May 17, 2010: Guys With Axes And Beards

Vikings were more than just guys with beards and axes. They were peaceful traders with a highly developed system of law. They were clever warriors and curious explorers. They were a complex society with a grand mythology.

Of course, guys with beards and axes hefting huge tankards of ale, bellowing songs of love and war, and wearing furs and chainmail make for a better story. And there are some great Viking stories . . .

GURPS Vikings fills in the gaps that Hollywood has left out of the topic of early medieval Scandinavians. (But it's also a great reference if you're looking for those hammer-swinging, horned-helmet-wearing Norsemen who flirt with valkyries.)

-- Paul Chapman