OMG! (And believe me that’s the first time I have ever used that particular phrase.) I appear to have accidentally inspired a Neil Gaiman story.
Glad you found the link useful, Neil dear. I’m very much looking forward to future Odd books. I knew that Vikings were far-traveled, but I must admit that Afghanistan surprised me too. Now I’m wondering whether there’s a snow leopard in the story.
Yeah, what fun! It’s always nice to not only be useful, but to be recognized nicely as useful. Neil is always the gentleman.
Would it be spoilery of me to suggest that perhaps the Afghani iron came down the Silk Road and the Vikings traded for it in Istanbul or Baghdad…?
Not at all. It may have come through to Kiev or Moscow as well. There was a lot of Viking activity in Russia. But that doesn’t preclude one enterprising Viking from deciding to travel to the source.
Can I recommend Tom Holt’s bloody brilliant Meadowland for some more interesting Viking travels in the Near East?
One thing that sh1tes me no end is that no bugger will buy Holt’s Historical Fiction, which I regard as miles and away the superior.
DrJon:
I didn’t even know he wrote historical fiction, so you can consider that a successful piece of evangelism.
O’ you Muse of Finns!
The Bronze Age arrow found in Finland must have wondered to Finland the similar ways, through multiple trades. Still, the idea of the ancient Finnish adventurer traveling far east and back sounds nice. Adding it to Kalevala stories would be much fun.
Or perhaps one could tell the arrow’s story. Especially if it ended up being an important arrow.