Slight warp, not too bad, older book. PLEASE NOTE: This book may have an alternate cover. The following description is provided as a guide only and may contain text that doesn't specifically relate to this item. ...Potent if overlong, Dann's (The Good Neighbors) prehistoric epic is a dizzying amalgam of legend, myth, archaeology, warfare and romance. Set somewhere on the Eurasian continent around 30,000 B.C., the novel pits lovers Agon and Eena against tradition and taboo in a time of immense brutality and a place of vast, pristine beauty. Agon is known simply as Axe Man while Eena is referred to as Spear Woman, a title she first lives up to in a gruesome scene in which she adroitly casts her spear down the throat of a hyena. Agon is the son of mighty chieftain and sorcerer Grae, leader of a warrior tribe known as the Bison Hunters. He spies golden-haired Eena with her brother and father along the banks of an immense glacier-fed river. Before his eyes, the men are slaughtered by a rival Neanderthal tribe led by the murderous shaman, Ka, who kidnaps and rapes Eena. Heroic Axe Man saves Spear Woman, and the two begin their own tribe, yet they still fear the vengeance of Ka's children. Their love is not like that of their fellow cave-dwellers, but a reciprocal passion and a mutual respect for each other's strengths. In his sweeping, cast-of-thousands tale, Dann tackles the culture of the Ice Age in sparse, biblically tinged prose. Agent, Bernard Shir-Cliff. Author tour. (Apr.)Forecast: It's hard to determine the ideal audience for this one those drawn to the romantic element may be turned off by all the gore, and vice versa, while many will tire of the protracted and stilted narrative but fans of Jean Auel's Earth's Children series are a safe bet. ...... 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. ......From Library Journal...Set in 30,000 B.C.E., Dann's debut novel is reminiscent of Jean Auel's The Clan of the Cave Bear. It combines elements of anthropological history and the mythologies of several cultures. When Eena is captured by Ka, leader of the clan of Kaan, Alor comes to her rescue, killing Ka and taking Eena as his mate. A mighty hunter, Alor is virtually invincible in battle owing in large part to the magic tied to his axe. Together, Alor and Eena become the legendary Axe Man and Spear Woman. In spite of their desire to live in peace with their sons, they can't escape the shadow of Ka, for his offspring pursue them, seeking revenge. Although the author infuses his story with interesting and creative references to the story of Adam and Eve as well as Earth Mother and goddess mythologies, the book as a whole is less than memorable, and the writing is forced and stilted. Recommended only for large public libraries where there is a demand for Auel read-alikes.DJane Baird, Anchorage Municipal Libs. ... 2001 Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.John R. Dann
