Eaters of the Dead
adapted as "The 13th Warrior"
Eaters of the Dead
Non-series
Michael Crichton
Publisher: Knopf
ISBN-10: 0-394-49400-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-394-49400-5
Published: March 1976
Synopsis: Ahmad Ibn Fadlan, a courtier to the Muslim ruler (the Caliph), is sent to deliver a message to a powerful merchant. As Ibn waits for many hours, the merchant's young and beautiful wife seduces Ibn. The returning merchant turns suspicious of the two and requests that the Caliph send Ibn to serve as ambassador to the north country -- in effect, sending Ibn into exile.
Suffering freezing temperatures, the arduous journey takes them to a Viking camp, where he meets the brutal Viking leader, Buliwyf. Interrupting the Viking's revelry, the King's son arrives breathless and bloody and tells the group of the massacre of his townsmen by powerful demons. Buliwyf orders his men, and Ibn, to gather their troops and fight the demons.
When they arrive at the village of Buliwyf's family, they discover that it has been burned to the ground. They continue to the lavish palace of Rothgar. They scour the area and find that the vicious "wendol" have evaded their search. Buliwyf and Ibn are instructed to kill the wendol mother in the thunder caves in order to stop the carnage.
The bloody battle for survival is about to begin.
Additional notes: Subtitled "The Manuscript of Ibn Fadlan Relating His Experiences with the Northmen in A.D. 922", the first three chapters are a retelling of Ahmad ibn Fadlan's personal account of his actual journey north and his experiences with and observations of Vikings. The remainder is based upon the story of Beowulf.
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The 13th Warrior
John McTiernan, Director
Theatrical release date: 08/27/1999
DVD release date: 01/18/2000
Studio: Touchstone
Cast: Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan Ibn Al Abbas Ibn Rashid Ibn Hamad (Antonio Banderas), Buliwyf / The 1st Warrior (Vladimir Kulich), Herger the Joyous (Dennis Storhøi), Edgtho the Silent (Daniel Southern), Roneth the Rider (Neil Maffin), Ragner the Dour (John DeSantis), Helfdane the Fat (Clive Russell), Rethel the Archer (Mischa Hausserman), Melchisidek (Omar Sharif)
Rating: R
Running time: 103 minutes
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