Orion's Belt (novel)

Orion's Belt

First edition (Norwegian)
Author	Jon Michelet
Original title	Orions belte
Language	Norwegian
Genre	Action-thriller
Set in	Svalbard
Publisher	Oktober Forlag
Publication date	1977
Publication place	Norway

Orion's Belt (Norwegian: Orions belte) is an action-thriller novel written by Norwegian author Jon Michelet. It was published by Oktober Forlag in 1977 and became a popular seller. It was translated into English by Ellen Nations.^[1] The novel was adapted into a 1985 film by the same name, which is regarded as Norway's first modern action film.^[2]

The novel follows three shabby Svalbard-based seamen who discover a Soviet bearing station. They are subsequently both targets of Soviet liquidation and American interrogation in an attempt quiet them and retain the political status quo. The Cold War topics were a critique of the Norwegian policy of allowing a Soviet presence on Svalbard.

The book received mixed reviews. It was appreciated by Dagbladet, but criticized by Aftenposten.^[3] The book's popularity came in part from the public interest in what 3,000 Russians were doing living on the Norwegian archipelago. The title is a reference to that Svalbard was as central located in a potential Cold War war theater as Orion's Belt. The novel also played on the fear of nuclear war and the lack of information from Norwegian media about the issue.^[4]