 Since Michael Crichton (qv) published his novel "Eaters of the  Dead" in 1976, the basis of this film, it has become regarded as one  of the most notorious hoaxes in Librarianship Circles. The Ahmad  Tusi Manuscript that Crichton referenced in his bibliography as  being the source of this story, is completely made up. The name of  the translator Fraus Dolus is in fact two Latin words meaning both  hoax and fraud. The University of Oslo, where this manuscript is  supposed to be kept, have (since the book was published), on an  annual basis had to send out letters telling enquirers that they  have been the victim of a hoax.