MovieChat Forums > The 13th Warrior (1999) Discussion > Hoax

Hoax

posted 12 years ago by cappolis
10 replies | jump to latest

Since Michael Crichton published his novel "Eaters of the Dead" in 1976, the basis of this film, it has become regarded as one of the most notorious hoaxes in Librarianship Circles. The Ahmad Tusi Manuscript that Crichton referenced in his bibliography as being the source of this story, is completely made up. The name of the translator Fraus Dolus is in fact two Latin words meaning both 'hoax' and 'fraud'. The University of Oslo, where this manuscript is supposed to be kept, have (since the book was published), on an annual basis had to send out letters telling enquirers that they have been the victim of a hoax.

[–] cappolis 12 years ago

I copied and pasted the above from IMBd trivia. I had read the book when it was first published (I was 25yrs old) and was convinced that this was indeed a book based on published fact. I unknowingly sucked a few friends into reading and passing it on.
One of my more skeptical friends pointed out that the book was clearly labeled as "Fiction" and had consulted with one of our college history professors who also debuked the book. Life without the Internet.

[–] Riding_With_The_Valkyries 12 years ago

Later editions include an afterword where Crichton admits that the story is fiction, therefore putting an end to the butthurt.

Ghost dancers slay together and you’re just in my grave

[–] pol-edra 12 years ago

I wasn't aware that Crichton had playfully presented his novel as "translated" from an original manuscript, and even less aware that people had bought that fiction as if it were fact. I mean, isn't it obvious that The 13th Warrior is a retelling of Beowulf?

There is however a tiny bit of fact at the very beginning of the novel: Ibn Fadlan encountering "Vikings" (Rus) and writing about their customs and appearance ca. 900 CE. You can read an English translation of his account here:

http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/ibn_fdln.shtml#Risala

and see for yourself that Crichton did follow parts of it very faithfully at the beginning of the novel.

"Occasionally I'm callous and strange."

[–] robble-1 12 years ago

I read this in high school and recognized the whole Beowulf connection. But then again, we read Beowulf in high school. I guess a lot of people didn't get that privilege and didn't realize the whole "translated" thing was part of the fiction of the novel.

Thanks for the link. That is pretty interesting stuff.

There's something here that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a stick.-The Doctor

[–] CGSailor 11 years ago

But then again, we read Beowulf in high school.

Yes, in only a few decades we have fallen from teaching Latin in high school to teaching remedial English in college.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

[–] robble-1 11 years ago

I wish we had been taught Latin in high school. That would have been great! I only know two people who had that privilege--one in her 70s and one in her 20s. The 20-something graduated from a small private school that specialized in classical education.

There's something here that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a stick.-The Doctor

[–] tobymay 11 years ago

Crichton stated in an old interview that the book began as a friendly bet that Crichton would be unable to make the Saga of Beawulf interesting and a financially successful work of *fiction*.

Crichton has never pretended that it was anything but fiction. Sadly, the movie inexplicably and pointlessly ignores vital aspects of the book. While I've always loved and supported the movie, it is SOOOO much better after reading the fairly short novel.

The book was so short it could have been done in full w/o skipping vital story archs. It almost seems as if it were intentionally sabotaged to me...

Lastly- though Crichton never disputed that the novel was pure fiction, he DID several times point out that it was also conjectural- meaning that it was built in part on possibilities, if not fact.

Either way it is a fantastic adventure film that is being proved out by time to be a classic in it's own right.

[–] olasnah-97-475221 10 years ago

I have yet to actually read Beowulf in its entirety. I did not recognize it as a Beowulf tale per se until sometime after seeing the movie, where I saw Buliwyf's name in writing. Then I realized...

[–] DoctorFell 11 years ago

the eagle has landed & don quixote both have forwards that claim the story is based on true story, it is a literary technique that is not new.

trashing books is like the Special Olympics even if you burn them all you are still a retard.

[–] mam13143 10 years ago

Why would anyone buy a book in the fiction department and assume it was true? Many books use that literary technique of telling a real story. I remember when it was published as Eaters of the Dead and always thought it was fiction. Loved the movie and have seen it countless times. All the actors look the part and Goldsmiths score sure helps a lot too. Don't know why Shariff hated it.