The Legend of the Ice People explained

The Legend of the Ice People
Author:Margit Sandemo
Title Orig:Sagan om Isfolket (Swedish)
Language:Norwegian
Genre:Adventure
Fantasy
Paranormal Romance
Historical
Publisher:Jentas
Pub Date:1982–1989

The Legend of the Ice People (in Norwegian language Sagan om Isfolket) is a 47-volume story of a family bloodline, first published in 1982.[1] The author of the series is Margit Sandemo. The novels are predominantly based in Scandinavia and focus on historical fact, but contain some fantastical elements. The first volume was released 1982, and the series became one of the best-selling series of novels in Scandinavia, with more than 39 million copies sold.[2]

The series was originally written in Swedish, but has been translated into over eight languages including Norwegian, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Icelandic, Russian, Hungarian and English.

The book series consists of three parts where The Legend of the Ice People is part one. Part two is a spin-off series placed in the years between 1600 and 1700. It is also a prequel to book 31 The Ferry Man. (Swedish original title; Färjkarlen) Here we learn the background story of the mystical medallions that the characters Benedikte and Sander finds. This second series is called Häxmästaren in Swedish and translates to The Warlock. The scenery throughout the second series is mostly placed on Iceland, and in Norway, Sweden and Austria. It consists of 15 books, and other connections to The Legend of the Ice People are the spirits and souls of mostly Sol and Tengel the good. They come in later on in the series to help the Islandic warlock and his family.

The last part of the series is called Legenden om ljusets rike, which translates to The Legend of the Kingdom of Light. It is made of 20 books and merges the two series together, being a sequel to both series. It starts at the same moment and scene where The witch master ends in a cliffhanger. The story then flash forward to the 1990s, approximately 20–30 years after The Legend of the Ice People ends. The story follows the characters from the last couple of The Legend of the Ice People books, as well as their families. Some of them are Marco, Ellen, Nathaniel, and Gabriel and their children who befriend the children of the Warlock's family.

The third part of the series is somewhat different. It leans more heavily into the fantasy genre than other books in the series, and it also has elements of science fiction. It mostly take place inside the Earth's crust. There is a secret kingdom in the core where time goes 12 times slower than on the surface of the Earth and where the physical body stop aging. The story has two major antagonists. One is the main source of the black water that Tengel from The Legend of the Ice People got his power from. The other is pollution and human society's destruction of the earth. The heroes try to save the Earth before it is too late and all animals and plants go extinct. The series ends in the future in the year 2080.

The complete Legend of the Ice people-series with 82 books.

Part 1. The Legend of the Ice People Original title; Sagan om Isfolket. 47 books.

Part 2. The Warlock. Original title; Häxmästaren. 15 books.

Part 3. The Legend of the Kingdom of Light. Original title; Legenden om ljusets rike. 20 books.

Plot

The story begins in Trondheim, Norway in 1581, with the story of Silje Arngrimsdotter, and how she comes into contact with the Ice People, a community of outcasts living in an isolated valley. From there on it follows the Ice People through the centuries, with members of the clan migrating from Norway to Denmark and Sweden. Other members of the clan wind up in or visit various corners of Europe and Asia over the course of the series.

The Ice People are cursed with a terrible forefather, Tengel the Evil, whose actions resulted in at least one cursed individual being born in every generation. The cursed individuals were born with magical and mystical abilities, but also the potential for bottomless evil. The cursed men have yellow eyes, malformed shoulder blades and Mongol features, while the cursed women have yellow eyes but are otherwise beautiful. Some cursed individuals fight their tendency for evil, whilst others embrace it.

Each book tells a separate story, very often the story of one or a few individuals of the clan. Quite often the protagonist of each book is a female, sometimes of the Ice People, but sometimes one who will marry into the clan. Many of the books also focus on the cursed individuals, their battle with their evil tendencies, and also how they utilise their powers, be it for good or evil.

Throughout the series, the cursed and their helpers steadily increase their efforts to rid the clan of the curse from Tengel the Evil. But the beastly forefather is not dead. He is merely sleeping, awaiting a special signal that will wake him up and allow him to take over the entire world with a reign of terror. Before this signal is played, his descendants must find a way to defeat Tengel and rid themselves and the world of his curse. The final battle will require the birth of a very special individual as well as the help of some powerful mythological creatures.

Adaptations

Graphic novel

There is an ongoing release of graphic novels in Swedish and Norwegian, made by Swedish cartoonists Raymond and his wife Mona Husac. They have their own publishing company named Nattfrost förlag. The first number was released in 2015 and is titled Förbannelsen in Swedish, which translates to The curse in English. The latest Graphic novel (from the time this was written) was released in the end of 2020. It was number 8 and titled Villemo after the main character in the book it is based on, book 11 in The legend of the Ice people, with the original title Blodshämnd translated to The blood feud/ The blood revenge or Vendetta.

Stage

In 2008 stage productions based upon the first three novels in the Legend of the Ice People premiered, receiving positive reviews from critics.[3]

Television

In 2011 it was announced that a television adaptation of the series was being planned, with an estimated length of 200 episodes.[4]

The Legend of the Ice People

Swedish titleNorwegian titleDanish titleIcelandic titleTranslated titleEnglish titlePolish titleHungarian titleFinnish titleSpanish titleGerman titlePublished
1TrollbundenTrollbundetTroldbundenÁlagafjötrarSpellboundSpellboundZauroczenieVarázslatLumottuEl hechizoDer Zauberbund1982
2HäxjaktenHeksejaktenHeksejagtenNornaveiðarThe Witch-huntWitch-huntPolowanie na czarowniceÁtkos örökségNoitavainoLa caza de brujasHexenjagd1982
3AvgrundenAvgrunnenPlejedatterenHyldýpiðThe PrecipiceThe StepdaughterOtchłańÖrvénybenSyvyyden kutsuLa hijastraDer Abgrund1982
4LängtanLengselArvingenVoninLongingThe SuccessorTęsknotaVágyakozásKaipausEl herederoSehnsucht1982
5DödssyndenDødssyndenVenskabDauðasyndinThe Mortal SinFriendshipGrzech śmiertelnyHalálos bűnKuolemansyntiLa amistadTodsünde1982
6Det onda arvetDen onde arvenDen onde arvIllur arfurThe Evil LegacyEvil LegacyDziedzictwo złaNincs menekülésPahan perintöEl legado del malDas böse Erbe1982
7Spökslottet (novel)SpøkelsesslottetNemesisDraugahöllinThe Ghost CastleNemesisZamek duchówKísértetkastélyAavelinnaNémesisDas Spukschloss1982
8Bödelns dotterBøddelens datterMistænktDóttir böðulsinsThe Executioner's DaughterUnder SuspicionCórka hyclaA pribék lányaPyövelin tytärBajo sospechaDie Henkerstochter1982
9Den ensammeDen ensommeRodløsSkuggi fortíðarThe Lonely OneWithout RootsSamotnyA magányos lovagMuukalainenEl desarraigoDer Einsame1982
10VinterstormVinterstormVinterstormVetrarhríðWinter StormWinter StormZimowa zawieruchaHóviharTalvimyrskyTormenta de invierno1983
11BlodshämndBlodhevnBlodhævnBlóðhefndBlood FeudBlood FeudZemstaVérbosszúVerikosto1983
12Feber i blodetFeber i blodetLængselÁstarfuniFever in the BloodYearningGorączkaNyugtalan szívKuumetta veressä1983
13Satans fotspårSatans fotsporSatans fodsporFótspor SatansFootprints of SatanThe Devil's FootprintŚlady SzatanaA sátán lábnyomaPaholaisen jalanjäljet1983
14Den siste riddarenDen siste ridderRidderenSíðasti riddarinnThe Last KnightThe KnightOstatni rycerzRemény nélkülViimeinen ritari1983
15Vinden från österVinden fra østØstenvindAustanvindarThe Wind from the EastThe East WindWiatr od WschoduKeleti szélIdän tuuli1984
16GalgdockanGalgeblomstenAlrunenGálgablómiðThe MandrakeThe MandrakeKwiat wisielcówA bitófa virágaHirsipuunukke1984
17Dödens trädgårdDødens haveDødens haveGarður dauðansThe Garden of DeathThe Garden of DeathOgród śmierciA halál kertjeKuoleman puutarha1984
18Bakom fasadenBak fasadenBag facadenGríman fellurBehind the FacadeBehind the FacadeDom upiorówMaszkabálJulkisivun takana1984
19Drakens tänderDragens tennerDragens tænderTennur drekansThe Dragon's TeethThe Dragon's TeethZęby smokaSárkányfogveteményLohikäärmeen hammas1984
20Korpens vingarRavnens vingerRavnens vingerHrafnsvængirWings of the RavenThe Wings of the RavenSkrzydła krukaHollószárnyak suhogásaKorpin siivet1985
21VargtimmenDjevlekløftenDjælvlekløftenUm óttubilThe Wolf HourDevil's RavineDiabelski JarFarkasok órájaSudenhetki1985
22Demonen och jungfrunDemonen og jomfruenDæmonen og jomfruenJómfrúin og vætturinThe Demon and the MaidenThe Demon and the VirginDemon i pannaDémon és angyalNeitsyt ja demoni1985
23VårofferVårofferRitualerVorfórnSpring SacrificeRitualsWiosenna ofiaraÁldozatKevätuhri1985
24Djupt i jordenI jordens dypI jordens dybÍ iðrum jarðarDeep in the GroundDeep in the GroundMartwe WrzosyA mélybenMaan uumenissa1985
25Ängel med dolda hornEngel med svarte vingerEnglenGuðsbarn eða galdranornAngel with Hidden HornsThe AngelAnioł o czarnych skrzydłachÁlnok tündérSarvipänen enkeli1985
26Huset i EldafjordHuset i EldafjordHemmelighedenÁlagahúsiðThe House in EldafjordThe SecretDom w EldafjordAz eldafjordi házTulivuonon talo1986
27Synden har lång svansSkandalenSkandalenHneyksliðSin has a Long TailThe ScandalSkandalSkandalumValheella on lyhyet jäljet1986
28Is och eldIs og ildIs og ildÍs og eldurIce and FireIce and FireLód i ogieńLáng és jégTuli ja jää1986
29Lucifers kärlekLucifers kjærlighetLucifers kærlighedÁstir LúcífersLucifer's LoveLucifer's LoveMiłość LucyferaLucifer szerelmeLuciferin rakkaus1986
30MänniskadjuretUtysketBrødreneÓkindinThe Man-BeastThe BrothersBestia i wilkiA dúvadIhmiseläin1986
31FärjkarlenFergemannenFærgemandenFerjumaðurinnThe FerrymanThe FerrymanPrzewoźnikA révészLautturi1987
32HungerHungerHungerHungurHungerHungerGłódÉhségNälkä1987
33Nattens demonNattens demonNattens dæmonerMartröðThe Demon of the NightDemon of the NightDemon NocyNem isten, nem emberYön demoni1987
34Kvinnan på strandenKvinnen på strandenKvinden på strandenKonan á ströndinniThe Woman on the BeachThe Woman on the BeachKobieta na brzeguA tengerparti lányNainen rannalla1987
35Vandring i mörkretVandring i mørketFløjtespilMyrkraverkWanderings in DarknessThe FluteDroga w ciemnościachVándorlás a sötétbenPimeä tie1987
36TrollmåneTrollmåneTroldmåneGaldratunglMagic MoonTroll MoonMagiczny księżycHoldvarázsTaikakuu1987
37Stad i skräckSkrekkens bySkrækkens byVágesturA Town in FearThe City of HorrorMiasto strachuA rettegő városKaupunki pelon vallassa1987
38Små män kastar långa skuggorSkjulte sporSkjulte sporÍ skugga stríðsinsSmall Men Throw Long ShadowsHidden TracesUrwany śladCsigaházPienet miehet, pitkät varjot1988
39Rop av stumma rösterRop av stumme røsterTavse stemmerRaddirnarScreams of Silent VoicesSilent VoicesNieme głosyHangtalan sikolyMykkien äänten huuto1988
40Fångad av tidenFanget av tidenFanget af tidenFangi tímansImprisoned by TimeImprisoned by TimeWięźniowie czasuA múlt börtönébenAjan vanki1988
41Demonernas fjällDemonenes fjellDæmonens bjergDjöflafjalliðDemon MountainDemon's MountainGóra DemonówA démonok hegyénDemonien vuori1988
42Lugnet före stormenStille før stormenStilhed før stormenÚr launsátriThe Calm Before the StormThe Calm Before the StormCisza przed burząVihar előtti csendTyyntä myrskyn edellä1988
43En glimt av ömhetEt streif av ømhetEt glimt af ømhedÍ blíðu og stríðuA Glimpse of TendernessA Glimpse of TendernessOdrobina czułościA szeretet hatalmaHellyyden hetki1989
44Den onda dagenDen onde dagenDen onde dagSkapadægurThe Evil DayAn Evil DayFatalny dzieńBaljós napPahuuden päivät1989
45Legenden om MarcoLegenden om MarcoLegendenBöðullinnThe Legend of MarcoThe LegendKsiążę Czarnych SalMarco legendájaMarcon tarina1989
46Det svarta vattnetDet svarte vannetDet sorte vandSvarta vatniðThe Black WaterThe Black WaterWoda złaA fekete vízMusta vesi1989
47Är det någon därute?Er det noen der ute?Er der nogen derude?Er einhver þarna úti?Is There Anybody Out There?Is There Anybody Out There?Czy jesteśmy tutaj sami?Van valaki odakint?Onko siellä joku?1989

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Eventyr for voksne. NRK. 26 October 2012.
  2. Web site: Britene oppdager "Isfolket". ABC. 26 October 2012.
  3. Web site: Isfolket på Fagernes Sol av Isfolket er eit friluftsteater på Valdres Folkemuseum, Fagernes.. Teaternett. 26 October 2012.
  4. Web site: Sagaen om Isfolket blir TV-serie. 10 July 2010 . NRK. 26 October 2012.