Interview: Author WOLFGANG HOHLBEIN explains the inspiration and vision of THE ASGARD SAGA

Q: There are so many myths and legends. What do you find so special about the Norse mythology?

WH: There are indeed many great legends. The Greek mythology for example is very rich and colorful. I think the great fascination of the Norse mythology lies in the fact that these gods are not as aloof as the gods of other cultures. Though they live in their own realm, Asgard, they walk the same earth and cross paths with the humans frequently. Also, they are no „superheroes“ with unlimited powers. Each of them has one or a couple of special abilities, but they complement each other and only as a team, they can exist.

Q: And you believe that these ancient stories can still entertain a modern audience?

WH: Absolutely! Because, in their core, all great stories, the ones that truly excite the audience, the ones that reach their hearts and get them involved, have not changed much throughout the centuries. The way we tell these stories may change, from campfire storytellers to Hollywood action movies, but this is a mere technical aspect. The truly great ones – different as they mear appear - all feature the key values of our human society: love, friendship, courage, honesty and other basic values.
This is what unites people, independent from their culture, their race, their age, social status or any other factor that on the surface may separate us.
But that´s not all!

Q: What do you mean?

WH: Well, you were talking of entertainment. And indeed, a good story entertains you; makes you laugh or cry, excites or relaxes you. But the true ones, the stories that touch your heart like I said before, they have relevance for your life! They help you cope with your daily struggles, make you aware that you are not alone, that there were others who experienced problems like you do. As different as the scenery may often be from our regular lives: these stories, and their heroes, inspire us to face whatever lies ahead and give our best. They contain wisdom and truth, even if we may not notice that all the time.

Q: Sounds great. And THE ASGARD SAGA shall be such a source of strength and inspiration?

WH: I can assure you, it will be! What excites me so about THE ASGARD SAGA – and I share this with every member of our fantastic team - is that it works on so many levels:
First, there is the opportunity to tell a complex and compelling story, based on a classic tale, in a completely new and unique way. From different angles and by a variety of tools. This is an opportunity that the storytellers of the past did not have at the same extent.

It brings artists from all different areas together, be it music or written word, painting or photography, games programming and filmmaking.

Then, thanks to this genius tool named internet, we can not only spread our works across the globe, we can actually include the fans from all over the world in the creative process. We can inspire them to make own contributions that we can weave into the core story; we can find inspiration for our own works; we can learn how THE SAGA influenced their lives, what they enjoyed the most, what they miss and so on.

Last but not least we can connect like minds. People who may have many differences, but who are united in their passion for great storytelling.

Apologies if I get carried away but as I explained before, this adventure excites me so much, because of its potential, its magnitude. There are a bunch of people working with great passion and dedication towards the first pieces of THE ASGARD SAGA. But this is only the beginning, the initial spark. I can only imagine how this universe we envision is going to explode once we have the fans onboard, with all their ideas and talent.

Mark my words! THE ASGARD SAGA will become the broadest and most vibrant fantasy adventure of our time!

© April 2009

Written by Thorminatrix on Wed 29 Apr 2009 09:34:29 PM CEST

THE ASGARD SAGA - MOOD VIDEO

Asgardians,
to make the waiting for the new songs easier and to give you an idea of what to expect from THE ASGARD SAGA, here a mood video for your entertainment.

MANOWAR say "Hi!" from the recording studio!

Written by Novagraphix on Mon 27 Apr 2009 11:20:03 AM CEST

THOR, the hero of THE ASGARD SAGA. Who is he?

It has been revealed already: THE ASGARD SAGA will revolve around THOR, the GOD OF THUNDER.
But who is he really?

Before Wolfgang soon shares his thoughts on the strongest of all Norse Gods, here a description of how Thor has been perceived throughout the centuries:

THOR THE THUNDER:

Thor has power enough, but not courage.
Out of spineless fear, he enters his glove,
Does not dare to be Thor any more.
Does not dare to stand up for his people.

translation from The Harbard Song, after Simrock, verse 26

Thor is the most popular and famous God of the House of Aesir.
He stands for bravery and justice; he repeatedly takes the side of the humans and even defies Godfather Odin.
But he has weak sides, too.

Taking on his iron glove, seizing his hammer Mjolnir and going into battle against hostile giants is second nature to him.
But if it comes to feelings, his heart will tremble and he questions himself. Again and again he will change direction, unaware who is friend and who is foe and where the path of destiny will lead him.

With Loki he is bound in a relationship of hatred and friendship. On one hand, it was Loki who helped Thor to retrieve his hammer Mjolnir after it was stolen by the powerful dwarf Dvergr.
On the other hand it was Loki who, out of pure selfishness, lured Thor into a trap that almost cost him his life.
Thus the relation between the strongest of Gods and the most cunning one remains strained like a bowstring, until the end of days.

THOR - a brave hero or a mindless warrior?
THE ASGARD SAGA will reveal it!

Written by Thorminatrix on Sun 26 Apr 2009 11:03:37 AM CEST

the concept of fan participation - how does it work?

Hello Asgardians!

First of all - in the name of all involved (Manowar who are in the studio recording new songs as we speak and Wolfgang Hohlbein who is writing on the first book of THE ASGARD SAGA) - THANK YOU! for the overwhelming feedback!
This is really amazing and proof that there is great interest in a new, broad, exciting fantasy tale.

Many of you have asked for more details and explanations about the fan participation. Here they are:

The idea is that, once the story is out there (and first details will be revealed very soon) everybody is invited to carry on with own contributions.

For example you could write a spin-off, exploring a part of the story that was only briefly mentioned. Or retell a battle that was described, but now from the perspective of a young soldier... or you start a whole new story set in a village that Thor visited and left again, and so on and on. From short on-time moments to a whole storyline that is being continued...as long as the story is set in ASGARD, it can become part of the big tale. It does not have to be connected with Wolfgang´s story or other fan fiction, but of course, such crossover makes it even more exciting since you may find YOUR character in somebody else´s story later on...

Like a real country or world, ASGARD will be populated further and further... with new characters, new places, new stories...

But your participation is not restricted to written material!
If you are a sketch artist or painter, you can upload images, if you have music that tells an ASGARD tale, you can share this and if you created you own video, you can upload a link in the VIDEO section.

This is why THE ASGARD SAGA has the potential to become a vast universe! There really are no limits!

In MYSAGA the idea is to learn more about you and how Manowar´s music, Hohlbein´s stories, the Norse mythology and - eventually - THE ASGARD SAGA - played or play a role in your real lives..

LET THE HAMMER BE YOUR GUIDE!

Written by Thorminatrix on Sat 25 Apr 2009 08:45:20 AM CEST

MANOWAR AND WOLFGANG HOHLBEIN PRESENT

WELCOME MESSAGE FROM WOLFGANG HOHLBEIN

THE ASGARD SAGA.
Rarely, in the last couple of years has something moved me like this project has.
Northern mythology and all the elements from which these myths are molded; ice, fire, piercing winds, and living conditions that demand the utmost from gods and men alike. What would be more suitable for a new epic tale, for a new myth that unites reality and fiction?
MANOWAR and Hohlbein, that is no fiction, that is reality. I find them, in the truest sense of the word, to be fantastic. I have been a MANOWAR fan for many years and I never dreamed that I would be working with them on one of the most exciting projects of my career. What we intend to create is more than just a modern adaptation of a powerful myth. It is a new myth from which Odin, Thor and Loki will arise; in all of their magnificence, but also in all their vulnerability.
My thanks goes to Joey DeMaio, the bass player and leader of MANOWAR. He has inspired me more than he will possibly imagine. When I see MANOWAR on the stage, when I see the audience united by this great band, when I surrender myself to the throbbing rhythms of the drums and bass, the magnificent vocals and the driving guitar solos, then I have the feeling that the Gods have climbed straight down from Asgard to lead us to new shores.
We should follow them…

Wolfgang Hohlbein, April 2009

Written by Novagraphix on Mon 20 Apr 2009 02:06:21 PM CEST