Starkadder by Bernard King
St. Martin's Press
1987 First U.S. Edition

This title was first brought to my attention by my friend Stan Wagenaar. Since then, I have yet to see a single copy in the flesh. Limited numbers of copies appear online from time to time and vary by price and condition. To my knowledge only the first two books were ever published here in the States. Which makes book three, Death-Blinder, nigh impossible to find stateside.

As Christianity burns through the North, Odin knows his days are numbered and that Ragnarok nears. Even the mighty Odin dances to the tune of the inscrutable Norns.

Starkadder is a man thrice cursed. Born with giant's blood coursing in his veins, Starkadder is destined to be a warrior of great renown. Odin foresees his potential and gifts him with three lifetimes. Thor, seeking redress from a transgression of Starkad, Starkadder's maternal grandsire, deigns that each of the three lives will end in betrayal.

Starkadder now serves a mad king. Oli sees scheming and betrayal in every man's eyes. The Blood Eagle is his favorite punishment for traitors. With a jaundiced eye Starkadder turns away from the king he has sworn to serve; a choice which will cascade into his final betrayal and earn him his final rest.

The ensemble cast will converge upon the fortress Dalalven. The mad king. The mother who dreams of vengeance. The thrice-cursed man. The proselytizing priest. And the child of vengeance. As Mother Skuld, one-eyed Odin, and the dwarf king Dvalin all watch with keen interest.

The dwarven blade, Tyrfing, will carve a bitter future for all on one auspicious day.

At 243 pages, Starkadder tells a complete tale, even though two more books follow it. Starkadder, the character, does not get the attention I expected or wanted. He is more of a secondary character until later in the tale. The story isn't really fast paced either, but it features several really good fight sequences. I wasn't blown away, but I look forward to the sequel, Vargr-Moon.