The Myth of Fenrir by M.D. Lachlan + Giveaway

Posted July 10, 2011 by Carmel in / 138 Comments

Today marks the official kick off of the Midnight Summer Festival! Check back daily for great author interviews and giveaways over the next 10 days.

I have the pleasure of welcoming M. D. Lachlan to the blog this morning! The first book in his new series, Wolfsangel, was just released this past May. The next installment titled Fenrir is due out on July 21st. Given the theme of this series, I figured M. D. would be the ideal candidate to tell us about my favorite Norse myth: Fenrir, the monstrous wolf. M. D. the floor is yours!

The myth of the Fenris wolf shows all the typical characteristics of Norse Myth. At one level it’s an almost cartoonish story involving boasting, tests of strength and pretty insane bravery. On another it’s something much darker – a story of mutilation, of deception, torture and, ultimately, death.

The trickster god Loki has three children – the Midgard Serpent, Hel, the goddess of the underworld and the wolf Fenrir.

The first two are cast out but the gods raise the wolf with them – why it’s never made clear.

Only Tyr, the God of War, is brave enough to feed the animal. However, the wolf grows very quickly and the gods become afraid of it. A prophecy tells them it will cause Odin’s – the chief of the gods – death. It’s their guest so it would be dishonourable to kill it but they decide to fetter it.

One of the more comic aspects of the myth is that the gods actually talk to the wolf to goad it into testing its strength. They present him with two fetters, both of which he snaps. The wolf comes over a slightly cynical, down to earth sort of personality. When they present him with the third fetter – a magical ribbon made by the dwarfs, he says ‘It’s so slender I’d win no fame for snapping it. If it’s made with cunning and magic then you can keep it. I’m not having it round my legs.’

As security that the gods will let the wolf go if he fails to break the fetter then the god Tyr agrees to put his hand into the wolf’s mouth so he can bite it off if he isn’t released. The wolf fails to break the fetter, the gods laugh and Tyr has his hand bitten off. The gods laugh at that too. Then they ram a sword into the wolf’s jaws, pinning them open. The wolf lies, fettered, howling and groaning. A river of saliva runs from his jaws – it’s called Von, the river of expectation. The wolf will be bound until Ragnarok – the gods’ final day. Then he will break free to kill Odin and end the age of the old mad, corrupt gods.

The myth gives an interesting insight into the Norse mind. Odin knows the wolf will kill him but he makes no effort to have it killed because that would be dishonourable. Better to die than to blacken your name. Also, destinies are set. Nothing that individuals can do will alter the fates that the Norns – the Norse embodiments of fate – spin for them. This, I think is what gives the myths their darker aspect and makes them particularly chilling to modern readers raised on ideas that an individual carves their own fate.

It’s also what made the Vikings such formidable opponents in battle. A Viking warrior believes his death day is predestined. How, then, can he be afraid when going into a fight? If he is fated to die that day he will, and hiding from his oponents’ swords will not prevent it. Better, then, to go grinning to face your enemies than to turn your back and run away.

  
MD Lachlan is a pen name – created after Mark Barrowcliffe, author of works such as Girlfriend 44 and Lucky Dog, felt himself irresistibly drawn back to fantasy after writing his Dungeons and Dragons memoir The Elfish Gene.

Wolfsangel might surprise readers of Mark’s other work. He’s always been noted for his comic writing (‘Wickedly funny’ – New York Post, ‘Painfully funny’ – The Bookseller) but Wolfsangel marks a sharp departure of content and style.

The book is a historical fantasy/horror hybrid that reflects Mark’s childhood reading on the occult and witchcraft. ‘If it makes you laugh, I’ve done something wrong’ says Mark.

The MD in MD Lachlan stands for Mark Daniel – Mark’s real name. He went with initials instead of a name because, as so often in his life, he didn’t really think things through. Now he attends publishing events where people don’t know what to call him. He wishes he’d gone with Mark Lachlan but it’s too late now.

The comic Steve Martin was once told by Johnny Carson ‘You will use everything you know’. Wolfsangel, for Mark, bears that out.
Website / GoodReads / Twitter / Facebook

  
Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
   
Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide


This Giveaway is now CLOSED: Winner

1 signed copy of Wolfsangel

Giveaway Details:

Must be 13 years of age or older to enter. Open internationally and closes on July 19th at 11:59 PM. Winner will be contacted by e-mail and have 48hrs to respond.

Mandatory Entry:

To enter this Giveaway please be a GFC follower and leave a comment with your e-mail address.

Additional Optional Entries:
*Please leave a separate comment per entry.

+1 Follow on Twitter.
+1 GoodReads Friend.
+1 Like my Facebook Page.
+1 Tweet about Giveaway (use hashtag #midnightsummerfestival).
+1 Networked Blogs Follower.

Visit my co-hosts!

  

Tomorrow’s festivities: Interview with Greg van Eekhout + a giveaway!

About the Blogger
I review Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books with a focus all things werewolf. Based out of Ottawa, Canada

Google+ / Twitter / FB

Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!

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138 responses to “The Myth of Fenrir by M.D. Lachlan + Giveaway”

  2. Cherry

    Can’t check if I follow your blog or not since the GFC widget is not showing. I think is a blogosphere-wide problem. GFC is down at the moment. Will have to come back to click the “follow” button is I’m not following yet… [if I remember to come back :)]… se yah later…

    Cherry Mischievous
    cherrymischif-soldier [at] yahoo [dot] com

  10. Cherry

    I find a lot of the myths and legends are petty and cruel… maybe that is why I find our version of it (urban fantasy) a whole lot better because we often see the hero/heroine get to kick the asses of these cruel and petty gods! 😉

    Follower. My GFC name is Cherry.

    Cherry Mischievous
    cherrymsichif-soldier [at] yahoo [dot] com

  12. Cherry

    Sent you a friend request at GoodReads. My GR name is Cherry Mischievous.

    Cherry Mischievous
    cherrymischif-soldier [at] yahoo [dot] com
    international follower

  13. Cherry

    I “Liked” your Facebook page. My FB name is Cherry Mischivous.

    Cherry Mischievous
    cherrymischif-soldier [at] yahoo [dot] com
    international follower

  15. Cherry

    Follow at NetworkedBlogs. My facebook name is Cherry Mischivous.

    Thank you for the chance to win Wolfsangel!

    Cherry Mischievous
    cherrymischif-soldier [at] yahoo [dot] com
    international followe

  18. BLHmistress

    Follower-BLHmistress
    Twitter-@BookLovershaway
    FB Like-Dawna Newman
    Goodreads-Donna Newman
    Network Blog-Dawna Newman

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

    This festival is gonna be so much fun.

  29. Judy

    I am a GFC follower-Judy (only because I am an old one-don’t know what the problem with google is)

    Judy
    magnolias_1[at]msn[dot]com

  42. Tammi

    Awesome giveaway!
    Liked you on facebook
    Follows you on Twitter
    Follows your blog on networked blogs
    Am a goodreads friend

  45. Darlene

    Please enter me in the draw! This sounds great!

    I’m following you by GFC (Darlene) and email subscribed, and my email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  46. Darlene

    +1 following you on Twitter
    (@DarleneBookNook)

    My email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  48. Darlene

    +1 like your FB page
    (Darlene’s Book Nook)

    My email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  50. Darlene

    +1 for following on Networked Blogs
    (Darlene’s Book Nook)

    My email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  51. Ronda (Queentutt's World of Escapism)

    What an awesome Myth – The book sounds great and would love to read it – I am so adding it to my wishlist. Would love to win it.

    +1 Follow on Twitter.
    +1 GoodReads Friend.
    +1 Like my Facebook Page.
    +1 Tweet about Giveaway (use hashtag #midnightsummerfestival).
    +1 Networked Blogs Follower.

    I am all of the above.

    mrsqueentutt@yahoo.com

    Ronda (Queentutt’s World of Escapism)

  52. Maria Behar

    Hi, Carmel!

    Wow, what a GREAT post! The story of Fenrir does sound pretty violent, but still, quite fascinating!

    As for “Wolfsangel”, it looks like it’s a totally AWESOME tale, so I’m entering!

    I’ve been a follower for a while now. I’ve also friended you on Goodreads, and liked your Facebook page.

    What a wonderful ten days we’re going to have, exploring world mythologies!

    GREAT idea, this festival!!!! ; 0

  53. Maria Behar

    Hi, Carmel!

    Wow, what a GREAT post! The story of Fenrir does sound pretty violent, but still, quite fascinating!

    As for “Wolfsangel”, it looks like it’s a totally AWESOME tale, so I’m entering!

    I’ve been a follower for a while now. I’ve also friended you on Goodreads, and liked your Facebook page.

    What a wonderful ten days we’re going to have, exploring world mythologies!

    GREAT idea, this festival!!!! ; 0

  58. Maria Behar

    Oh, darn! I forgot to leave my email address in my previous comment! Well, here it is:

    twilightdreamlover@boxbe.com

    (This is my non-spam address.)

    BTW, something’s going on with Blogger today — everything is running SOOOO slowly… I just tried to delete my duplicated comment(which was caused hy clicking on “publish your comment” several times, since the system IS so slow), and got the “error 503” message.

    Let’s see if this comment goes through — hopefully only once! Lol.

  64. buddyt

    I remember reading a few books on Norse mythology a very long time ago and being fascinated by tales I had never heard of before. I can’t remember the author of the names of the books. Since then I have often wonderd why no more recent author has tried to write stories based on that mythlogy.

    Good to see someone is doing that.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    I Follow via GFC and am subscribed to emails.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

  75. Andreea Prus

    I don’t know if I follow your blog, because the GFC widget is not appearing, but as soon as it shows I’ll follow you.

    simple.touches33 [at] yahoo [dot] com

  125. LadyVampire2u

    I so enjoyed this psot, finding out not just about the book but the myth behind it. Definitely sign me up for the giveaway and thank you.
    GFC: LadyVampire2u

    ladyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

  132. Denise Z

    This book sounds awesome. I jumped over from the interview for this wonderful giveaway. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win this book.

    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

  136. Denise Z

    I put the GFC in the wrong place and should have put it with the original comment 🙂 opps! So I will leave the email out of this one. I also follow network blogs – Denise Zaky and finally once again thank you!