Hrolf Kraki's Saga
#4643.97 in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 1 book Status Complete 1973 Reading commitment Low Poul Anderson Last reviewed 2026-09-25
Overview
Poul Anderson's 1973 novel retells the legend of Hrolf Kraki, the sixth-century Danish king remembered in Old Norse tradition much as Arthur is in Britain, framed as a tale told by a storyteller at a tenth-century English court. It follows the feuds of Hrolf's kin, the champions who gather at his hall, and the witchcraft that brings his reign to its end. First published in the Ballantine Adult Fantasy series.
Mythic fantasy, Historical fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (1 work) counts toward ranking
Hrolf Kraki's Saga (1973) core · 3.97 (660 ratings); A tenth-century storyteller recounts the rise and fall of the legendary sixth-century Danish king Hrolf Kraki, his family's feuds, and the champions who gathered at his court, drawing on the Old Norse saga tradition.
Quick answers
- How many books are in Hrolf Kraki's Saga? Hrolf Kraki's Saga's Core Canon is 1 book.
- Is Hrolf Kraki's Saga finished? Complete (1973).
- How much reading does Hrolf Kraki's Saga take? Low reading commitment (estimated from 1 Core Canon book · ~261 pages).
- How is Hrolf Kraki's Saga ranked? #464 in this site's official ranking, based on 660 reader ratings across 1 Core Canon book. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #464?
Ranked #464 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 3.97 across 1 core book.
- A smaller readership (660 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- Less than 0.01 behind #463, The Invisible Library (a finer tie-break level decides the order).
- Below the top-10 average of 4.45.
- A single standalone novel: ranked on that one book alone.
Why explore this universe?
Well rated · 1 book · Complete · 660 ratings · Ranks #464 overall
Good choice if you want a quick, low-commitment mythic fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
A single Core Canon work: no sequencing question to resolve.
Awards (verified)
- British Fantasy Award (August Derleth Award (Best Novel)), 1974: won: Hrolf Kraki's Saga
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Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 3.97 across 660 ratings on 1 Core Canon book. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Canon extension: Hrolf Kraki's Saga (Poul Anderson) accepted 2026-09-25
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- Wikipedia Tier 2
Last reviewed: 2026-09-25
Rule: Core Canon = Hrolf Kraki's Saga (1973) only, standalone.