# Olaf Huldricksson — The Moon Pool character guide > Olaf Huldricksson in The Moon Pool by A. Merritt. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Olaf, Huldricksson, the Norseman **First appearance:** 0010-viii-olaf-s-story ## Snapshot A grief-stricken Norseman who has lost wife and child to a shape of cold fire, and who now hunts the thing that took them with a hammer forged in Thor's honor. ## Who they are Olaf Huldricksson is a giant of a sailor whose tear-filled eyes and silent endurance mark him as a man hollowed out by loss. He feigns ignorance before Yolara and Lugur, controlling his rage with a discipline that surprises even Goodwin, and he forges a massive mace in preparation for the coming battle. His personal vendetta against the Shining One gives the expedition a raw, human stake in the cosmic struggle, and his fierce joy in the coming fray makes him both tragic and terrifying. ## Relationships ### [Da Costa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/da_costa) _friendship_ Da Costa and Olaf share a loyal, brotherly camaraderie as fellow explorers. ### [Da Costa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/da_costa) _friendship_ Da Costa and Olaf share a loyal, brotherly camaraderie as fellow explorers. ### [Da Costa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/da_costa) _friendship_ Da Costa and Olaf share a loyal, brotherly camaraderie as fellow explorers. ## In the story ### [VI: “The Shining Devil Took Them!”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/vi-the-shining-devil-took-them) Found bound to his wheel, raving that a 'shining devil' took his wife and child; tied himself. ### [VII: Larry O'Keefe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/vii-larry-o-keefe) Recovering from drugged sleep; his condition is observed by Goodwin. ### [VIII: Olaf's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/viii-olaf-s-story) Wakes from sedation and tells the story of his wife and daughter being taken by the 'sparkling devil' from the moon. ### [IX: A Lost Page of Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/ix-a-lost-page-of-earth) Recovered from his madness, shows sorrow but determination, and confirms his intent to follow the quest to Nan-Matal. ### [The Moon Pool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/x-the-moon-pool) Guards the moon door; is pulled through when it opens, vanishing into the corridor. ### [XI: The Flame-Tipped Shadows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xi-the-flame-tipped-shadows) Present during Marakinoff's revelation and the negotiation; reacts with trembling awe to the abyss and the vision. ### [XII: The End of the Journey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xii-the-end-of-the-journey) Views the city with awe, calling it 'Trolldom'. ### [XIII: Yolara, Priestess of the Shining One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xiii-yolara-priestess-of-the-shining-one) Brings up the rear of the single file, identifies the dwarves as 'Trolde', and is physically admired by Rador for his strength. ### [XIV: The Justice of Lora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xiv-the-justice-of-lora) Feigns ignorance of the local language to conceal his comprehension; flexes his muscles for Lugur and suppresses a shudder at the mention of his lost family. ### [XVIII: The Amphitheatre of Jet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xviii-the-amphitheatre-of-jet) Sits alone in an aperture below Marakinoff, unprotected, and is observed with pity by Rador and concern by O'Keefe. ### [The Madness of Olaf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xix-the-madness-of-olaf) In a maddened state, he attacks the Shining One, calling it the devil that took his Helma, and is restrained by Larry. ### [XXI: Larry’s Defiance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxi-larry-s-defiance) Reports overheard plans of Lugur and Marakinoff, including the use of gravity-destroying bombs and the Keth ray. ### [XXII: The Casting of the Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxii-the-casting-of-the-shadow) Grieves for his wife Helma, expresses despair about the Shining Devil, and is comforted by Larry's reassurances. ### [XXIII: Dragon Worm and Moss Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxiii-dragon-worm-and-moss-death) Fires at Lugur, calls the dragon worm 'Helvede Orm', and falls beside Goodwin during the attack. ### [The Crimson Sea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxiv-the-crimson-sea) Follows with grief; compares the scene to Asgard and Bifrost, and vows to kill Lugur. ### [XXV: The Three Silent Ones](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxv-the-three-silent-ones) Carries Larry despite his own fever; stands firm before the Silent Ones; his despair is wiped away. ### [XXVIII: In the Lair of the Dweller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxviii-in-the-lair-of-the-dweller) Mentioned as not being able to take the strange road lest his heart break; remains with Rador. ### [Larry and the Frog-Men](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxxi-larry-and-the-frog-men) Present on the bridge with Lakla and Rador, observing the Akka gathering; comments on Yolara's anger. ### [The Meeting of Titans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxxiii-the-meeting-of-titans) Takes fierce joy in the coming fray, wielding a massive mace. He fights valiantly, saves Larry, and engages Lugur in a personal duel, declaring Lugur his alone to kill. ### [The Coming of the Shining One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/chapters/xxxiv-the-coming-of-the-shining-one) Dies peacefully after the battle, whispering to Helma before succumbing to his wounds. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters/olaf_huldricksson - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_pool_se/characters