great stuff: Violent Vikings, Grendel monsters, Glow-worms, Dwarves, a great storyline, interesting characters, etc. I found it interesting what Crichton says about Viking life--their beliefs, how their villages are created (especially interesting was the purpose behind the small doorways to all their buildings), how the Vikings treat women, etc. A very fascinating book, one of the very few fiction books, actually, that even talks about the Vikings. The first part may be a little slow, but you can blame that on the historical text. Crichton did such a seamless job of blending his writing style with that of the Arab's that I felt as if it were the Arab talking the whole time (or the other way around.) If you've never read the epic poem Beowulf because of the archaic language, this book is a fairly decent substitute. I say fairly because it doesn't exactly follow the real story of Beowulf at all, just borrows a few elements here and there. If you're looking for a good translation of the REAL Beowulf, try the Seamus Heaney translation as there is no archaic language, making it a really easy read. Overall, the 13th Warrior is a great fantasy novel, a fresh escape from the kill-the-dragon save-the-princess kill-the-ultimate-evil storyline.
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Summary: Fascinating Story a Window on Life 1,000 Years Ago
Review: Ibn Fadlan's original manuscript regarding the tale of an Arab ambassador on a mission to one of Europe's barbarian outposts is the basis for Chrichton's fascinating story. The character and the story line are historic fact which provides an interesting platform for this tale.Fadlan, from the cultured City of Baghad, is repelled and aghast at the practices of the Vikings he encounters in South Eastern Europe. A moralist with a strict code of appropriate behavior, he must do as ambassadors have frequently been called to do -- interact with a Viking host whose everyday behavior violates his code and moral standards. Despite their different cultures (or the Vikings lack of culture as opposed to Fadlan's relatively well-developed one), Fadlan is taken to by his hosts and joins them when they are summoned back to Scandinavia to rescue their beseiged clan. The tale includes mythic enemies and battles worthy of this medieval travelogue. Fadlan and his hosts are tested according to the savage tenor of the times as they grapple with enemies unchecked in their ferocious desire to persevere over the Norsemen. The book is a great tale and fascinating account of the times. A quick read, it is never ponderous as it dissipates some of the mists of a long ago era for modern readers
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Summary: Another Version of a Popular Story
Review: Faldan's manuscript, well-known to scholars, provides one of the earliest eyewitness accounts of Viking life and culture, in C.E. 922 - too late in history to serve as the basis for Beowulf, which many authorities believe was composed a hundred and fifty years earlier. However, Michael Crichton's book provides an exciting combination of the two sources, even if he does do quite a bit of embellishing, but we could expect nothing less from the novelist. Anyone would enjoy this story about a Viking chieftain defending his country from the monsters in the mist.
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Summary: a very good book...
Review: but far too short! first, let me tell you this : this is a work of *fiction*. it's based on a real manuscript (very obscure) but it was written as a story with many elements from the poem beowulf. it can be very confusing because the line between the fiction and the history was blurred that even crichton himself admits that he himself had been mislead by his own work (read his comments at the back of the book) when he tried to find a nonexistent reference. i myself at first thought this was a purely historical document and i was quite surprised when i read that he actually made most of the story up with a heavy influence of beowulf. the story is about ibn fadlan, who was sent to bulgaria as an ambassador of sorts by the caliph of baghdad. he never reach his destination as he was somewhat forced to follow the vikings he was staying with to a mission that requires the 13th man to be a foreigner. the crazy thing is he wasn't even a warrior! so off he went with these barbarics to the land of king hrothgar( i think) to face these unknown creatures which the viking feared so much. there are a lot of gory scenes and quite a lot of action and you can actually imagine yourself there at the battle field. ibn fadlan's narration is excellent as he gives no bull about his companions' very barbaric ways and it is a clear contrast from what he's used to. however it is apparent that he also respect the vikings for some of their notions on the way of life.i think that this is a good book that may get people interested in more history-based writings. it certainly managed to get my attention.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting, but far from Crichton's best
Review: Eaters of the Dead (now retitled The 13th Warrior) is unlike anything else you'll read by Michael Crichton. This short book is written in the style of an ancient manuscript. It is the journal of Ibn Fadlan, a representative from the Court of the Caliph of Bagdad, who is sent as ambassador to the King of Saqaliba as punishment for his indiscretion with the young wife of a wealthy merchant. Fadlan never reaches his destination. Instead, he meets a group of Viking warriors who take him with them on their heroic mission to rid a Northen Kingdom of the monsters of the mist. Part history, part Beowolf, part Grendel, part Crichton's imagination, this is an interesting story told by a master storyteller. However, it borrows far too much from other stories (like Beowolf and Grendel) and the style (which includes lengthy footnotes in very small print) becomes tiresome after a while. It's an interesting quick read, but it's also far from Crichton's best.
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Summary: A colorful journey, with a great film to boot.
Review: Michael Crichton has written an outstanding novel that is rooted in both the epic Beowulf and historial documents written by the real Ibn Fadlan that have been unearthed over time. As an ambassador of the Caliph of Baghdad, the City of Peace, he encounters during his travels a group of Northmen. After staying for a time with them, a small group of them are called upon to return to their homeland to do battle with an ancient evil that is slowly destroying them. This is where the new title comes into play, for the group is comprised of twelve of the hardiest warriors of the group of Northmen, chosen by the clan's oracle, and Ibn Fadlan as the 13th Warrior. As the book puts it, "The party of Buliwyf must be thirteen, and one of these must be no Northman, and so you (Ibn Fadlan) shall be the thirteenth." This ancient evil is a tribe of primitive humans who clothe themselves in the skins of bears, the creature whom they worship, and attack with the coming of the mist; they are also know to practice cannibalism, hence the original title, "Eaters of the Dead." Despite his misgivings about the Northmen, Ibn Fadlan has no choice but to take up arms against this mythical enemy. For some, this book may be a difficult read, especially since Ibn Fadlan's writings go into great detail about the habits and appetites of the Northmen, such as their penchant for wenching and their bouts of drunkenness. However, these are essential to the telling of the story, as they establish the character of Ibn Fadlan as one who is much used to the cleanliness and ordered life of the City of Peace. Through the course of the book, he gradually comes to terms with the Northmen, and begins to respect them, in some cases even picking up some of their habits. One of the great parts of this book is the footnotes added by Michael Crichton about certain parts of the documents that this story was supposedly based on. It adds a definite element of realism to the story, and also will help to explain to some readers the more obscure references in the book. In all, this book chronicles not only Ibn Fadlan's travels, but also the changes wrought in him by his experiences with the Northmen. At the novel's end, his respect for them is much higher, and he goes away with not only with greater bravery himself, but also a renewed sense of piety and purpose. The end even leaves the door open for a sequel, should Crichton choose to write one, although he has indicated in the past that he doesn't really want to. But, regardless, this book stands on its own merits, and is definitely a must read, even among Crichton's other works.
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Summary: Typical Crichton
Review: There is a definite connection between all of Crichton's works, that is how he portrays his fiction mingled in truth. The spine of the book says that it is fiction, but once one has read it, it is very hard to determine what could possibly be fiction. This is what is so interesting about the 13th warrior. In this book, an arab named Ibn Faladan joins up with a goup of northmen, whom take him on a journey to assist another king in defeating its menace. These creatures which vex the king are ape-like. In this tale, based upon the story of Beowulf, one gets a great sense of the culture of the vikings. Also, it of course has a great plot full of battles and action. So therefore, one is reading about a great masterpiece, Beowulf, while learning about the vikings!
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