The Novels of Nigel Frith
The Legend of Krishna, 1976
From the back cover: “Of all the Indian Gods, Krishna is the one of whom the West is most aware. Nigel Frith has not given a factual account of Krishna’s life, but instead has created an impression of Krishna as he exists in the world of gods, a world made up of fable and legend, perceived through our imagination.
The Legend of Krishna blends together the many Krishna myths and tells the story of his nativity and his youth among the cowherds of Braj; his battles against monsters and his conflict with the tyrant King Kamsa; his sensual life with the milkmaids in the forests of Vrindavan, and especially of his love for Radha; and the mystical journey he takes during which he attains the fullness of wisdom. What emerges is an impression and understanding of Krishna the god, who is simultaneously a mischievous youth, a daring lover, a mighty warrior and a great teacher.
Nigel Frith’s style of writing conveys the poetic and heroic spirit of the old Sanskrit epics. By weaving into the narrative the major Indian gods and Vedic myths, he offers a full account of the Krishna legends, gives an allegorical guide to Indian mythology and looks at the teachings of the Hindu religion.”
The Spear of Mistletoe/Asgard, 1977/1982
First published as The Spear of Mistletoe and subsequently as Asgard.
From the flyleaf: “Nigel Frith’s epic adult fantasy brings together the deities and monsters of Northern myth into a fast-moving narrative, which blends mystery, horror, suspense, and humour. It tells the story of Baldur, the god of sunlight, and his love, the Vana Iduna, and how they are finally re-united and recounts the adventures of Odin, Thor and the wicked god, Loki, in their attempts some to preserve, some to end, the hero’s life. Giants, dwarves and elves inhabit a landscape of forest and plains, through which the Aesirs of Asgard journey to avert prophesied evils.”
From the back cover: “Every once in a while a book emerges from nowhere unheralded…Frith has retold the Norse tale of Balder and added life and depth. Two features of Frith’s offering place it head-and-shoulders above any other version of the Norse myths I’ve yet read: his language and his vision. It brims with a vitality that makes it more than the umpteenth version of ASGARD’s chronicles. Frith uses horror, mystery, genuine suspense and humour…could very well be the Once and Future King of Nordic Lore” – British Fantasy Society Bulletin
“Some of the best things here are like touches of Tolkien, for instance the description of Thiazi and his wretched captives, the menfowl.” – British Book News
“Thunderingly well done and compelling.” – Financial Times
Jormundgand, 1986
From the back cover: “In a truly rumbustious epic style, Nigel Frith brings to life the legend of the Norse god, Frey and his passion for the unattainable ice maiden, Hron. Their love is doomed by the sacred prophecy which declares that Hron may not be won until the towers of man rise higher than the towers of Snowheim.
To win the maiden, Frey has even more than this curse to contend with, for the guardian of Hron’s chastity is the never-ending, ever watchful dragon of the cosmos, the mighty world serpent, Jormundgand.”
Dragon, 1987
From the back cover: “When the Jade Emperor’s daughter falls in love with a common cowherd and elopes with him to Earth there is uproar in the celestial court. The furious god summons the Star Dragon to fetch her back. But, as Confucius says, ‘There are many revolutions in the Chinese dragon’s tail!’ for the Star Dragon, once unleashed, will spread conflict and chaos wherever he goes.
As the lovers flee the fateful dragon savage wars break out all around them in ancient China. The Star Dragon has set in motion an inexorable chain of events which will determine the destinies of all the gods, and all mortal men.”
Olympiad, 1988
From the back cover: “‘Choose the marriage-bed or the King of Death!’ Such is the ultimatum from King Iasos to his wilful daughter. But Atalanta was raised among the beasts of the wildwood, swift and savage, and has no intention of being any man’s wife: for she has vowed herself to chastity and to the goddess Artemis.
Suitors from every kingdom of Greece are gathering to compete for the hand of the fair Atalanta, among them Meleager, rash young prince of Kalydon, who has pledged himself to hunting the sacred boar of Artemis.
And all the while the gods are trying to find a way to end human strife and bloodshed, and Hercules is given the task of organising the very first Olympic Games.”
Snow, 1992
From the dust cover: “In a story that involves a terrifying house, and the politics of a college where Oxford dons are clashing over revolutionaries who wish to lead modern architecture backwards, there emerges a young student who wants to scrap the English faculty and replace it with something more Classical.
He is already in trouble, has fallen wildly in love with what could very well be a ghost, and when his friends plan and execute a cruel trick on him, it might be thought that his days at Oxford were numbered. But this is to forget the influences of snow on Oxford, for “when snow comes”, Oxford has a penchant for turning into a fairyland, where even its hard-bitten inhabitants get bewitched. Beware – you will find yourself drawn into a strange new world!”
From the back cover: “If you can imagine an episode of Inspector Morse rewritten by CP Snow from a draft by Edgar Allan Poe, you will have some, though only some, idea of what is going on here. Nigel Frith’s lifelong passion for his Oxford town-and-gown territory, and his remarkable gifts as a uniquely poetic storyteller, have come together splendidly in this his first modern novel, the one that will undoubtedly make him the critical and popular reputation that he has long deserved.” – Sheridan Morley