We Will Ragnarök You

It's pretty good timing. The newest Marvel Studios movie -- Thor: The Dark World -- is newly available through the Library Catalog this week. The film brings to life such characters as Thor, Odin, Frigga, and Loki -- the mythological figures from the Viking pantheon.

The DVD's been released just in time for Ragnarök -- the long-prophetized "Twilight of the Gods" that serves as the Viking apocalypse. According to mythology, Ragnarök comes about with the release of the wolf Fenrir and the giant snake Jörmungandr. The gods rise to fight the monsters and successfully defeat them -- though the gods themselves die in the process. (Norse mythology is not for the faint of heart.)

According to some experts, Ragnarök was predicted by the Vikings for this very Saturday, February 22. So in honor of the occasion, we're looking at the mythology behind some of our favorite Norse gods. (And be sure to check out Padraic Colum's take on the Twilight of the Gods for all the best Ragnarök coverage!)


Thor

Aside from being red-haired (not blonde), the mythological Thor is not so different from his comic book counterpart. A sky god, he wields the power of thunder and lightning when fighting his enemies (most often, the giants). He also has Mjölnir, the fancy-dancy hammer he can be seen wielding in his Chris Hemsworth incarnation. The defender of the gods, Thor also has a key role to play in Ragnarök, defeating the giant serpent Jörmungandr.

BEST MYTH: 
How Thor Triumphed - To hear Loki tell it, Thor gets into almost as much trouble as Loki himself. Still, the thunder god does alright on his own -- as he does in this tale, when he saves the day (and the gods' feast) through his own strength and cunning.



Odin

Known as the Allfather, Odin is the king of the gods and the ruler of Asgard (the gods' home). He was known as both a warrior god as well as the god of wisdom: he loses his eye not in battle, but rather gives it up as a sacrifice in his quest to drink from the Well of Mimir, which contains great knowledge and wisdom. He has two ravens named Thought and Memory, and rides an eight-legged horse called Slepnir.

BEST MYTH:
Odin Goes to Mimir's Well - Read all about Odin's journey to the well of wisdom, the first of his adventures as Vegtam the Wanderer.



Frigga

The wife of Odin, Frigga was queen of Asgard and Thor's stepmom. As Odin was often away, Frigga often lived in a palace of her own and spent much of her time alone, working at her spinning wheel. She was said to often have a melancholy about her, as she had the power to see the future (and the eventual downfall of the gods) -- though she never revealed what she saw.

BEST MYTH:
Odin Faces an Evil Man - Frigga and Odin are spending some time living on earth in the guise of mere mortals when they take in two foster children. Though Odin favors the more adventurous boy, Frigga dotes on the kid who's quiet and compassionate. It's not hard to guess which god is proven to be the best judge of character.



Loki

In the Marvel movies and comics, Loki is the adopted brother of Thor -- but in the original mythology, Loki is actually Thor's uncle. A trickster god (who's really a descendant of the giants), Loki is generally neither good nor evil, but rather a mischief-maker who spends as much time causing trouble as he does fixing it. His alliances seem to depend on the particular tale you're reading, and scholars have debated for centuries on his true role in Norse mythology.

BEST MYTH: 
Iduna and Her Apples - The gods of Asgard rely on the goddess Iduna, and the golden apples she grows, to maintain their youth and immortality. When Loki uses trickery to betray Iduna and save his own skin, it's only his wit and cunning that can rescue her -- making this story a good look into Loki's dual nature.

Asgard -- home of the gods

From the Catalog:

-- The Children of Odin: The Book of Northern Myths by Padraic Colum

Using an overarching narrative, Colum weaves together the various short stories of Norse mythology into a (mostly) cohesive whole. A highly recommended primer.

-- Gods and Heroes from Viking Mythology by Brian Branston; illustrations by Giovanni Caselli.

This fully-illustrated anthology offers some richer details on the myths and legends of the Norse gods and giants.

-- The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology by Snorri Sturluson; translated by Jesse L. Byock
The Poetic Eddas: The Mythological Poems translated by Henry Adams Bellows

Want the complete, uncut text of the original myths?  Try these translations of the Prose and Poetic Eddas, which were compiled in the 13th century. Together, they comprise our primary sources of Norse mythological tales.

-- Favorite Norse Myths retold by Mary Pope Osborne; illustrated by Troy Howell.

Suitable for all ages, Osborne retells several tales from the Prose and Poetic Eddas. Her elegant prose is well-matched with lush illustrations from Howell.

Thor facing off against Jörmungandr, the "Midgard serpent"

From Around the Web:

-- Vikings Of The World, Unite In Battle: The Apocalypse Is Upon Us - from NPR. A look at the influences and inspirations for the Norse apocalypse.

-- The Apocalypse Starts Saturday, at Least According To The Vikings - Time Magazine offers some humorous advice for celebrating Ragnarök.

-- Save the Date: The Viking Apocalypse Ragnarok Happens This Weekend - Jezebel.com takes a look at the timing of Ragnarök.

-- Mythology Bookshelf - From Project Gutenberg. Check out an in-depth look at the Eddas online, as well as other mythological tales from cultures around the world.



-- Post by Ms. B

And We Feel Fine

"The end of the world. THE END OF THE WORLD!!! Will it bring total annihilation, glorious transcendence, or both? When will it happen? Can we do anything about it? Will we be able to get good jobs afterwards?"

-- Opening line from the class syllabus for the Apocalyptic Literature course at Juniata College

Don't worry, this isn't actually going to happen

You may have heard about how the world is ending this week. The Mayan calendar is coming to an end, and thus, many are saying, an apocalypse is nigh. December 21, 2012, to be precise. At 6:11 AM, to be completely exact.

Now, it's important to point out that the Mayans didn't actually predict the end of the world this December 21st. (The calendar's just getting reset.) This hasn't stopped many from forecasting certain doom, but chances are, we'll be Doomsday-free this month.

Still, on the off-chance that the "forecasters" are right, it can't hurt to be prepared. So we've complied a list of sci-fi, fantasy, thrillers, dystopia, and post-apocalyptic books, films, and television to provide you with an end-of-the-world primer. And whether aliens invade, meteors hit the Earth, or zombies attack, you'll be prepared.

Just remember: Don't Panic.

This message brought to you by Marvin the Paranoid Android

For the Apocalypse:


-- 2012 (2009 film)

Start off with this appropriately-titled special-effects bonanza, featuring John Cusack as a science fiction writer racing for safety as the world literally tears itself apart. The, erm, "science" in this one is best left unexplored, but the CGI is top-notch.

-- Independence Day (1996 film)

Prefer aliens in your apocalypse?  Look no further than this summer blockbuster, which includes inspiration on how to defeat an invading alien race with your handy-dandy Macbook.

-- Good Omens, by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

Expecting a Biblically-based end times?  Check out this humorous novel by Gaiman and Pratchett for tips on dealing with motorcycle-riding Four Horsemen, a misplaced Antichrist, and angels and demons who have decided they sort of like the human race.

-- The Day After Tomorrow (2004 film)

If you're thinking climate change may be the culprit of the end times, check out this movie, which stars Dennis Quaid as a paleoclimatologist warning that a seismic shift in the world's climate is coming -- well, sooner than expected.

-- The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

Plan on coming of age during the ensuing apocalypse? Then take a look at this book about Julia, who is trying to deal with the slow destruction of her world, along with her parents' failing marriage and her own issues with first love.

-- Knowing (2009 film)

If you're trying to predict the apocalypse, this is the film for you. Nicolas Cage stars as a physics professor who stumbles upon the contents of a fifty-year-old time capsule. Once he cracks the code of the contents, it gives him a shocking look into the future ... and the past.

-- World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

As Monroeville residents, we should know all about zombie takeovers -- but if you need to brush up, this novel's for you. (This has a movie version and a full-cast audiobook in the works; in the meantime, also check out the AMC show The Walking Dead.)

-- Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Thinking asteroids?  This YA read (the first in a trilogy) sets the stage with an asteroid knocking the Moon closer to the Earth. The effects are gradual but catastrophic, leaving Miranda (our main character) facing increasingly different choices.

-- Cell by Stephen King

If you ask us, the most obvious potential cause for an apocalypse?  Cell phones. Apparently, Stephen King agrees.

-- The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

Don't panic!  This book (and film, TV series, graphic novel, radio show, and towel) remind us that the story begins ... when the world ends.

(VIDEO: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" teaser trailer)

In the aftermath:

-- A Canticle for Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller, Jr.

If you're planning an Apocalypse more science-fictionally based, try this finely bizarre read. It's set in a post-nuclear world where a recently-excavated, 20th-century shopping list is the the most prized and sacred artifact in the world -- penned as it was by the blessed St. Leibowitz.

-- Mad Max (1979 film & sequels)

Good for tips on how to cope during an oil shortage crisis, not to mention how to start your own motorcycle gang.

--The Passage by Justin Cronin

If a post-apocalyptic world run by vampires who were created from the failed attempt at developing an immunity-boosting drug sounds like it might be something you see in your future, take a look at this book.

-- The Stand by Stephen King

Think the world will end because of a plague? In this dark and devastating world, the few people left alive struggle with dreams of good and evil. This is a classic horror novel from the master of horror.

-- I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

Great how-to guide if you find yourself the last survivor on a planet full of vampires. (Or zombies, in the most recent film remake.)

-- The Road by Cormac McCarthy

If the cause of the end times remains a mystery, try this post-apocalyptic story of a father and son trying to survive in a savage world. Their love for each other supports them on their journey to the coast.

-- Oryx and Crake/The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

These two related stories concern the after-effects of the destruction of the environment of North America. A good cautionary duo after or before an Apocalypse.

-- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Let's hope no one finds themselves in this dystopia -- a post-apocalyptic world created by a monotheatic government that forces women to become "breeders." A chilling, thought-provoking read. (Are you an Atwood fan? Then check out our previous post.)

-- The Dog Stars by Peter Heller

A less horror-based epidemic than The Stand?  In this novel of a world crippled by a superflu, one man hangs on to his humanity the best he can with his dog and his 1957 Cessna plane.

-- The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins

(If you suddenly find yourself in Panem?)  Here, we have another future world run by an authoritarian government. This time, teens are thrown into an arena to fight to the death to pay for an earlier uprising.

-- Blade Runner (1982 film)

Robot takeover!  Based on "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Phillip K. Dick, this film stars Harrison Ford as a blade runner (a robot hunter) in a bleak future where androids are banned from earth. It's Ford's job to find those that are hiding out (or blending in) and eliminate them.

 -- Soylent Green (1973 film)

... we'll just avoid this Apocalypse, okay?  (The film shows the devastating effects of overpopulation on New York City in 2022 -- but there is, as you may know, more to the story.)

-- Time Machine (1960 film)

Don't like the Apocalypse you wind up in?  Check out this classic ... and time travel your way back home.

-- Post by Ms. B and Tracy