INTRO   Welcome to the FIRST RECAP EPISODE of the Kinsmen Die podcast, home of fantasy fiction based on Norse mythology that’s written and read by me, Matt Bishop. In this podcast, I’m reading my first book, Kinsmen Die, chapter by chapter, one episode per week. Every five episodes I recap the prior episodes…which is going to get more complicated as time goes on. If you’ve happened to begin with the episode recommend coming back after you’ve listened to the first 5 episodes. Here’s an overview of what I’ll be doing in this episode: 1) Quick word on the source texts I used 2) Chapter by chapter plot recap combined with a discussion of the mythic elements in each of those chapters. Let me know how that works for you all as listeners. I expect the format to change a bit over time. SOURCE TEXTS I primarily used the two main sources of Norse mythology Poetic Edda (spell it) Prose Edda The Poetic Edda is the older of the two and doesn’t have any attributed authors — Christian monks wrote down oral tales and/or transcribed from older manuscripts that are lost The Prose Edda is a little more recent than the Poetic Edda. Snorri Sturluson of Iceland wrote the Prose Edda and there is good evidence that he drew heavily upon the Poetic Edda as well as other Norse myths that are lost to us. There are some others — Saxo Grammaticus, is one. Also, the Icelandic sagas are rich with Norse stories and are unique in themselves. I’ve tried to incorporate some of that tradition in my books, as well. RECAP: CHAPTER 1 We met Frigg, who was rushing to be with her son Baldr. We also met Nanna, Baldr’s wife, and Eir, the city’s chief healer. A comatose, nearly dead Baldr was carried from his longhouse with Nanna, grief-struck, standing by while Eir tended to Baldr. The source of Baldr’s illness was mysterious. After a little bit, the sun rose and Baldr revived. It wasn’t clear quite why — Eir’s medicines or the sun itself. Frigg also made a point of saying that she’d been in charge for twenty years by herself b/c her husband, Odin, had ridden off westward. But, she had summoned him back soon after Baldr’s “bad dreams” worsened. The chapter ends with the announcement that at long last, Odin has returned. Ok, so, here we go on the myth stuff. Frigg is a Jotunn. She is married to Odin. Together they have two kids: Baldr and Hodr. I gave them a daughter named Hermod who, in the myths, was a dude who rode to Hel and back. More on that in a future episode. In the opening lines of the book, Frigg uses a cloak to shapeshift into (and out of) a falcon form. That’s her trademark, basically. Note that Freyja gave her the cloak and in the myths, Loki borrowed that same cloak to also become a falcon. Which is odd b/c Loki could shapeshift on his own. There is a possibility that Frigg and Freyja were or are the same figure. Maybe they were two different goddesses way back when and they got merged, or they were a single goddess that got split. Nobody knows. I kept them as two separate people b/c it suited my purposes. The whole deal with Baldr is SUPER important. It comes directly from verse 1 of the Baldr Draumr (Baldr’s Dreams) in the Poetic Edda. Basically, the gods gathered to figure out “why baleful dreams to Baldr had come.” That line, and poem, was central to the linear timeline I developed for my narrative. The Norse myths are not good with temporal linearity. Not many myths are. But, I created one anyway…and it mostly holds together, though there are some minor exceptions. I’m not going into the timeline now b/c spoilers! Eir (spelled Eir) means “helper” in Old Norse. She was a healer in the myths and so I kept that role for her. She might also have been a valkyrie — I use the word “valkyr” (which means chooser of the slain) to signify battlefield healers. They “choose” who lives and who dies b/c they provide aid. This is a play on the role of valkyrie as the warrior-women who choose the slain … who become Einherjar … and are then taken to Valhalla (I use the word Valhol). There’s a lot wrong with that interpretation of the valkyr … and I’ll go into that in a future episode. Gna is the woman who runs in to announced Odin’s return. Snorri mentions her as Frigg’s messenger…which is why she delivers the message in chapter 1. Gladsheim is mentioned. That means “home of joy.” I also used the word “Sol” which is ON for “sun.” Sounds like Spanish, I know. I don’t believe the words are related, but I’d have to check the etymology. Interestingly, the Norse personified the sun as female. I’ve been trying to figure out why — I have a theory which I’m keeping to myself until I can offer some good supporting evidence. RECAP: CHAPTER 2 Vidar is probably the character who fired my imagination from the start. First, I’d never heard of him before reading the source materials. Second, there were a couple lines that I thought were super cool Like this one from Grimnismol, line 17: Filled with growing trees and high-standing grasses is Vithi, Vidar’s land I tried to evoke that image with my descriptions in that chapter Snorri refers to Vidar as the “silent god” … which is just cool Vidar is Odin’s son by a Jotunn woman named Gridr. His name means “the wide ruling one” There’s more to Vidar, as well, but I’ll leave that for the future For plot Vidar and his sergeant Garrison have lead warriors to a town, Hals, that has been destroyed by bad guys. Not sure who exactly, but they were told it was the Jotunn. If it was the Jotunn, then that would mean the peace treaty was broken There is also a hint that there is something amiss with the Einherjar. In old norse, that means “those who fight alone” Super cool … and more on that later There was another hint that Heimdall is a drunk Vidar’s horse is named Hrimfaxi .. which means “soot horse” or “rime horse” … and is the name of the horse that brings the night. Rime is frost You Tolkien fans will remember Shadowfax, one of the coolest horses ever. And, yes, Tolkien knew Norse myth backward, forwards, sideways and upside down. RECAP: CHAPTER 3 Here we met Odin chatted awkwardly with his wife, Frigg, and was then interrupted by his drunk cousin Heimdall. There’s a lot going on in this scene relevant to the plot, but there’s also plenty of mythic references. For example, Frigg says the Heimdall bested Loki … in some foolishness about the torc Freyja wears. This is a reference to the Brisingamen…a beautiful, one-of-kind jeweled necklace that Freyja owns. How she got it is a story for another day. In the SKÁLDSKAPARMAL, Snorri says that Loki stole the necklace and Heimdall got it back — they had a mighty duel…as seals. More on this later. Tired of hearing that yet? I also mentioned RÁN as a swear uttered by Heimdall. Aegir is mentioned, as well. Aegir and Ran are two ocean gods…both have good and bad aspects — like the sea — but Aegir is usually seen as good, while Ran is bad. More on that later. Odin mentioned that his brothers traveled west and that he was trying to find them. Those brothers are Vili and Ve. This was my attempt to include them and make the world feel bigger Frigg mentions that her “visions are returning.” In Lokasenna, one of the best poems, Loki insults each of the gods in turn. At one point, Freyja says to Loki “The fate of all does Frigg know well” (And this is one of the reasons why I kept Frigg and Freyja as separate people) From that line primarily, I extrapolated prophetic powers for Frigg — and that becomes a key part of the narrative Odin talks to Heimdall and says “I should be shouting thief thief” … That is a reference to Havamal … we’ll get to the verses … where Odin speaks unfavorably of people getting drunk. For example, Verse 13: Over beer the bird | of forgetfulness broods, And steals the minds of men Note that Odin does not eat food. He only drinks wine…but not to excess, obviously, or he’d have to kick his own ass. RECAP: CHAPTER 4 In CHAPTER 4, we met blind Hodr, son of Odin and Frigg, as he ate, and was made young again by Yggdrasil’s fruit. I didn’t do too much here myth wise except to narratively at least, lay the groundwork for the youth-restoring power of Yggdrasil’s fruit. I called it fruit b/c it’s not clear that it was “golden apples” per se, though I do use “apple” later on Idunn, who we’ll meet, is the keeper of the apples. Those apples are important to the myths and my books in particular. RECAP: CHAPTER 5 Loki Laufeyson chills out with his family: Sigyn, Vali and Narfi. All important figures. Its clear in this chapter that something big is coming Jotunheim is mentioned — “home of the Jotunn” Note that while “giant” is usually used for Jotunn, the word really means “the devourers” … which is way cooler and pivotal in how I’ve imagined the Jotunn Also almost everyone is a Jotunn — with the obvious exceptions being the Vanir, Alvar and Svartalvar. More on them in a future episode. All Jotunn are descended from Ymir, the hermaphroditic progenitor Is killed by Odin and his brothers … and in the backstory for my books I lend Odin a few more helping hands. Odin and his children have a slightly different lineage b/c Odin is the son of Burr/Borr who is the son of Buri … and maybe the divine cow Audhumbla. It gets a little fuzzy and weird…and impossible to take literally…so I’ll leave that for another time. Anyway, Burr/Borr married Bestla, a Jotunn, and had Odin (along with Vili and Ve) Loki’s mother is Laufey, which may mean “foliage or leaves” which could point to her being a tree goddess. But, it’s unclear. His father is Farbauti. Loki is the only person in the myths who takes the matronymic … and nobody knows why. Farbauti means “dangerous hitter” … which is why I made him an abusive father…and maybe that’s why Loki uses his mother’s name. I put Jotunheim in Utgard, just as I put Gladsheim in Asgard … or ASS-gard as Jeff Goldblum so memorably mocked Thor This is also where I introduce the Jotunn hand language — basically a sign language they created so they could speak without being overheard by Heimdall. Loki referenced a “former friend” who took his children. That former friend is…. Maybe I’ll leave that alone for now Finally, Loki learns that Odin has returned … except Loki uses the Jotunn name for Odin: Ygg It means “terrible / terrifying walker” Note, too, that Ygg is part of Yggdrasil…the world tree. That’s important. Either way, Loki needs to change his britches.     OUTRO Well, folks, that was the first recap episode covering the basic plot of the first five chapters and some of the mythic elements I incorporated. I hope you enjoyed it. Next episode, we’ll be on Chapter 6 which returns to Vidar.   I’m a big believer in value for value. So, I have several requests: 1)   Please leave a review on whatever podcast app / platform you use. They really help. 2)   Please share the podcast. That also helps a ton. 3)   And finally, please consider supporting my work by buying my books on Amazon or in some other way – likes, follows, Patreon, Locals, a boost through the Lightning/Bitcoin network, etc.   I’d also enjoy hearing from you. You can email me at mattbishopwrites@gmail.com     Rather than read from the Hovamol, on these recap episodes I’ll read from the Vafthruthnismol The ballad of Vafthrudnir This is another character that’s just bad ass … and not well known.   This is the Bellows translation, available on Sacred Texts https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/poe/poe05.htm     Verse 1   Othin spake: 1, "Counsel me, Frigg, for I long to fare, And Vafthruthnir fain would find; fit wisdom old with the giant wise Myself would I seek to match."