The Legend of the Ice People

The Legend of the Ice People

2012 e-book cover for the English e-book adaptation of Spellbound
Author	Margit Sandemo
Original title	Sagaen om Isfolket (Norwegian)
Language	Norwegian
Genre	Adventure Fantasy Paranormal Romance Historical
Publisher	Katrin Agency
Published	1982–1989

The Legend of the Ice People (in Norwegian language Sagaen 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 series first began as a feuilleton in the Norwegian magazine Hjemmet. 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 published in Norwegian, but have been translated into over eight languages including Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Icelandic, Russian, Hungarian and English.

The Legend

Once upon a time, many centuries ago, Thengil the Evil went out to the wilderness and sold his soul to the Devil. He became the forefather of the Ice People. For wealth and power, one of his descendants, in every generation, would be cursed to serve the devil and perform evil deeds. Their distinguishing feature would be yellow cat eyes and they would possess magical powers. Some say they will never be free of the curse until they unearth the urn containing the potion that Tengel the Evil used to summon the Devil. It is said one day a child of his blood will be born, gifted with knowledge and wisdom the like of which the world has never known before who will end the family curse. So says the legend but no one knows if it’s true.

In the 16th century, a cursed child of the Ice People was born. He tried to turn evil to good, and therefore he was called Thengil the Good. This saga is about his family. Or rather it is about the women in his family.

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 end battle will require the birth of a very special individual as well as the help of some powerful mythological creatures.

Adaptations

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 title	Norwegian title	Icelandic title	Translated title	English title	Polish title	Hungarian title	Published
1	Trollbunden	Trollbundet	Álagafjötrar	Spellbound	Spellbound	Zauroczenie	Varázslat	1982
2	Häxjakten	Heksejakten	Nornaveiðar	The Witch-hunt	Witch-hunt	Polowanie na czarownice	Átkos örökség	1982
3	Avgrunden	Avgrunnen	Hyldýpið	The Precipice	Daughter of Darkness	Otchłań	Örvényben	1982
4	Längtan	Lengsel	Vonin	Longing	Desire	Tęsknota	Vágyakozás	1982
5	Dödssynden	Dødssynden	Dauðasyndin	The Mortal Sin	Mortal Sin	Grzech śmiertelny	Halálos bűn	1982
6	Det onda arvet	Den onde arven	Illur arfur	The Evil Legacy	Evil Inheritance	Dziedzictwo zła	Nincs menekülés	1982
7	Spökslottet (novel)	Spökslottet	Draugahöllin	The Ghost Castle	Nemesis	Zamek duchów	Kísértetkastély	1982
8	Bödelns dotter	Bøddelens datter	Dóttir böðulsins	The Executioner's Daughter	The Executioner's Daughter	Córka hycla	A pribék lánya	1982
9	Den ensamme	Den ensomme	Skuggi fortíðar	The Lonely One		Samotny	A magányos lovag	1982
10	Vinterstorm	Vinterstorm	Vetrarhríð	Winter Storm		Zimowa zawierucha	Hóvihar	1983
11	Blodshämnd	Blodhevn	Blóðhefnd	Blood Feud		Zemsta	Vérbosszú	1983
12	Feber i blodet	Feber i blodet	Ástarfuni	Fever in the Blood		Gorączka	Nyugtalan szív	1983
13	Satans fotspår	Satans fotspor	Fótspor Satans	Footprints of Satan		Ślady Szatana	A sátán lábnyoma	1983
14	Den siste riddaren	Den siste ridder	Síðasti riddarinn	The Last Knight		Ostatni rycerz	Remény nélkül	1983
15	Vinden från öster	Vinden fra øst	Austanvindar	The Wind from the East		Wiatr od Wschodu	Keleti szél	1984
16	Galgdockan	Galgeblomsten	Gálgablómið	The Mandrake		Kwiat wisielców	A bitófa virága	1984
17	Dödens trädgård	Dødens have	Garður dauðans	The Garden of Death		Ogród śmierci	A halál kertje	1984
18	Bakom fasaden	Bak fasaden	Gríman fellur	Behind the Facade		Dom upiorów	Maszkabál	1984
19	Drakens tänder	Dragens tenner	Tennur drekans	Dragon's Teeth		Zęby smoka	Sárkányfogvetemény	1984
20	Korpens vingar	Ravnens vinger	Hrafnsvængir	Wings of the Raven		Skrzydła kruka	Hollószárnyak suhogása	1985
21	Vargtimmen	Djevlekløften	Um óttubil	The Wolf Hour		Diabelski Jar	Farkasok órája	1985
22	Demonen och jungfrun	Demonen og jomfruen	Jómfrúin og vætturin	The Demon and the Maiden		Demon i panna	Démon és angyal	1985
23	Våroffer	Våroffer	Vorfórn	Spring Sacrifice		Wiosenna ofiara	Áldozat	1985
24	Djupt i jorden	I jordens dyp	Í iðrum jarðar	Deep in the Ground		Martwe Wrzosy	A mélyben	1985
25	Ängel med dolda horn	Engel med svarte vinger	Guðsbarn eða galdranorn	Angel with Hidden Horns		Anioł o czarnych skrzydłach	Álnok tündér	1985
26	Huset i Eldafjord	Huset i Eldafjord	Álagahúsið	The House in Eldafjord		Dom w Eldafjord	Az eldafjordi ház	1986
27	Synden har lång svans	Skandalen	Hneykslið	Sin has a Long Tail		Skandal	Skandalum	1986
28	Is och eld	Is og ild	Ís og eldur	Ice and Fire		Lód i ogień	Láng és jég	1986
29	Lucifers kärlek	Lucifers kjærlighet	Ástir Lúcífers	Lucifer's Love		Miłość Lucyfera	Lucifer szerelme	1986
30	Människadjuret	Utysket	Ókindin	The Man-Beast		Bestia i wilki	A dúvad	1986
31	Färjkarlen	Fergemannen	Ferjumaðurinn	The Ferryman		Przewoźnik	A révész	1987
32	Hunger	Hunger	Hungur	Hunger		Głód	Éhség	1987
33	Nattens demon	Nattens demon	Martröð	The Demon of the Night		Demon Nocy	Nem isten, nem ember	1987
34	Kvinnan på stranden	Kvinnen på stranden	Konan á ströndinni	The Woman on the Beach		Kobieta na brzegu	A tengerparti lány	1987
35	Vandring i mörkret	Vandring i mørket	Myrkraverk	Wanderings in Darkness		Droga w ciemnościach	Vándorlás a sötétben	1987
36	Trollmåne	Trollmåne	Galdratungl	Magic Moon		Magiczny księżyc	Holdvarázs	1987
37	Stad i skräck	Skrekkens by	Vágestur	A Town in Fear		Miasto strachu	A rettegő város	1987
38	Små män kastar långa skuggor	Skjulte spor	Í skugga stríðsins	Small Men Throw Long Shadows		Urwany ślad	Csigaház	1988
39	Rop av stumma röster	Rop av stumme røster	Raddirnar	Screams of Silent Voices		Nieme głosy	Hangtalan sikoly	1988
40	Fångad av tiden	Fanget av tiden	Fangi tímans	Imprisoned by Time		Więźniowie czasu	A múlt börtönében	1988
41	Demonernas fjäll	Demonenes fjell	Djöflafjallið	Demon Mountain		Góra Demonów	A démonok hegyén	1988
42	Lugnet före stormen	Stille før stormen	Úr launsátri	The Calm Before the Storm		Cisza przed burzą	Vihar előtti csend	1988
43	En glimt av ömhet	Et streif av ømhet	Í blíðu og stríðu	A Glimpse of Tenderness		Odrobina czułości	A szeretet hatalma	1989
44	Den onda dagen	Den onde dagen	Skapadægur	The Evil Day		Fatalny dzień	Baljós nap	1989
45	Legenden om Marco	Legenden om Marco	Böðullinn	The Legend of Marco		Książę Czarnych Sal	Marco legendája	1989
46	Det svarta vattnet	Det svarte vannet	Svarta vatnið	The Black Water		Woda zła	A fekete víz	1989
47	Är det någon därute?	Er det noen der ute?	Er einhver þarna úti?	Is There Anybody Out There?		Czy jesteśmy tutaj sami?	Van valaki odakint?	1989

References

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