The Ring: The Legend of the Niebelungenlied: The Volsungr Saga and The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrokr
Publisher: Hollow Earth Publishing
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Boston, Massachusetts
Format: Paperback; eBook (Kindle)
Number of pages: 336
ISBN-13: 9781879196063
Description: The Ring is a retelling of the Norse version of the ring saga, the greatest family saga in history. Versions of the ring saga have been told in many cultures. Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung) is, perhaps, the most famous version. His work consists of four operas telling the German version. However, there are flaws in the German version, and some of it makes no sense. The Ring, based on the Norse version of the saga, corrects a lot of the discrepencies in the German version. There is motivation and reason for what happens. And it’s a lot gorier. The Ring is a tragic family saga with many villains and heroes, including the doomed lovers Sigurdr and Brynhildr. There are not one, but two dragons, with the legendary Fafnir being the most famous of the two. There are Gods, Valkyries, Kings, Queens, dwarves, shape-changers, and Adventurers. The dwarf Andvari has a magical ring called the Andvaranautr. Andvari has used it to produce a huge hoard of gold which he keeps hidden in a cave behind the Andvarafors, a waterfall which feeds a mighty river. Andvari’s Hoard along with the ring are stolen. Andvari curses the wearer of the ring with tragedy. The curse can only be broken when the ring is returned to the river at the Andvarafors. Many people come under the ring’s spell. They covet the ring and must have it even if they have to steal and kill for it. There’s greed, gruesome deaths, and vengeance. Families do have their problems. In the meantime follow the ring. Nothing good happens to whomever wears the ring.
Table of contents: title: ix	Preface; title: xix	Acknowledgements; title: Part One: The Volsungr Saga; title: 3	Chapter 1:	Sigi, Rerir, and Volsungr; title: 9	Chapter 2:	Siggeir and Signy’s Wedding Feast and The Sword Gramr; title: 17	Chapter 3:	The Slaying of Volsungr; title: 21	Chapter 4:	The Birth of Sinfjotli; title: 30	Chapter 5:	Volungr’s Death is Avenged; title: 38	Chapter 6:	The Birth of Helgi; title: 48	Chapter 7:	The Death of Helgi; title: 52	Chapter 8:	The Death of Sinfjotli; title: 56	Chapter 9:	The Death of Sigmundr, Breaking of the Sword Gramr; title: 60	Chapter 10:	The Birth of Sigurdr Sigmundrson; title: 68	Chapter 11:	Regin’s Story, Reforging of Gramr; title: 83	Chapter 12:	Grifir’s Prophecy; title: 90	Chapter 13:	The Slaying of Fafnir and Regin; title: 99	Chapter 14:	Sigurdr Finds Brynhildr, Aslaugr is Born; title: 105	Chapter 15:	Sigurdr and Brynhildr Meet at Hlymdale; title: 109	Chapter 16:	Gudrunr’s Prophetic Dreams; title: 113	Chapter 17:	Gudrunr and Sigurdr are Married; title: 117	Chapter 18:	Sigurdr Woos and Wins Brynhildr for Gunnar; title: 123	Chapter 19:	Gudrunr and Brynhildr at Their Bath; title: 127	Chapter 20:	Brynhildr’s Depression; title: 135	Chapter 21:	The Death of Sigurdr Fafnirsbani; title: 146	Chapter 22:	The Death of Brynhildr; title: 151	Chapter 23:	The Marriage of Gudrunr to Atli Budlason; title: 159	Chapter 24:	Atli Budlason Sends for Gudrunr’s Brothers; title: 167	Chapter 25:	The Gjukings are Slain by Atli Budlason; title: 172	Chapter 26:	The Slaying of Atli Budlason and All His Household; title: 183	Chapter 27:	The Wooing and Murder of Svanhildr; title: 188	Chapter 28:	The Avenging of Svanhildr’s Death, The End of the Gjukings; title: Part Two: The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrokr; title: 197	Chapter 29:	The Protection of Aslaugr; title: 207	Chapter 30:	The Story of Thora Borgarhjort; title: 213	Chapter 31:	Ragnar Lodbrokr and Kraka Meet; title: 225	Chapter 32:	The Sons of Ragnar Lodbrokr and Kraka; title: 231	Chapter 33:	Ragnar Lodbrokr Goes Adventuring Again; title: 237	Chapter 34:	Preparations for the Battle Against King Eystein; title: 248	Chapter 35:	The Deaths of Eric and Agnar are Avenged; title: 255	Chapter 36:	Ragnar Lodbrokr Goes Adventuring for the Final Time; title: 262	Chapter 37:	Ragnar Lodbrokr’s Death is Avenged; title: 271	Chapter 38:	The Deaths of the Sons of Ragnar Lodbrokr; title: 273	Chapter 39:	Two Soldier’s Stories; title: 275	Chapter 40:	Final Praises of Ragnar Lodbrokr and His Kin; title: Glossary; title: 279	Glossary; title: Genealogy; title: 308	Siklingars; title: 309	Volsungrs; title: 310	Gjukings; title: 311	Budlungs