The Hammer And The Cross: Harry Harrison and John Holm

England, 865: The invading Vikings rule in Ireland and the North while a new army of Northmen is fighting and butchering its way South. The surviving English kings must flee or die. The Church is being crushed with the nobles - Christianity is under threat of destruction as the Pagans wipe out all resistance. Shef, a young man with a Viking father and English mother is forced to run - then fight - and is soon involved in the conflict between the opposing armies. He receives protection from the followers of The Asgarth Way, an expanding Norse religion and grows in strength and battle skills. Apprenticed to the blacksmith, he builds new weapons that may decide the coming battles. But he has made an deadly enemy of the Viking chieftain Ivar who plans his destruction. Cover art by Gino D'Achille.