The Broken Sword

By: Poul Anderson

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Thor has broken the sword Tyrfing so that it cannot strike at the roots of Yggdrasil, the tree that binds together earth, heaven, and hell. But now the mighty sword is needed again to save the elves in their war against the trolls, and only Skafloc, a human child kidnapped and raised by the elves, can hope to persuade Bölverk the ice-giant to make Tyrfing whole again. But Skafloc must also confront his shadow self, Valgard the changeling, who has taken his place in the world of men.

©1954 Poul Anderson (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Wow

I got this book because it was narrated by Bronson Pinchot and the plot sounded interesting. However, I had no Idea how great this book was going to be. It was originally released in the 1950's. However, there is no way you could tell, because the story and the setting are timeless. The narration was first rate Mr.Pinchot never disappoints and the story had me enthralled. If you like lord of the rings or fantasy in general you should pick this one up.

Brilliant sword and sorcery epic

Would you consider the audio edition of The Broken Sword to be better than the print version?

Yes. Pinchot's narration is outstanding. He brings the characters and the story to life, giving the story great depth and drama.

What did you like best about this story?

A well constructed and thought out plot, with consistent characterisation.

Which scene was your favorite?

Odin collecting on his bargain.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The tragedy of Ilrede's daughter.

Any additional comments?

The Broken Sword is the absolute pick of this genre.

A nice mix of mythologies

this book had a nice blend of different mythologies. it captivated my mind and held me until the last words had been read. the performance was very good and was read very enthusiastically.

a great adventure!

the story is great and the author is very descriptive. would have been perfect except the narrator has extremely forceful 'S's which were almost bad enough for me to not finish the book.

Beautiful work made even better by Bronson Pinchot

Really a great read and a must for fantasy/Norse mythology fans. Poul Anderson’s poetic style is the perfect fodder for Bronson Pinchot’s amazing voice and characterizations.

A struggle to finish

I was determined to finish this book, but it was a difficult task. This book is very slow and full of unnecessary details that complicated the story rather than enhancing it. I found myself zoning in and out as I listened to this book, something I've never done.

Really Great Faerie Tale

Skafloc, stolen at birth, faces a dire fate. Can he save his adopted people, the Elves?

Great book.

The narrative and characters were well fleshed out. Poul Anderson's prose kept my interest thought the book. Pincot's performance was second to none. Overall worth every minute of listening!

Too Much

Too many characters. Too much repetition. Too much unnecessary graphic violence. Too many side plots.

This should be more well-known and regarded

An excellent read, and a book that deserves to be more well known and well read than it is. I can understand how the general audience would prefer Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, but that certainly doesn't mean that LotR is better than The Broken Sword, especially if the reader is a fan of the Northern and other mythologies, which this work is based upon and is written as if it were one of the Sagas; even the poetry within is the correct style. (And I didn't skip over it like I did Tolkien's verses.)

Anyway… I wish I had heard of this book decades ago. I should have, and some of that is my fault. I should not assume that the Best-Of Fantasy Reading Lists out there are completely accurate. Some have glaring omissions, like this novel. Sometimes, we need to look deeper and find and judge more for ourselves.