|
Loading... The Way of Wyrd (1983)by Brian Bates
None.  shanaqui | Apr 9, 2013 |  The Way of Wyrd is Bates attempt to turn an eye on what life would have been like for someone approaching an Anglo-Saxon community before the conversion to Christianity. Brand is a monk who has been charged to perform a mission to convert a Heathen kingdom to monotheism. Upon landing on the shores, Brand has an unusual experience, and then meets the unpredictable shaman Wulf who becomes his guide. Through the journey our monk learns the ways of this man on the outside of the community who is neck deep in his path. Brand holds to his faith, scoffing at the tales Wulf tells him, but as their travels continue events transpire to show Brand that perhaps there is more in heaven and earth than what monastery life has taught him. A major spiritual crisis tests his faith and may even take his life. For the story itself I give around 4.5 stars, but for the writing of it I would give 3 stars. Bates is a good technical writer, but felt he did not capture the narrative as a fiction writer would have. Still, I highly recommend this title to anyone interested in a peek into northern cosmology. (  ) quantumbutterfly | Jan 17, 2013 | It's been a while since I read this, but it is a very good story, I believe, about the questions one must ask when confronted with beliefs contrary to one's own that are more credible than what one "knows" to be true. If you like this book, you must check out the album it influenced by the band Sabbat and the album "Dreamweaver: Reflections of our yesterdays." At least check out the lyrics at http://lyrics.rockmagic.net/lyrics/sabbat/dreamweaver_reflection_of_our_yesterda... The album actually inspired me to read the book. ( ) james67gto | Nov 9, 2012 | Kind of a weird story (heh, pun intended) but its basis in history and ancient beliefs makes it fascinating. I love the unique perspective on fate and causality. You almost get the sense that the wyrd is ancient druidic chaos theory. Interesting read. (  ) hjjugovic | Mar 30, 2012 | This rather odd and slightly pointless novel, ostensibly historical fiction, feels much more like fantasy with a mild tinge of horror. The author Brian Bates is claimed to be "leading the movement to recover ancient Anglo-Saxon tribal wisdom and to bring it to the forefront of 21st century inspiration". He apparently teaches an award-winning course in Shamanic consciousness at the University of Sussex. He has also written a non-fiction work on magic and mystery in the dark ages, so I am not sure what this novel adds to that. It is no doubt an interesting facet of the Anglo Saxon worldview, but presented in this all-encompassing form in a novel with only two characters, it does, as I say, feel like fantasy and vaguely annoying, though Bates is an atmospheric writer. Slightly to my surprise, the leading character did not reject his Christianity and embrace paganism at the end of the book, but seemed happy to live by a fusion of the two. 3/5 (  ) john257hopper | Jan 8, 2012 | no reviews | add a review
Amazon.com Product Description (ISBN 0062500848, Paperback)The Castaneda-like novel responsible for reawakening interest in the ancient form of European shamanism called the Way of Wyrd. Based on actual documents from the British Museum, this compelling tale reveals a modern-day relevance in an ancient way of living in touch with nature and the spiritual dimension.(retrieved from Amazon Fri, 22 Apr 2011 07:58:05 -0400) No library descriptions found. |
 Google Books — Loading...Popular coversRatingAverage: (3.84)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Wikipedia in English (1)
2
Perhaps it's the fact that I don't connect back to Anglo-Saxon ideas very well anyway. The blurbs on the back talk about an "overly Keltically obsessed British mindset", which makes me grit my teeth to begin with. Historically, the British are the 'Celts'... And for me, there isn't an Anglo-Saxon 'side of my psyche'; I'm Welsh and Irish (and Romani, apparently), and if there's any Saxon blood in there, it's quite drowned out.
Hm, apparently this got my hackles up more than expected. I just can't quite see the appeal. (