Neil Gaiman wrote the 2017 book Norse Mythology, a modern prose retelling of stories from the Norse mythological tradition. Gaiman is an English author known for novels, comics, short fiction, and myth-inspired storytelling.
The book recounts episodes involving Odin, Thor, Loki, Freyja, Balder, and other figures. It follows a broadly chronological movement from the creation of the worlds through stories leading toward Ragnarök. Gaiman’s prose makes the myths accessible to contemporary readers while retaining their recurring themes of rivalry, deception, fate, and sacrifice.
Norse Mythology is a retelling, not a newly discovered medieval source. Gaiman drew on translated versions and scholarly knowledge of sources such as the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, then shaped the episodes into a unified modern reading experience.
The book is sometimes confused with Gaiman’s earlier mythic fiction, including American Gods. American Gods is an original novel, whereas Norse Mythology directly retells traditional Norse stories.