Eaters Of The Dead

Jul 26, 2025 2:41 AM

Author:Michael Crichton

Eaters Of The Dead

The Eaters of the Dead is a brilliant, stirring tale of historical adventure which deserves a place on readers bookshelves alongside Michael Crichton's bestselling techno-thrillers.

It is AD922 and Ibn Fadlan is sent north from Baghdad as a peaceful ambassador. But before he reaches his destination, he falls in with some Vikings and when they are attacked by mystical bloodthirsty creatures in the midst of a terrible fog, he reluctantly agrees to become the prophesied 13th warrior in order for them to survive.

Later turned into a major Hollywood film, Eaters of the Dead is an imaginative and breathlessly exciting retelling of the Beowulf myth that rescues the story from dry academic analysis and resurrects it as an action-packed story of adventure.

Reviews

Crichton certainly has the Midas touch

—— Spectator

A giant of a writer

—— Daily Express

The best thing about Europa is the voice Tim Parks conjures up: Marlow's wry, defeated reason keeps you turning the pages... A forlorn but seductive voice, reminding us that it is far easier to unite a sprawling continent than the few cubic metres that contain a human soul

—— Sunday Times

The triumph of the work is its discomforting portrayal of an agile mind hampered by the twin shackles of longing and disgust... Europa is that rare beast, a book which demands and withstands a second reading

—— Daily Telegraph

A brilliant journalistic investigation... A copy should be sent to every Labour MP to remind them of their responsibilities

—— Robert McCrum , Observer

'This is a dirty book'

—— The Times Literary Supplement

'Fine comic scenes...readers will have trouble putting Sap Rising down, even if their gorge rises'

—— Daily Express

'Imagine Barbara Pym writing for Penthouse'

—— Literary Review

'He writes so brilliantly'

—— Daniel Farson , Evening Standard

'Extremely funny'

—— Time Out

'Do not buy this book'

—— Guardian

'Frightful pile of garbage'

—— New Statesman

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