The Berserkers
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- Vic Peterson
More About This Title The Berserkers
English
THE BERSERKERS follows Grammaticus Kolbitter, a musician working as a police records clerk in the fictional Scandinavian city of Fulaflugahål, who becomes entangled in a bizarre murder investigation when a young woman is found dead beneath the frozen surface of Lake Munch—dressed in swan-feather wings. As Grammaticus assists the enigmatic one-eyed Constable in unraveling the case, he encounters a cast of unforgettable characters, including Aud, a towering giantess with mysterious origins, and discovers connections to underground music culture, ancient Norse mythology, and a violent gang.
This 63,000-word novel offers readers a fresh take on Nordic noir that diverges from conventional Scandinavian crime fiction. Rather than following the typical social realist template, THE BERSERKERS embraces a darkly lyrical, literary style reminiscent of Patrick DeWitt and Christopher Isherwood, while incorporating elements of myth and the uncanny. The narrative weaves together murder mystery, coming-of-age story, and mythic quest, culminating in a revelatory journey to a remote island mine where ancient forces collide with modern violence.
The book's themes of identity, belonging, and transformation against a backdrop of Nordic conformity have particular resonance for contemporary readers. The protagonist's dual life as both institutional clerk and passionate musician mirrors the tension between societal expectations and authentic self-expression. The novel's exploration of outsider perspectives—through characters like Aud the giantess and Misty, the murdered woman of ambiguous ethnic origin—offers opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue.
THE BERSERKERS has attracted positive critical attention in English-language markets. Its genre-blending approach, literary style, and distinctive voice position it well for readers seeking sophisticated crime fiction that transcends formula. The growing market for Nordic noir, combined with this novel's literary ambitions and mythological underpinnings, suggests strong potential for translation success.
This 63,000-word novel offers readers a fresh take on Nordic noir that diverges from conventional Scandinavian crime fiction. Rather than following the typical social realist template, THE BERSERKERS embraces a darkly lyrical, literary style reminiscent of Patrick DeWitt and Christopher Isherwood, while incorporating elements of myth and the uncanny. The narrative weaves together murder mystery, coming-of-age story, and mythic quest, culminating in a revelatory journey to a remote island mine where ancient forces collide with modern violence.
The book's themes of identity, belonging, and transformation against a backdrop of Nordic conformity have particular resonance for contemporary readers. The protagonist's dual life as both institutional clerk and passionate musician mirrors the tension between societal expectations and authentic self-expression. The novel's exploration of outsider perspectives—through characters like Aud the giantess and Misty, the murdered woman of ambiguous ethnic origin—offers opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue.
THE BERSERKERS has attracted positive critical attention in English-language markets. Its genre-blending approach, literary style, and distinctive voice position it well for readers seeking sophisticated crime fiction that transcends formula. The growing market for Nordic noir, combined with this novel's literary ambitions and mythological underpinnings, suggests strong potential for translation success.
English
Author Vic Peterson holds degrees from Kenyon College, the University of Texas (Dallas), and the University of Chicago. His poetry, essays, and reviews have appeared in Sparrow, Contemporary Poetry Review, The Dactyl Review, Foreword, and Arts Indiana.
English
THE BERSERKERS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I: THE FLYTING 4
CHAPTER ONE: Valkyrie 5
CHAPTER TWO: Grimke 15
CHAPTER THREE: Memory and Thought 21
CHAPTER FOUR: Surly Gang 33
CHAPTER FIVE: Small Beer 37
CHAPTER SIX: The Wolf Gallery of Abbe Laurent 43
CHAPTER SEVEN: Kvasir's Mead 58
CHAPTER EIGHT: Nils the Fat Boy 70
CHAPTER NINE: A Secret History 80
CHAPTER TEN: Battle-Ready Tune Mongers 89
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Metal and Bone 94
INTERLUDE ONE: QUANT 106
THE CONSTABLE'S FIRST AUTOBIOGRAPHY 108
PART II: AUD THE DEEP MINDED 121
CHAPTER TWELVE: Viking Funeral 122
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Crystalline Stillness 131
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Gear of War 135
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Rat in the Rafters 142
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Into Open Waters 156
INTERLUDE TWO: RAIN, WIND, FIRE 162
THE CONSTABLE'S SECOND AUTOBIOGRAPHY 164
PART III: A WILD HUNT 177
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: The Isle of O 178
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Casting Runes 189
CHAPTER NINETEEN: The Death of Nils the Fat Boy 200
CHAPTER TWENTY: Barbarians 214
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Collapse 227
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: Return of a Valkyrie 237
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: The Song that Brings Everyone Together 248
EPILOGUE: RAGNAROCK 253
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I: THE FLYTING 4
CHAPTER ONE: Valkyrie 5
CHAPTER TWO: Grimke 15
CHAPTER THREE: Memory and Thought 21
CHAPTER FOUR: Surly Gang 33
CHAPTER FIVE: Small Beer 37
CHAPTER SIX: The Wolf Gallery of Abbe Laurent 43
CHAPTER SEVEN: Kvasir's Mead 58
CHAPTER EIGHT: Nils the Fat Boy 70
CHAPTER NINE: A Secret History 80
CHAPTER TEN: Battle-Ready Tune Mongers 89
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Metal and Bone 94
INTERLUDE ONE: QUANT 106
THE CONSTABLE'S FIRST AUTOBIOGRAPHY 108
PART II: AUD THE DEEP MINDED 121
CHAPTER TWELVE: Viking Funeral 122
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Crystalline Stillness 131
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Gear of War 135
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Rat in the Rafters 142
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Into Open Waters 156
INTERLUDE TWO: RAIN, WIND, FIRE 162
THE CONSTABLE'S SECOND AUTOBIOGRAPHY 164
PART III: A WILD HUNT 177
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: The Isle of O 178
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Casting Runes 189
CHAPTER NINETEEN: The Death of Nils the Fat Boy 200
CHAPTER TWENTY: Barbarians 214
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Collapse 227
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: Return of a Valkyrie 237
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: The Song that Brings Everyone Together 248
EPILOGUE: RAGNAROCK 253
English
"An engaging, tightly written experimental novel, full of evocative storytelling and narrative drive." -- Wyl Menmuir, author of The Many, longlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
"Original and surprising in all the right ways." -- Jack Livings, author of The Blizzard Party, 2025 PEN Prize Winner
"Original and surprising in all the right ways." -- Jack Livings, author of The Blizzard Party, 2025 PEN Prize Winner
