The Vatnsdalers' Saga by Gwyn Jones

I am new to Icelandic sagas, so I will just comment on the subject matter: sociopathic vikings. So, if you took out all the axes and spears and replaced them with canoles and .38 specials, you would have something like a 13th century prequel to The Sopranos. These people were insane. They go "a-warring" as casually as Thoreau goes a-fishing. This is the story of the people of Hof, as they struggle to maintain order and justice... hold on... "justice" on an island that is regularly stocked with outlaws, witches, and every once in a while a guy with a really nice looking sword that one of the Hofs just HAS to have. They convene at "Things" (Imagine Big Tony: "Remember that t'ing, over at the place?"). They go mad as bulls over their friends getting whacked, but their is usually a money-prize that can settle the berserker rage. Sometimes they just split a fellow with an axe because he looks like a bad apple (he invariably is). I don't know of any other translations, being so green in this genre, but this one reads smoothly. The language is clear and, I think, captures a lot of the subtle self-deceptions and fears lurking in the Vatnsdaler's words.