Eaters of the dead

Author: Michael Crichton

The novel is set in the 10th century. The Caliph of Baghdad sends his ambassador, Ahmad ibn Fadlan to the king of the Volga Bulgars. He never arrives but is instead captured by a group of Vikings. This group is sent on a hero's quest to the north. Ahmad ibn Fadlan is taken along, as the thirteenth member of their group, to bring good luck. There he battles with the 'mist-monsters', or 'wendol', a relict group of Neanderthals.

Eaters of the Dead is narrated as a scientific commentary on an old manuscript. A sense of authenticity is supported by occasional explanatory footnotes with references to a mixture of factual and fictitious sources.

The novel was adapted into film as The 13th Warrior, directed by John McTiernan. Crichton himself did some uncredited directing for a reshoot after the studio fired McTiernan for various reasons, one of which was going way over budget.