MJOLNIR
By B.C. James
Self-published
376 pgs
Often when reviewing a book we’ve absolutely loved, our most daunting challenge is getting that euphoria to you, dear readers. “Mjolnir” is one of those books. It is a comedy-fantasy-action adventure, and if all those elements blended together do not spell pulp, then we don’t know what does.
The plot is most imaginative. Odin, in dire fear of his own demise when the predicted Ragnarok occurs, banishes all the North Gods out of Asgard to Earth. Here, Thor, Loki, Freya, and all the others find themselves having to take on actual jobs to sustain themselves. Thor becomes a professional football player, Loki a savvy businessman, and Freya an expensive high-class hooker. Quite the come down for the Goddess of Love. Of course, Odin’s scheme has its flaws in that Loki still desires to knock off the Allfather and assume his authority and power. To do this he conspires with the other dimensional god, Surt.
Surt’s fee for this assistant is the sacrifice of a female Asgardian goddess. Loki agrees and sets his sights on Freya who has repeatedly disregarded in the past. The final key element and the book’s title, is Thor’s powerful hammer, Mjolnir. He’s given it up and Odin believes by possessing it, he can thwart Ragnarok. Thus the book begins and within only a few chapters, a colorful cast of characters battling all over the U.S. in cataclysmic encounters the likes only seen in early Marvel comics.
B.C. James is a marvelous craftsman and his satirical wit is evident in every scene and line of dialog. So much that one has to wonder from magic elixir he is drinking. “Mjolnir” is a winner you really don’t want to miss. Don’t say we didn’t tell you.