review of Vikings 3.10 

Vikings tonight - even though I predicted some kind of union between Rollo and Gisla - see my reviews of the past few episodes - and even though I didn\'t believe for a moment that Ragnar was dead.   But it was still great to see this played out on the screen.

There was also some important development of French characters in this episode, especially Odo, who we discover is into a little sadomasochism, in this case, whipping a woman.  So our French court, in this spirited rendition of history, is peopled at this time by both Joan of Arc (Gilsa) and the Marquis de Sade (Odo).   But that\'s ok - indeed, it adds spice to this narrative - and the weak king, insecure grandson of Charlemagne, is portrayed accurately enough.

So what have we seen in terms of real, geopolitical history?  Vikings finally did good on the historical sacking of Paris, which left the city still standing.  And in Rollo\'s going to the "north," we have the beginnings of Normandy (Norse or North Man).  There\'s great  history to follow in all of this, including Rollo\'s descendants led by William the Conquerer vanquishing Ecbert\'s descendants and taking over England.   May Vikings last as long as is necessary to show that.

Meanwhile, there\'s unsettled business, to say the least, with Ecbert and the Vikings.   Will Ragnar let Ecbert\'s destruction of the Norse settlement go unanswered?  One of the problems and advantages of this series is that Ragnar is as much myth as he is real - unlike Rollo, who really did set up a dynasty in Normandy - so we can never know for sure what will happen with Ragnar.  That\'s why, although I felt in my gut that Ragnar couldn\'t be dead, and I expected some kind of clever ploy by him, as we\'ve seen in the past, I couldn\'t be 100% sure he was alive until he jumped out of that coffin.

As a series, Vikings has no coffin to jump out of - it is more alive and vital than ever, and now that the 3rd season is concluded, I\'d say it was the best.  That first battle for Paris was, as I said in my review, worthy of the Two Towers in Lord of the Rings.

And I\'ll be back here in 2016 with reviews of Season 4.

See also Vikings 3.1. Fighting and Farming ... Vikings 3.2: Leonard Nimoy ...Vikings 3.3: We\'ll Always Have Paris ... Vikings 3.4: They Call Me the Wanderer ... Vikings 3.5: Massacre ... Vikings 3.6: Athelstan and Floki ...Vikings 3.7: At the Gates ... Vikings 3.8: Battle for Paris ... Vikings 3.9: The Conquered

And see also Vikings 2.1-2: Upping the Ante of Conquest ... Vikings 2.4: Wise King ... Vikings 2.5: Caught in the Middle ... Vikings 2.6: The Guardians ...Vikings 2.7: Volatile Mix ... Vikings 2.8: Great Post-Apocalyptic Narrative ... Vikings Season 2 Finale: Satisfying, Surprising, Superb

And see also Vikings ... Vikings 1.2: Lindisfarne ... Vikings 1.3: The Priest ... Vikings 1.4:  Twist and Testudo ... Vikings 1.5: Freud and Family ... Vikings 1.7: Religion and Battle ... Vikings 1.8: Sacrifice

historical science fiction - a little further back in time

but hey, if Viking fiction is your goal, check out 

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The Plot to Save Socrates on 10 Perfect Summer Reads Authored by NYU Alums

This blog quoted in New York Times & Los Angeles Times & Boston Globe & The Atlantic!

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Paul Levinson, PhD, is Professor of Communication & Media Studies at Fordham University in New York City.  His 8 nonfiction books, including The Soft Edge (1997), Digital McLuhan (1999), Realspace (2003),  Cellphone (2004), and New New Media (2009, 2nd edition 2012), have been the subject of major articles in the New York Times, Wired, the Christian Science Monitor, and have been translated into 12 languages. His science fiction novels include The Silk Code (1999, ebook 2012), Borrowed Tides (2001), TheConsciousness Plague (2002, 2013), The Pixel Eye (2003), The Plot To SaveSocrates (2006, ebook 2012), and Unburning Alexandria (2013).  His short stories have been nominated for Nebula, Hugo, Edgar, and Sturgeon Awards.  Paul Levinson appears on "The O'Reilly Factor" (Fox News), "The CBS Evening News,"  “NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” (PBS),  “Nightline” (ABC), NPR, and numerous national and international TV and radio programs. His 1972 album, Twice Upon a Rhyme, was re-issued in 2009 (CD) and 2010 (remastered vinyl). He reviews the best of television in his InfiniteRegress.tv blog, and was listed in The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Top 10 Academic Twitterers” in 2009.

Chronicle of Higher Education puts Paul Levinson in Top 10 (#7) of Academic "High Flyers" on Twitter ... Online University Data puts PL in "Top 50 Online University Professors on Twitter Worth Following"...

Dear Paul, I just dreamed of airships flying between raindrops. I just returned from 2042 CE, where I sold my hardcover copy of The Plot to Save Socrates for seventy million Neo-Euros, because it had your response to this e-mail from way back in 2007 scotch-taped onto the inside of the cover. A Paul Levinson collector paid top Neo-Euro, because of the authentic archaic e-mail printout from you. It turns out that not many of your e-mails from before your tenure as CEO of HBO/Cinemax and terms as United Nations Secretary General will survive that far into the future. So, please respond to this e-mail, to help found my great-grandchildren\'s fortune. My Will will stipulate that they must share with your great grandchidren. Thanks! Tom

President, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, 1998-2001

I’m proud to be on the May 8 page of this calendar, with the following quote:

"What begins as a seemingly innocent campaign against indecency … always segues in short order into political censorship."

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winner Locus Award for Best First Science Fiction Novel, 2000

"Forensic detective Phil D’Amato is one of my favorite characters" --Connie Willis

"A superb and often amusing account of one of the greatest revolutions in human history" --Arthur C. Clarke

100 rare + unreleased tracks were on sale April 18-21, 2011. All proceeds went to help Japan! Thanks for your generosity! Tracks included Tori Amos, Sara Bareilles, Josh Ritter ... and Paul Levinson singing "Sunshine\'s Mine"!

Twice Upon a Rhyme reviewed in Jan-Feb 2011 Shindig Magazine

Paul Levinson appears on "The O\'Reilly Factor" (Fox News), "The CBS Evening News," "Nightline" (ABC), the "NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" (PBS), "The Dylan Ratigan Show" (MSNBC) and frequently on NPR and all-news radio...