The Broken Sword cover art

The Broken Sword

Preview

Try for $0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Broken Sword

Written by: Poul Anderson
Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $17.12

Buy Now for $17.12

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

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.
Action & Adventure Classics Science Fiction Sword & Sorcery
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about The Broken Sword

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    18
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    2
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    18
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Amazing narrator!

I tend too lean towards British narrators and less bloodthirsty stories but this had me enthralled from the outset! A classic theme, gods and demons, a forbidden love and the struggle between Good and evil- what more could you want!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Norse Myth-flavored Dark Fantasy

This Poul Anderson tale is like a violent cross between Robert E. Howard's 'Conan' adventures and a saga like 'Beowulf'. The "seek a magical sword" quest is handled beautifully, Anderson incorporates Sword & Sorcery seamlessly, and the battle between "Trollheim" (Trolls and Goblins) and "Elfheim" (Elves with a few Humans & Dwarves - Wizards on both sides) is epic.
Unfortunately, the book is overwritten. Anderson tends to poetic - almost Shakespearian - language (including actual poetry at one point) and the allegory-heavy imagery is overwhelming.

Bronson Pinchot was a brilliant choice to read the book. His voice-acting and pronunciations are spot-on and he has a near-psychic understanding of the author's tonal and thematic intentions. Pinchot has an annoying habit of extending his consonants ("The ssssea king shshshrugged", for example), but he rarely sounds slurry. This is an impressive performance.

Altogether, I give 'The Broken Sword' 7 stars out of 10. It's a great example of Nordic-themed Dark Fantasy - easily worth your time if you can get it for free as I did.. but the style is just a little bit too flowery to justify spending a Credit on it.

[Incidentally: Anderson borrows heavily from Tolkien's 'Silmarillion' in this one. There are almost moment-by-moment copies of the Beren-Luthien and Túrin Turumbar plots]

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Plays like a True Story of Fae

Entirely engaging.

Anderson’s grasp of Fae and Divine lore, had me feeling like I was listening to one persons version of a verifiable historical event.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Classic dark fantasy

The narrator does an amazing job! One of the best, so emotive. When I saw his name I realized he was balki from perfect strangers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Reads like a real saga

I’m also listening to a real Norse saga at the same time and Anderson really captured the spirit. If I didn’t know better I’d think it was real mythology.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful