Eaters of the Dead was written by a brilliant man of the name Michael Crichton. He was born in Chicago, 1942. He graduated from Harvard University with a Medical Degree. He today is a best-selling author, and co-writer and producer of the popular TV show “ER”. A man of such talents is very well respected, as in my opinion; Eaters of The Dead was very wonderfully written. A question asked, is, was this man biased when writing this book about Arabs and northmen? I believe not. Throughout the book he indicated about the northmen drinking and having fun with slave girls. Yet he also indicated the northmen not understanding the Arab culture and the Muslim religion. I believe he was not biased because he wrote this book from Ibn- Fadlan’s point of view. An Arab point of view. It demonstrated how and Arab viewed these Northmen, and it showed how the no

Religion is a human belief system. This is an act of social material. Ibn-Fadlan was a devoted Muslim, where every third sentence of this book, this man says “praise the god Allah”. The Northmen, on the other hand, believe in many Gods. “(Pg 172) To Odin, and Frey, and Thor, and Wyrd, and the several other gods who may influence your safe journey.” These were the names of the Northmen Gods.” It was hard for the Northmen to understand that Ibn-Fadlan only worshipped one god. “(Pg 172) Perhaps in your land, one god is enough, but not here; here there are many gods and each has his importance, so we shall pray to all of them on your behalf.” Ibn-Fadlan thought differently, though. “(Pg 173) Allah is the one God who rules all things, sees all things, knows all things, and disposes all things.” Throughout the book, Ibn-Fadlan had conflicts with the Northmen on this issue. He was an Arab. Of a nature that women did not show themselves in such manner. They believed in one God. The northmen were of a different culture. They were used to pleasuring and seeing all sorts of women. They also drank a lot, and Ibn-Fadlan did not. “(Pg 89) A few drinks, and the world spins!! But I did not drink, praise Allah.”

This book was organized in two fashions, chronological, and topical.

The cover of this book, I believe, has Ibn-Fadlan on it. I think this because of the way he is shielded. The northmen were men with not much fear, and the man on the cover looks bold, but if you look closely, you will see him tilting his head down, and it looks as if he is fearful. Ibn-Fadlan was fearful in the beginning and middle of the book but tried his best to hide it, this is what the cover shows. The colours of the background are black with a hint of purple. It almost looks like a sunset. Which relates to that the glowworm dragon of korgon, only came out at sunset. The cover is a visual appearance of Ibn-Fadlan preparing for the glowworm dragon. That is what I perceive it to be.

That is how the religion and clash of cultures represents how this book is of a social historical manner.

My next example is when the northmen reach for the dwarves for advice on defeating the wendols. GOOD RECOVERING FROM AND PREPARING FOR EVIL. At this point in the book, continuing from page 111, the northmen have lost 3 men, and are beginning to doubt themselves, but maintain faith. They travel to the land of the dwarves, to seek counselling on their ability to overpower the wendols. They speak to the head dwarf, the tengol. On page 137 the tengol says, “ You have come to me because you attacked the monsters in the brackish marsh and tarn, and this availed you nothing. Therefore you come to me for advice and admonishment, as a child to his father, saying what shall I do now for all my plans have failed me.” Then, on page 138, the tengol lays out the facts to Buliwyf explaining to him what he must carry out to overcome these wendols. “ A hero does what no man dares to undertake. To kill the wendol, you must strike at the head and the heart: you must over come their very mother, in the thunder caves.” After a lengthy and encouraging speech, Bulifwyf was heartened to subdue the wendols. On page 139 it says, “Buliwyf departed from the cave, and gave to each of us the dagger of the dwarves, and we descended from the rocky windswept crags, and returned to the kingdom and the great hall of Rothgar as the night was falling.”

My third example involves EVIL CHALLENGING GOOD. On page 90, Ibn-Fadlan begins to hear noises and smell the scents of the Wendols coming, “..These doors burst open, and a rush of reeking air gutted all the lights, and the black mist entered the room.” after that the battle between the northmen and the wendols occurred and Ibn-Fadlan states on page 91 “the battle raged for how long I cannot know, but it concluded most suddenly of a moment. And then the black mist was gone, slunk away, grunting and panting and stinkin

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