In our increasingly polarized world there is an urgent need for cross-cultural conversations, bridges of understanding between people of different beliefs, and a recommitment to a common understanding of our shared history: the history not of any one particular group but of humanity itself . Althingi: The Crescent and the Northern Star , co-edited by Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad ( A Mosque Among the Stars, Islamicates ) and Joshua Gillingham ( The Gatewatch, Old Norse for Modern Times ), is an anthology of historical fiction which explores the intricate and often-overlooked interactions between intrepid Viking voyagers and inquisitive emissaries from the powerful Islamic kingdoms. Featuring stories by an incredible slate of authors writing in the historical Althingi universe, Althingi: The Crescent and the Northern Star  offers a glimpse into a fascinating forgotten past and will prove a must-read for fans of both Viking and Islamic history.