Poul Anderson · 1980 · sea

Poul Anderson's 1980 novel, first of The Last Viking trilogy on Harald Hardrada. Wounded as a boy at Stiklestad, Harald Sigurdsson flees Norway eastward across the Baltic into the land of the Rus, down the great river road from the Varangians to the Greeks, through Novgorod and Kiev to Constantinople, where as a captain of the Varangian Guard he wins gold and glory in the emperor's service. The route traces the real Viking highway from the North to Byzantium.

1. 1
   Stiklestad

   At the battle of Stiklestad in 1030 the boy Harald Sigurdsson, half-brother to King Olaf, is wounded and his cause crushed; he flees east to save his life.

2. 2
   Sigtuna

   He makes his way overland through the mountains and across Sweden to the Baltic, taking ship at the trading town of Sigtuna for the lands of the Rus.

3. 3
   Lake Ladoga

   Across the Baltic and up the Gulf of Finland his ship enters the rivers of Rus by way of Lake Ladoga, gateway to the great water-road south.

4. 4
   Novgorod

   At Novgorod, Holmgard to the Norse, Harald takes service with Yaroslav the Wise and bides his time, a landless prince gathering strength.

5. 5
   Kiev

   By the river road from the Varangians to the Greeks, down the Lovat and over the portages to the Dnieper, he comes to Kiev, great city of the Rus.

6. 6
   The Dnieper Mouth

   He follows the Dnieper down past its cataracts to the Black Sea, the open road to the richest city in the world.

7. 7
   Constantinople

   At Constantinople, Miklagard, the Golden Horn itself, Harald enters the Varangian Guard and serves the emperor with sword and cunning.

8. 8
   Sicily

   His campaigns carry him across the Middle Sea to Sicily and beyond, building the fortune and fame he will one day carry north to win a crown.