Finished this one recently. Damn, really cool book. I bought this for a few reasons. Firstly I'm a huge fan of Harry Harrison's Hammer and the Cross series, an alternate history of ancient Scandanavia, Britain, and Rome. West of Eden precedes Hammer and the Cross by about 10 years though. Secondly West of Eden is also compared often to the majesty of Clan of the Cave Bear and Dune, two of my favorite book series. That's a tall order, but enough to peak my interest!
[Bantam Spectra Science Fiction, 1984. 474 pages plus appendixes.]
This is a Science Fiction novel, that takes place in the ancient past. An alternate world where the Dinosaurs didn't die out, and an intelligent species of reptilian-people, known as Yilane, develops and spreads across the continents. Many new creatures have evolved and many Dinosaurs still exist. There are early humans here as well, basically at stone age technology; they are known as Tanu. Already I'm not seeing much similarity to Clan of the Cave Bear; too many fantasy elements. Anyhow, people and Yilane begin to make war on each other after the Tanu are forced to migrate south due to weather and hunting conditions.
The protagonist is Kerrick, a human who lives much of his young life among the Yilane. He was taken as a specimen, after most of his Sammad (clan) was killed by the Yilane. To be fair, the Tanu threw the first stone by slaughtering some Yilane males and young early in the book. The first part of the novel covers this period. Kerrick is a prisoner, a pet, or even a tool of the Eistaa (Queen) of the city of Alpeasak: Viante. Now, Yilane cities are not built, they are grown. The walls and ceilings of their cities consist of living plants and vines. The Yilane are masters at breeding and gene manipulation. All Yilane technology is biological. They have living but non-sentient cloak creatures for warmth; they use hesotan, a species which serves as a dart shooter; they use different organisms for uses such as thermometers, compasses, rope, magnifying glasses, and such. There is a great Zoology section in one of the appendixes, detailing a lot of these creatures. One of my favorite are the Uruketo, which are mosasaur type beasts, with a massive hollow on its spine to carry Yilane and their cargo. In such ways, I can see why people compared this book to Dune; the alien society is very detailed and fleshed out, much like the Fremen or Bene Gesserit. Global climate change and millions of years of evolution supply the Grand, epic, long-term scope that Dune is known for.
Kerrick learns to converse with the Yilane, using sounds and body movements. There are many scenes of Yilane scientists trying to figure out the behavior of human beings. Seeing a portrait of humanity from the eyes of a society that has little in common with humans. Kerrick lies about his bonds choking him, in order to attempt escape. This confuses the Yilane scientists; lying is impossible for a Yilane to do, due to their body language and changing skin color. Viante uses his ability to lie in a plot to kill another Yilane. Just another biological tool in her eyes. Soon enough, the Yilane move on the Tanu, bringing their boats north and assaulting another Sammad. One survivor is kept as a prisoner, Viante tells Kerrick to talk to him. Here, Kerrick begins to feel conflicted about his true origins and identity. For he is Tanu in body, yet Yilante in mind, having grown to manhood in a reptilian society. To end off Part One, the prisoner, who escaped the last Yilante slaughter, recognizes Kerrick and the Skymetal knife end he carries around his neck. He begs Kerrick to return to the Tanu, and help them kill the Yilane, who have slaughtered many Tanu; in the end, Kerrick chooses this course of action.
Part Two begins with Kerrick joining a Sammad of the Tanu. After some communication barriers are overcome, he finds his place within the tribe, advising the Chief about the ways of the Murgu (Their word for reptiles including the Yilane). The Yilane wish all of the Tanu dead; the Sammadar orders their flight before they are attacked. Travois are loaded with their gear and attached to Mastondons. A war is waged, the Yilane pursuing the tribe through the jungles and hills. The Yilane, unable to travel at night due to being cold-blooded, are ambushed in the darkness by the Tanu. Stealing Death-sticks (hesotsan) from the Murgu, the Tanu then set up several ambushes along the cliffs, and slaughter many Yilane as they follow, using their own poisoned biological weapons against them. But the Yilane are as numerous as insects and the Tanu cannot hold them off forever. At last, the procession of Tanu reaches northern snowlands, and the savage reptiles are forced to retreat.
In search of hunting grounds the Tanu cross the mountains farther than they have ever travelled before. They reach the city of the Sasku, another tribe of people, previously unknown to them. The Sasku use agriculture, and create pottery and fabric; to the hunter-gatherer Tanu, these things are most foreign. Kerrick has a basic understanding of such things as a city due to his life spent in Alpeasak. The Sasku welcome the Tanu with open arms, once they take notice of their Mastodons. The Sasku society deifies Mastodons. This is tied to their creation myth, in which Kadair, their creator god, took the form of a Mastodon as he created the world. The Sasku see the Tanu's arrival as a sign.
One of the Mastodons gives birth as the Sammad stay near the Sasku. The same day, Kerrick's son is born, by his mate from the Tanu tribe. The Sasku ask to keep the Mastodon calf, and give it the same name as Kerrick's son: Arnwheet. The Sasku believe that the Mastodon calf is the reincarnation of Kadair.
The Murgu threat was not gone, however. The Yilane develop biological eyes that attach themselves to birds and survey surrounding terrain. They breed new biological 'technology' to deal with the Tanu they hunt. Kerrick is Viante's particular target, who she hates with a passion. The Yilane have managed to follow the Tanu over the hills and mountains. A new battle is waged, and the Yilane are driven off. Kerrick begins to plot the extermination of the Yilane. He plans to bring fire to Alpeasak, the great living city. A group of Tanu and Sasku hunters, guided by Kerrick, do just that. Knowing that the city is a living being, Kerrick almost feels some sort of remorse; yet the preservation of the Tanu is foremost in his mind. He sees it not as bringing death to the Yilane, but bringing life to the Tanu. One Uruketo survives, containing Viante, Enge, and some other Yilane. The rest are exterminated and the Tanu plan to build their own city on the site.
This was a great, interesting, well researched Science Fiction novel. The extensive appendixes, combined with many illustrations, shed a lot of light on the world that Harry Harrison imagines. In the Yilane, he has created a culture that has greater technological capabilities than humanity at the time. Yet they are more animal than human, and rely completely on biology. They are completely ignorant of fire, which is why it worked so well to root them out; this gives fire an even more significant meaning to the people of this world, as a life-giving, prosperity-bringing substance.
I particularly liked the Zoology appendix. Many species are illustrated and explained here, including Greatdeer, Longtooths, several Dinosaurs, and biological Yilane tools and creatures.
West of Eden is the first in a trilogy, I already own the follow ups. Harry Harrison has become one of my favorite authors, I will definitely be reading the rest of the Eden series, and checking out some of his other works.
Till next book!
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