In AD 922, a Muslim poet Ahmad Ibn Fadlan was sent to Northern Europe as an Ambassador. Ibn Fadlan w... In AD 922, a Muslim poet Ahmad Ibn Fadlan was sent to Northern Europe as an Ambassador. Ibn Fadlan was appalled by their customs---their wanton sexuality, their disregard for cleanliness, their cold-blooded human sacrifices. The book "Eaters of the Dead" by Michael Crichton upon which the film is based is inspired by Richard Frye's translation of ibn Fadlan's non-fictional account of his travels up the river Volga in the tenth century. ... (more)(less)