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Episode 40C – Ljósvetninga Saga (chapters 8-12) We return with the tale of Vöðu-Brand, another entertaining þáttr from the opening section of Ljósvetninga Saga. This is the story of a troublesome young man who is bored with life the farm in northern Iceland. His restlessness carries him across the…

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Longtime listeners of Saga Thing know that we struggle to record much during the heart of a semester. Stick with us. We just recorded a lively new episode on Ljósvetninga saga (chapters 8-12) featuring a troublesome youth and a lot of legal wrangling. Look for this fun new episode early next week!

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Two tales, one episode! First, a young man’s love for Guðmund the Powerful’s daughter causes a stir. Then, Guðmund learns the hard way that his power has limits. Plus, a touch of medieval Icelandic politics and some manuscript studies. Give it a listen! sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com/2025/02/10/e...

submitted 28 days ago • 1 comment

The berserker is freaking out! Which is pretty much part and parcel of channeling the iconic animalistic rage and potentially substance-induced frenzy inherent to berserkerdom. Check out the link for more of artist Jacob Foust’s work: www.scandinavianaggression.com/2025/02/bers...

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

The Landnámabók is among the earliest works of history produced by medieval Iceland. The "true" story of Thorir's son Steinrod the Strong here is worth a look. The short overview and accompanying poetry suggests a fantastic story that was sadly lost to the ages. #fantasy #history #iceland #soreribs

submitted 29 days ago • 1 comment

Finished Neil Price's invaluable survey of Viking history. Really impressed with the breadth of this book, the quality of the writing, and the attention to interdisciplinary approaches. The archaeological details are particularly appreciated.

submitted 31 days ago • 1 comment

What has John created!? Even Fjörn, someone I respect (or used to now), is on board with the spy puffin bit.

submitted 39 days ago • 0 comments

This is a sewing pattern. It is also a page from a late 14th century manuscript that is one of two primary sources for an important Icelandic saga (Sturlunga saga), but that was probably not important to the 17th century person who really needed a sewing pattern. #upcycling

submitted 46 days ago • 48 comments

Here's a little map showing all the most important locations for the first episode in our new series on Ljósvetninga saga. You can listen to the episode on your favorite podcast app or download directly from sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com/2025/01/27/e... #Iceland #Reykjadalur

submitted 42 days ago • 1 comment

Saga Thing's series on Ljósvetninga Saga begins! sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com/2025/01/27/e... #Iceland #SagaThing #Ljosavatn #medieval #literature #history #Vikings #Icelandic

submitted 43 days ago • 0 comments

Look for a new episode tomorrow! We're starting Ljósvetninga saga. Some have compared it to Njál's saga. We shall see.

submitted 44 days ago • 0 comments

Spiced mead is racked and ready for another long sit before I host a medieval feast for 15+ guests. This will be my second annual "authentic" feast with recipes from The Forme of Cury and other sources. There will be live medieval music and a recitation of Robin Hood and the Monk. Should be fun!

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

Haraldsslátta (King Harald's coins) contained nearly as much copper as silver. In the latest episode of Saga Thing, Halldor Snorrason's less than enthusiastic reception of these coins as payment for his service creates a major rift in his long relationship with King Harald.

submitted 52 days ago • 1 comment

We're back with the Second Tale of Halldor Snorrason. In our opinion, this one is even more entertaining than the first. So many fun details leading to lots of interesting discussions. sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com/2025/01/15/s...

submitted 55 days ago • 1 comment

Quick update as we get back to work on Saga Thing. Next week we'll post Halldór Snorrason II, a fun little story about Halldor and Harald Hardrada's falling out. After that, well finally get back to proper sagas . . . or whatever Ljósvetninga saga is.

submitted 62 days ago • 0 comments

John got a really cool sweater for Christmas. Anyone remember in which episode John declared his love for manatees?

submitted 70 days ago • 0 comments

Thought I'd share some of the cool gifts I received this Christmas that Saga Thing listeners might appreciate. Here's a beautiful mug by Firehorse Pottery from my amazing sister-in-law. And my wife got me this fun puzzle jug from Plimoth Patuxet Museums that we had seen on Tudor Monastery Farm.

submitted 75 days ago • 1 comment

Gleðileg jól frá Saga Thing! This year, we present "Egil's Yuletide Carol" in the style of the radio broadcasts of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol starring Lionel Barrymore from the 1930s. sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com/2024/12/23/h... #christmas #holidays #medieval #iceland #vikings #yule

submitted 78 days ago • 1 comment

We'll be posting our special holiday episode tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy last year's offering. It's an original poem about The Yule Lads and the spirit of the season. sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com/2023/12/24/t... #yulelads #iceland #christmas #holidays #merrychristmas #vikings #storytelling

submitted 79 days ago • 1 comment

Our 3rd holiday special featured the long lost tale of Frosti Jónsson, known affectionately to all in medieval Iceland as Frosti snjókarlinn. If you want to skip the intro banter, jump ahead to around the 7 minute mark. sagathingpodcast.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/h... #Frosty #Christmas #Iceland

submitted 80 days ago • 0 comments

While Andy's recording the ambient sounds of pastures, fireplaces, and school fights for the latest holiday episode, here's one of our favorites. The original inspiration behind 'Twas the Night Before Christmas from medieval Iceland! www.podbean.com/ew/pb-fz625-... #Christmas #Medieval #Iceland

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

While Andy works on the massive edit for this year's holiday episode, an adaptation of A Christmas Carol, we thought it might be fun to revisit some of our previous Yuletide offerings. Today's episode is one of our favorites. www.podbean.com/ew/pb-7pi9v-... #Christmas #Vikings #Grinch #Holidays

submitted 83 days ago • 0 comments

Have you listened to our review of Beowulf: Prince of the Geats? Let us know what you thought, especially if you've somehow seen the movie. Are you more inclined to agree with John or Andy about this one? And how do you pronounce "compass" properly? #Beowulf #Medieval #MedievalStudies #podcasts

submitted 88 days ago • 2 comments

As promised in our discussion of the wigs in Beowulf: Prince of the Geats, here's a picture of my wife and I at one of John's famous grad school era Halloween parties. This is "Grendel and his Mother Trying to Make a Good Impression." #Beowulf #Grendel #FirstImpressions #HalloweenThrowback

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments

Hwaet a Movie returns with Beowulf: Prince of the Geats. How will this low-budget indie film score when Andy and John weigh in? If you know John even a little bit, you'll have a sense of how he's gonna rate this one. www.podbean.com/eas/pb-q6jcq... #Beowulf #Vikings #Movies #Medieval #Literature

submitted 94 days ago • 0 comments

Here's a little teaser to get you in the mood for today's release of Hwæt a Movie. youtu.be/cPLcc5L2NaM?... #Beowulf #movies #medieval #grendel #medievalstudies #icantbelievethisisreal

submitted 94 days ago • 0 comments

Spending all this time with the stories of Halldór Snorrason in King Harald's saga and other kings' sagas has me thinking about what Saga Thing will do once we finish all the Sagas of Icelanders. On that note, I just picked up this great study of Snorri's Heimskringla. #Vikings #Iceland #medieval

submitted 110 days ago • 1 comment

Our next episode of Saga Thing will be a very special Hwaet a Movie featuring one of our favorite Beowulf movies. It's Scott Wegener's Beowulf: Prince of the Geats. Watch the trailer and you'll get a good idea why we like this one so much. We can't wait to record this one. youtu.be/cPLcc5L2NaM?...

submitted 113 days ago • 0 comments

In this episode of Saga Thing, we return to the tales of Icelanders among Norwegian royalty. This is the first of two Saga Shorts featuring tales of Halldór Snorrason, the son of Snorri goði and longtime companion of King Harald "harðráða" Sigurdsson. www.podbean.com/eas/pb-3efmb...

submitted 116 days ago • 2 comments

Our list of Beowulf films for Hwaet a Movie just got a little longer. We weren't aware of this one until a listener sent us the link. John is excited about this one. I am not. www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4qX...

submitted 118 days ago • 2 comments

The Flateyjarbók is a great "little" manuscript containing lots of interesting stories that we have covered or will cover on Saga Thing. Here's a fun initial showing what my dogs like to do whenever John and I start recording. #manuscriptillumination #dogs #medieval #iceland

submitted 119 days ago • 0 comments