Legenden om Ljusets rike (, English: The Legend of the Realm of Light; this novel has not been translated into English) is a set of fantasy novels by Norwegian-Swedish writer Margit Sandemo. It includes twenty titles. This set of novels can be read in Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic and Polish. Margit Sandemo says that she wrote this series of novels because she wanted, like many other fiction writers, to portray her own view about an idealized world. Another reason to write was for the character called Marco who Sandemo created in the end of The Legend of the Ice People. She was so fond of him that she wanted to write more about Marco in the following series of novels. Those ideas took shape in her mind when she had written around half of Häxmästaren.
The motto of is (says on first page of the first volume):
Don't believe everything you read! But let your imagination believe it! It lives its own life, parallel to your worldly life. Imagination can open up new worlds for you.
The Milieu
is a follow-up to two previous set of novels written by Margit Sandemo: Directly to the Häxmästaren and indirectly to The Legend of the Ice People, and it is the conclusion-volume of the set of novels-trilogy that consist of these novels. Some of the characters of the are the same as in the novels Häxmästaren and Sagan om Isfolket; some of them are completely new. Mainly, new characters are children of the principal characters of the two above-mentioned novels.
describes life in the fictional Realm of Light, where there are no disorders, wars, environmental problems, criminality, inequality, old age or death. The Realm of Light is located next to the center of the Earth and is accessed through numerous hidden Gates on Earth. Once someone travels to the Realm of Light, they cannot return to Earth. In the Realm of Light, time passes 12 times slower than on Earth.
People in the Realm of Light live very long lifetime, but their ageing comes to a stop at the age of 30-35. They, who have been older when entering the Realm of Light, get younger slowly to that age. The area of Realm of Light is 100 000 square kilometers, approximately the size of Iceland. So that Realm of Light wouldn't change for too much dense populated, there is imposed restrictions on number of children. Because of that each family can have just one child.
The author has populated this fantasy world with people, the Spirits of the warlock Móri, ancestors of the Icepeople, the deads who were discontent with their lives, fairies, Earth-beings who are hostile to other creatures, Strangers, several members of the Lemurian race as well as 4 Madrags; the technologically advanced inhabitants of Mu. There are no winds, changes of states of weather or the blue sky in the Realm of Light, because the sun can't shine there. The technology of the Realm of Light is very progressive for the sake of high education of the Strangers. The cars there been replaced with flying motor vehicles (air gondolas).
The sun doesn't shine in the Realm of Light, but there are many goldish balls, the Holy Suns on top of high towers called minarets that shining light coloured amber. The largest Holy Sun, "The Big Sun" is situated in the capital of the land. The opposite of Realm of Light is the Realm of Darkness. Realm of Light has been isolated from Realm of Darkness with the transparent, immaterial, kind of glass Wall.
Main characters
Jori has brown, curly uncut hair. He shares his father’s eyes and his mother’s irresponsibility. Because he is not as tall and handsome as his friends, he compensates by being foolish, wild and bold.
Jaskari is the strong man of the group with long, light hair and blinding blue eyes. He has muscles that show prominently through his shirt and trousers.
Armas is half Stranger. Tall, intelligent, with piercing eyes and soft hair. He has peculiar talents and had a stricter upbringing than the other youths.
Elena is insecure, peaceful and pleasant. She has large, frizzy hair.
Berengaria is four years younger than the above characters. She is slender with long, dark, curly hair. Berengaria is clever with a happy disposition. She is giggly, impulsive, and nosy. Her parents worry about her.
Nighteye is an American Indian boy with long, straight and blue-black hair, noble profile and eyes which are as dark as night. He is one year older than the above characters.
Tsi-Tsungga, also called Tsi, is an Earth-being from The Old Castle. Tsi is a handsome fairy resembling a young man with strong shoulders and a green-brown-plotted body.
Siska is a young runaway princess from the Realm of Darkness. She resembles Berengaria superficially. She has large, oblique, ice-grey eyes and full lips. Her hair is straight, black and shiny. She distance to young Tsi and his animal, giant squirrel Tjick.
Indra is lazy, and likes to exaggerate her laziness through jokes. Indra is also conspiratorial. She has curved eyebrows and a clear complexion. She is the same age as four first.
Miranda, two years younger than her sister, has red hair and freckles. She feels responsible for the fate of the world, and works to make it better. As an environmentalist, she has a thing about boys in her movements. She hasn't loved yet.
Alice, called Sassa, is one of the youngest, and has followed her grandparents to the Realm of Light. She was burned as a child. Marco cured all her scars, but she is still timid and doesn't want to appear to people or talk with them. Her cat is named Hubert Ambrosia.
Dolgo was formerly called Dolg. Because he has lived 250 years in the Realm of Fairies, he is still just 23 years old, but he has experience and wisdom. He hasn't experienced erotic love. His best friend is Nero the dog.
Marco is forever young, born in 1861 for Son of Lucifer, the ruler of the black/ fallen/ banished angels. He is the prince of The Black Rooms. He is also described as stately and beautiful, but is unable to fall in love.
Neither he, nor Dolgo belong to the group of young people, but they are very important to them. Marco belongs to Icepeople like Alice, Indra and Miranda.
Gondagil is a varangian from the folk of Timon in the Valley of Mist from the outside Darkness. Long, light and strong. He is now in the Realm of Light, but argues that the light can shine also for his folk. Miranda is his great love.
Titles Swedish title Norwegian title Translated title Published Pages ISBN1ViskningenBak porteneThe Whisper 1995 252 2Móri och IsfolketMóri og IsfolketMóri and the Ice People 1995 253 3Flickan som inte kunde säga nejPiken som ikke kunne si neiThe Girl Who Could not Say No 1995 252 4Dagg och dimmaMannen fra TåkedalenDew and Mist 1996 255 5JohannesnattenJohannesnattenNight of Johannes 1996 249 6Den utvaldeDen utvalgteThe Chosen One 1996 250 7HäxanHeksenThe Witch 1997 252 8SkräckenRedselThe Horror 1997 252 9Sol av IsfolketSol av IsfolketSol of the Ice People 1997 248 10Nattsvarta rosorNattsvarte roser Roses Black as Night 1997 250 11BländverkSkrømtHallucination 1998 252 12Det bävande hjärtatDet bevende hjerteThe Fearful Heart 1998 252 13Ond sagaOnd sagaEvil Saga 1998 251 14In i värmenInn i varmenInto the Warmth 1998 250 15Mörkrets andeMørketSpirits of Darkness 1999 252 16LivshungerLivshungerHunger for Life 1999 252 17Från toppen och uppåtFra toppen og oppover Up from the Top 1999 252 18Så djup en längtanSå dyp en lengselA Longing So Deep 1999 252 19Mördande oskuldDrepende uskyldWicked Innocence 1999 250 20Ett hav av kärlekEt hav av kjærlighetAn Ocean of Love 1999 248
Titles in other languages Sagnet om Lysets Rike (Norwegian) Saga o Królewstwie Światła (Polish) Ríki ljóssins (Icelandic) 1 Bak portene Wielkie Wrota Handan hliðsins 2 Móri og Isfolket Móri i Ludzie Lodu Móri og Ísfólkið 3 Piken som ikke kunne si nei Trudno mówic "nie" Stúlkan sem gat ekki neitað 4 Mannen fra Tåkedalen Mężczyzna z Doliny Mgieł. Maðurinn úr þokudalnum 5 Johannesnatten Noc Świętojańska Jónsmessunótt 6 Den utvalgte Chłopiec z Południa Sá útvaldi 7 Heksen Wiedźma Nornin 8 Redsel Wyprawa Skelfing 9 Sol av Isfolket Sol z Ludzi Lodu Sunna af ætt Ísfólksins 10 Nattsvarte roser Czarne róże Náttsvartar rósir 11 Skrømt Strachy Umskiptingar 12 Det bevende hjerte Drżące serce Sál í hlekkjum 13 Ond saga Tajemnica Gór Czarnych Ill örlög 14 Inn i varmen Lilja i Goram - 15 Mørket Ciemność - 16 Livshunger Głód życia - 17 Fra toppen og oppover Na ratunek - 18 Så dup en lengsel Tęsknota - 19 Drepene uskyld Podstęp - 20 Et hav av kjærlighet Morze miłości - Margit Sandemo
Notes
External links The unofficial homepage (in Swedish)