This heroic tale by an unknown Icelandic author of the 13th century is a prose epic based on stories found in much older Norse Eddic poetry. Full of traditional lore, including runic knowledge, jealousies of princes, betrayals, unrequited love, the vengeance of a barbarian queen, the greed of Attila the Hun, and the mythic deeds of a dragon-slayer, this is the Scandinavian version of the German Niebelungenlied used by Wagner for his opera cycle. It's essential reading for anyone wishing to understand Viking society.  (SCN05, $14.95)

Vikings