The package is wrapped roughly in butcher's paper, retrained with string. Inside, is a tan leather journal crammed with tortured handwriting, a letter written in the decorative style of an adolescent girl, and a phallic curve of yellowed bone tattooed with an elaborate, snake-like engraving of a Chinese dragon. Tests on the hone confirm it is carved from the tooth of a Physter Macrocephalus, or sperm whale. Tests on the journal reveal its leather cover is made from the epidermis of a woman. An ancient man without a past hails a taxi driven by a petty criminal with no future. Reluctantly, the pair embarks on a journey in search of a legendary whaler and murderer known only as the Norseman. This is a one-way trip - but who's taking who for a ride? The Norseman's Song is a stylish blend of gothic mystery and modern crime noir. Evoking the spirit of Joseph Conrad and Edgar Allan Poe, Joel Deane creates a violent and lyrical vision of contemporary Australia with the pace and energy of a road movie and the haunting atmosphere of a nightmare.

In all the Ages of Man, there have been decent and honorable men. Jarl Brand Ketilsson is one such man. He is a leader who does not seek or covet wealth, but wishes only to maintain peace in his realm. Unfortunately, Ketilsson is forced to go to battle and shed blood in an effort to achieve his goal. But, he will fight-fight to the death to save his people and those aligned with him. Set against the historical backdrop of ninth-century Scandinavia, when Viking history was every bit as romantic as it was brutal, Forced Blood: The Norseman offers a multidimensional depiction of the Norsemen who survived the Viking Age in their own country. With its vivid attention to detail, Forced Blood: The Norseman is an epic tale of one man's strength and courage against those who would rob him of his land, his culture, and his life.

Rediscover the Puffin Classics collection and bring the best-loved classics to a new generation - including this epic edition of Myths of the Norsemen. The great Norse sagas are full of magic and heroic deeds. Odin's wanderings, Thor's hammer, the death of Bakkur, the vision of Ragnarok - tales which have been told since time immemorial - are given a fresh life in this version, written as one continuous exciting adventure story.