SFSA: Book Review - Cat's Cradle


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Book Reviews 2011 Last Argument of Kings - Joe Abercrombie The Heroes - Joe Abercrombie Towers of Midnight - Robert and Brandon Sanderson Robert A. Heinlein, The authorized Biography Vol 1-W. H. Patterson, Jr. The Light of Burning Shadows - Chris Evans The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie Surface Detail - Ian M. Banks Sky Guide South Africa 2011- Ed. A.B. Jones or Wayne Trow The Double-Edged Sword - Sarah Silverwood Horns - Joe Hill DC75 - DC Comics Year By Year The Evolutionary Void - Peter F. Hamilton Alma Katsu - The Taker: An Immortal Love Story Embassytown - China Mieville Unseen Academicals - Terry Pratchett The Dresden Files: Dead Beat & Proven Guilty - Jim Butcher The War of the Dwarves - Markus Heitz The At-Lanti Chronicles: Time Marker - Nic Wayne Light Across Time - Tom Learmont - REVIEW 1 Light Across Time - Tom Learmont - REVIEW 2 The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M Auel Last Argument of Kings - Book Three of the First Law Trilogy - Joe Abercrombie This novel follows on 'Before They are Hanged' (which refers to forgiving your enimies). In a primitive unnamed country the capital city Adva, is besieged by enemy forces. The king is dead, the cynical and manipulative magician Bayaz has lost control of his party and the torturer Glotka is trying to keep the ruling party together. In the last book in an epic fantasy trilogy, Abercrombie gives us an action packed story, but at time confusing magical interventions. Not quite as character driven as the two previous novels, but Abercrombie has still given us an interesting ending in a plot that doesn?t overwhelm the reader. An enjoyable read. Ian J. Who would want to be a hero, to be venerated, to have songs made up of your escapades, to have hacked to death so many you can?t remember? Abercrombie?s brutal and bloody book takes us into the hearts and souls of men who are supposed to be hero?s to discover that they are simply men who have killed and survived and have been given Names, like Black Dow, or The Bloody Nine (who happens to be a man with nine fingers). It is a cynical touch of the author that ?The Heroes ? of the title are a circle of stones with no value whatsoever, but where a battle fought largely over three days will kill thousands of men. And for what? Like most wars it is fought by men who happen to be one place or another, usually the wrong place, and have little or no notion what the war is about. The author?s men are just that, men who usually have special skills in killing others and staying alive themselves. ?The Heroes? is unusually bleak and grim, but with just enough humour to repudiate any notion of what heroes actually are. This is a stand alone novel set shortly after his ?First Law? Trilogy and with some of the same players, but you do not have to have read the trilogy first. This is a masterful novel by a writer at his peak, and is one of the best epic fantasy?s I have read. The blurb on the back of my copy says it all. THREE MEN ONE BATTLE NO HEROES. Ian J. Top of the page Towers of Midnight - Book Thirteen of the Wheel of Time Robert and Brandon Sanderson At last we approach the conclusion of all that has been set before us in the ?Wheel of Time?. This is the penultimate novel in the series, once again written by Brandon Sanderson using the notes that were left by Robert Jordan after his untimely death in 2007. ?The Last Battle has started. The seals on the Dark One?s prison have started to crumble. The Pattern is unraveling, and the armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight. The sun has begun to set on the Third Age? So states the blurb on the back of the book. A lot of this novel involves Perrin Aybarra and his wife Faile. He nees desperately to come to terms with the wolf within him. Also Mathrim Cauthon who fears what will happen when he is reunited with his wife. Elayne discovers that her mother , Morgase is not dead after all and Egwene contines to support Rand al?Thor. Min does so as well and from much closer to him. Even Avienda is there, even though she is struggling to come to terms with her station in life. Slowly but surely the strands are being drawn together? and there are many of them. I still am unable to see how the climax will be achieved with the death of al?Thor. However I am convinced that it will be achieved somehow. The story remains complex but as I have said before Brandon Sanderson is doing an extremely good job of continuing Robert Jordan?s enormous saga. I got through the 861 pages in a very short time. I think that I will have to take a couple of weeks leave when the final book is realeased and start from the very beginning and read them all again without the large gaps in time and see if the total product is as good as I remember. A really good read and heartily recommended. Gail J. Top of the page Robert A. Heinlein - the authorized Biography Vol 1 - Learning Curve 1907 - 1948 : In Dialogue with his Century William H. Patterson, Jr. This book is one of those sent to SFFSA from David Herrington in the U.S.A. This biography takes us from Heinlein?s birth in 1907 until his divorce from Leslyn in 1948 and his immediate marriage to Ginny two days later. It chronicles his relatively comfortable childhood through to his stint in the Navy and his health problems which ultimately forced him to retire from it. It tells us of his first strange marriage to Elinor Curry and 2nd marriage to Leslyn. We see how this union finally broke down, seemingly due to her weaknesses, but it also makes mention of the fact that they had an ?open? marriage. We also see the beginning of his relationship with Virgina Gerstenfeld, who was his support and great love and later aided this author by making available all of the necessary documentation to complete this biography. We learn about his political leanings. A left wing politician in the 1930?s, he became an inspiration to American Libertarians in his later years. We see his long relationship with John W. Campbell and also how he supported other SF authors, sometimes financially. And we how at the beginning he was not convinces he would become a success. He truly believed in the importance of science and was convinced of the future of space flight and did many things to further its cause. He was a nudist and a patriot. All in all a complex human being who happened to be an extremely talented writer. The book is accompanied by an extensive set of notes and two appendices. The author tells us exactly where he has found his information. This was not so interesting to me but it shows that William Patterson has really done his research into a naval man and author whose life fascinates him. I hope that we will see the second volume as this has given me a completely different insight to an author who novels I have enjoyed over a long period of time. It is in the SFFSA library. Borrow it and read it. Gail J. Top of the page The Light of Burning Shadows - Chris Evans The Iron Elves Book II Jonathan Ball (Pocket Books) R110. 396 pages The Iron elves and their leader Konowa Swift Dragon, had been banished for carrying the marble of the Shadow Monarch. Konowa has been recalled to duty and from the dregs and misfits of the army has reformed the Iron elves. Having already saved the Calahrian Empire by ensuring the Red Star did not fall into the shadow Monarch?s hands, Konowa must now cross the treacherous seas, find his original Iron elves, save the next Star, and overcome the forbidding darkness of Kaman Rhal. A straightforward adventure story with rather underdeveloped characters, although the dwarf Ymit Arkhorn some nice interplay with his squad. There are no subtleties or complexities in this novel but if there is nothing better at hand give it a read. You might enjoy it Top of the page The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie Book I - The First Law Jonathan Ball (Gollancz) R115 593 pages As with most fantasy series Abercrombie uses the first book to set up a typical fantasy cast: The nobleman who is not noble; the barbarian who is starting to think; the inept apprentice; the Magus who eventually drives the plot and the crippled intellectual. This novel focuses mainly on three characters; Jezal Luthar, the selfish golden boy of society who thinks only of himself, until he meets his friends sister; the torturer, Glotka, once also a golden boy, now a crippled wreck; and the barbarian Logen Ninefingers, now getting older, he has lost, he believes all his comrades, and is now happy just to be alive. Abercrombie has given us believable human characters, warts and all, and as he slowly starts to weave their stories together the reader will care what happens to them all. Oh... and his descriptions of the fight scenes are excellent. A must read and not just for fantasy fans. Top of the page Surface Detail - Ian M. Banks Penguin Orbit Books A tattooed beautiful slave, Ledeje Y?breq, had attempted to escape her evil master and was killed in the attempt. Revived by the Culture she sets out on revenge. Meanwhile further across the Galaxy a war is being fought over the right for Hell to exist. It?s a virtual hell but just as horrifying for all that. Banks takes several different characters and twists their stories together, but it takes a long time for that to happen. There is plenty of action, humour, revenge, and some excellent characterisation. After the disappointment of both ?The Algebraist? and ?Matter? I am so glad to see that Banks is back to his best. Top of the page Sky Guide South Africa 2011- Ed. A.B. Jones or Wayne Trow Astronomical Handbook for Southern Africa Random House Struik R85 An interesting and informative little book of 116 pages, that will be a major source of information on the night sky. It contains a great deal of detail on the objects that can be seen and unseen with the naked eye. It covers the sun, moon, planets stars etc and gives excellent descriptions. It gives a summary of events for each month, with photographs, diagrams and charts. This is its 65^th year of publication and a must for anyone with an interest in the night sky. Even better than the Internet. Top of the page The Double-Edged Sword - Sarah Silverwood Book I of The Nowhere Chronicles. Jonathon ball (Orion) R165 As a baby Finemore Tingewick Smith had been placed (not abandoned) on the steps of the Old Bailey. Now sixteen he had been brought up under a strange set of rules. He lives two very different lives, spending alternate years at two very different schools. One a very expensive boys school, the other a standard comprehensive. Now his guardian has been killed and Fin discovers that there is an alternate London accessed through the Doorway. The Knights of Nowhere have kidnapped the Storyholder and a Black Storm is approaching, one which threatens both worlds. Well written but for teenagers only. Top of the page HORNS - JOE HILL Jonathan Ball (Orion) R140 Ignatius Perrish had most things going for him. His father was a renowned trumpeter, his younger brother was arising late night TV show host, and he had wealth and position. But most of all he was in love with, and loved by, the beautiful and vivacious Merrin Williams. Then, one terrible night Merrin was raped and murdered, and Ignatius was the only suspect. He was never tried for the crime, but in the court of public opinion he was guilty. The Ig woke one morning with a hangover, and a set of horns. He now also has a gift to go with the new look, he instantly knows people?s worst secrets and darkest desires, and he can influence them to make those desires come true. He means to use his new powers to find the killer and to get his revenge. Hill examines the forces of good and evil, and exposes the brutal, savage and uncaring side of human nature. An excellent reads of disturbing revelations. Top of the page DC 75 - DC COMICS YEAR BY YEAR Senior Editor Laura Gilbert. Published in 2010, this is an almost month by month account of the chronicles and publications that made up 75 years of DC Comics. IT covers the events of the Golden Age (1938 -1955), the Silver Age (1956 ? 1969) and so on to the Modern Age (1980 to the present). This is a visual chronicle which takes you to the very start of the company, even before Superman and Batman, right up to the present day and covers the superhero?s and villains, love stories, humour, war, horror and everything in between. Most importantly as well is the appreciation handed out to the writers and artists, whom over the years have kept DC at the forefront of Comic Literature. It doesn?t matter how old you may be, this is 343 pages of total fascination. Top of the page THE EVOLUTIONARY VOID - PETER F. HAMILTON Part Three of the Void Trilogy Pan Mac Millan R195 Inside the Void Edeard has finally mastered all of his considerable physic abilities, only to discover that there are just as many problems as before. So he uses his ability to travel back in time to try to solve the problems. (He is a bit of an altruist.) He has to do this many times before he gets things to more or less the way he wants them. Outside the Void millions of Living Dream Pilgrims have embarked on their journey in FTL spaceships, to reach the Void and hopefully, gain access to it. The fact that if they succeed, the Void will expand and keep on expanding until it devours the Galaxy does not seem to bother them. Stories within stries, descriptions within descriptions and two very different stories that only rarely come together. At 726 pages, just too many words. Disappointing. Top of the page Alma Katsu - The Taker: An Immortal Love Story Randon House Struik R215.00 And it is a love story ?. But with a bit of a difference. Dr Luke Findlay has his own reasons for hiding in a small town hospital. One freezing night a murderer is brought in for him to decide if she is sane or not. The man she has killed is somewhere in the frozen forest. She spins a tale of a love that has taken 200 years to get to this deadly point He slowly begins to believe her and to have some sort of feelings for her. I suppose it is Fantasy and is saved by the fact that it is well written. Give it a try. Gail Top of the page Embassytown - China Mieville Macmillan Avice Cho Benner has been an immerser. She has travelled through Space but she has returned to Embassytown, where she, once as a child, was incorporated into Language, for the hosts as a similie. Embassytown is a small culture on a planet on the outskirts of the Universe. The town?s people live here breathing air supplied by the alveoli and trade with the hosts. the Arieke, to survive. Humans can understand Language but the Arieke can only understand the Ambassadors, who are humans who must be tailored to look alike and who speak in unison, what is called the Cut and Turn voice. The universal government decides to try and engineer a new type a Ambassador to obtain more from the Arieke but this backfires and the Arieke become addicted to the voice of this new ambassador, EzRa. As the addiction gains hold the Arieke stop providing for the human inhabitants of Embassytown and some even go so far as to tear off their hearing devices, or giftwings, in order to try to escape the addiction. Eventually things degenerate so far that it seems as if the Arieke ?deaf? will kill all the human inhabitants of Embassytown. Avice must try to find a way to make to make the Arieke understand that there is a way to communicate with the other Ambassadors in order to save both Arieke and humans who live in Embassytown. This is an extremely clever and complex novel. Mieville uses his words in an innovative way and if he cannot find the word he needs he makes one up. The whole concept of ?Language? is fascinating but not easy to understand. This is not a novel that you can fly through but I found it well worth the effort to follow the tortuous path that Avice and Spanish Dance, an Arieke, go through, not to cure, but to deal with the addiction of the most of the Arieke. Underlying all of this is also the story of Avice and her husband Scile who has a different idea of how to solve the issue. We also follow her relationship with some of the Ambassador pairs, her lovers and co-conspirators. I think that the final result is worth the concentration it takes to understand this novel. It is truly different. Gail Top of the page Unseen Academicals - Terry Pratchett Random House Struik R125.00 Another Disc World novel. And this time soccer has come to Ankh-Morpork. Along with cheerleaders and hooligans. A different sort of novel with some completely new and different characters, but enough of the old ones, mostly in the background, to make us feel comfortable on the back of a giant turtle. The Wizards of the Unseen University have to form a team to take on the toughs of the Ankh-Morpork streets, most of whom think that a little violence is more important than skill with a ball. Pratchett is still as clever as ever. I sometime wonder if Vetinari is his alter ego. Lots of turns and twists to get to the all important match. He is still one of the few authors that can make me laugh out loud at a turn of phrase, and then think about some of his comments a good while later and still smile. Read and enjoy. One small niggle though. The quality of the book is not up to the usual standard. The pages are coming loose after only a couple of readings. Alan Campbell Sea of Ghosts: The Gravedigger Chronicles Book One Pan Macmillan R260.00 Another strange world. You?re safe on land as long as the brine from the sea does not touch your skin. Sea water turns your skin into sharkskin and you can no longer live on land. There is a whole community who wander, seemingly aimlessly below the surface. Evil men search the sea bed for ?Trove? which is treasure they can sell to enrich themselves. Ianthe is the daughter Granger did not know he had. He has fled the Empire and become a jailer in Ethugra, a prison city which is being flooded by brine. Ianthe is blind but has a skill which makes her very desirable to the searchers of Trove. Maskelyne is a powerful man in the city and he steals Ianthe from Granger, but he does not realize that she is a double edged sword who sows disaster into his family. From the author of Scar Night this is an involved novel and I enjoyed it. Gail Top of the page The Dresden Files: Dead Beat & Proven Guilty - Jim Butcher Penguin If you enjoy the Dresden Files, and I do, these novels are very entertaining. Harry Dresden is the only wizard in Chicago who advertises in the Yellow Pages. Karin Murphy of the police Department occasionally uses him when magic and mayhem threaten to break the surface of normal life in the city. In ?Dead Beat? it is almost Halloween and Marva, a vampire wants to find the magic words that will allow her to really awaken the dead on that mystical night. Harry discovers things about wizards that he did not know and manages to overcome, at least to an extent, the dislike and distrust that the White Council have of him. In fact they are losing wizards because of the war with the Red Court and he is made a Warden and given the grey cloak to wear. He gets to know a forensic pathologist named Butters, who enjoys Polkas and his dog Mouse grows up. Read and enjoy. In ?Proven Guilty? he gets involved in a Horror Convention and finds real horror. Molly Carpenter, the oldest daughter of his friend Michael comes to him for help, and it slowly becomes obvious that she is deeply involved in the problem. He has to learn to deal also with the demon Lasciel, a portion of who lives inside his head. She has a habit of appearing as an extremely appealing women who can do wonderful things for him. Not to say he?s not tempted but knows what will happen eventually if he does accept her help. Murphy takes time out of her job to help him to try to stop the demons who are coming through at the Horror Con and feeding on the fear this creates. His brother Thomas, who is a Vampire, complicates the story. Read and enjoy this one as well. Gail Top of the page The War of the Dwarves - Markus Heitz Penguin Books. The War of the Dwarves is a sequel to The Dwarves. The books are English translations (superbly done by Sally-Ann Spencer) of the original Germany Fantasy novels, while the third book has already been translated and will be available overseas in November 2011. As with any sequel, Heitz makes constant references to the first book, although he specifically wrote it so that it is not necessary to read the first book before reading the sequel. Nevertheless, a purist would find the references frustrating, as would be advised to read The Dwarves first. As the tale is 714 pages long (slightly longer than the first book), excluding a map and Dramatis Personae, it is as heavy as a Wagnerian opera, and not for the faint-hearted. But if an epic fantasy of war, politics and a dash of romance is of interest, then Heitz does not disappoint. Dwarves inhabit a world alongside humans, orcs (the hated enemy of dwarves), elves and ?lfs (the hated enemy of the elves). As if the internecine war amongst the dwarves of the five kingdoms of Girdlegard was not enough, some orcs become immortal, thanks to the power of Black Water. And rumours spread about the incandescent demi-god Avatars appearing in the Outerlands, who wish to rid the world of all evil (that is, anyone who is not pure of heart, which more or less applies to all others). Tungdil, the only dwarf in the kingdom of humans, is a blacksmith who wields the battleaxe Keenfire forged in The Dwarves to defeat the Dark Lord N?d?onn, is once again the main protagonist in the sequel. He discovers a unaffiliated group of dwarves, the Freelings, who offer an intriguing opportunity for social commentary. A dwarf is fiercely committed to their clan, and is strictly bound by rules governing the daily lives and loves. To be outcast is the ultimate disgrace. So to find a group that don?t belong to a clan, that are free of puritanical rules, and live proudly (albeit secretly, because they would be killed by clannish dwarves) is a shock to Tungdil, but his own upbringing amongst humans allows him to identify with them and even to find a life partner amongst them. The soul of the book, however, belongs to war and political intrigue. Although it is too long for my taste, the book is difficult to put down, because the action flows swiftly, captivating the reader. Gavin Top of the page The At-Lanti Chronicles: Time Marker - Nic Wayne Decades ago, a common criticism levelled against SF novels, as opposed to thriller novels, was that characters were one-dimensional, and simply place-holders for essence of the novel, namely, speculations on scientific futures. Many modern SF novels have changed that, concentrating on character development and introducing vivid descriptions of emotions and sexual liaisons, and relegating the speculative component to background scenery. The At-Lanti Chronicles - Time Marker adopts a merged approach: the SF component is critical, but a fair amount of the narrative is devoted to explicit romantic descriptions. It also moves at the pace of a modern thriller, with plenty of political intrigue, war and suspense to keep the reader interested. Time Marker narrates two timelines leading to their intersection, when the impact of a war thousands of years ago on the island of At-Lanti, in the southern Atlantic Ocean, threatens modern-day civilisation. The ancient war was waged by the technologically advanced Neshi, and the predecessors of modern humans, the Changelings. The first timeline follows the rise and fall of Lord Quod. In the prologue we discover a plot to murder a family, although the son, Jab-Neh, and the daughter, La-Myh, survive, but are separated. We then follow the exploits of an adult Mih-Nam, who murders his adopted father to become Lord Quod, and schemes to rule the Neshi on the island of At-Lanti. As the plot unfolds, the split personalities of Lord Quod (as the innocent child Jab-Neh, and the psychopathic adopted son Mih-Nam) duel for control as Lord Quod?s actions threaten the very existence of the island. Many political intrigues ensue, such as the battle of the Kavah to return to their original homeland Bab-Il, and we rediscover the adult La-Myh in a rather predictable subplot that would be the envy of scriptwriters for As the World Turns. Parallel to this timeline, two contemporary archaeologists, Tim Angler and Cyan Phillips, explore new vaults discovered under the Great Sphinx of Giza, hoping to discover the legendary House of Records. They are making a live broadcast of their exploration, but as they enter the Sphinx from the south below the front paw, they descend so deep that they become isolated and lose communication with their support TV crew. An orb capable of holographic projection (and much more), Nee-Thah, who was an assistant to Neshi senator Ha-Zhon thousands of years ago, awakes and communicates with them, purporting to be merely a "sophisticated human interface". It is more than just a recorder; it replays the events of the Neshi in such a way that Tim and Cyan experience living the lives of the Neshi, until they discover the threat to modern civilisation. One drawback from Time Marker is that, just as one wants to concentrate on the news rather than the newsreader, one does not want to be untimely ripped from the fantastical world in which one is immersed because of glaring typographical errors. This happens often enough to cause irritation. Also, the myth of Atlantis has been exploited to death, so that is is difficult to present a new slant. But, while not my cup of tea, Time Marker is an action-packed SF thriller that will appeal to many. Gavin Top of the page Light Across Time - Tom Learmont Kwela Books - R190.00 Review 1 Alan Stevens, originally from Zimbabwe, was a widower, his wife and children killed by a speeding police car. Melanie Austin, originally from South Africa was a childless divorcee, younger looking than her 38 years. Melanie works for one of the London tabloids investigating UFO sightings and other paraphysical phenomena. They have recently started dating, taking it very slowly, when they have a chance encounter with a remarkable older man, Elemar Urban. He is exceptionally intelligent and educated, although he does have some rather far-fetched ideas on the crystals in his ring, which he calls X-crystals, but which are actually Andabisite, usually found in South Africa. Urban challenges the two lovers to take up a series of quests of his devising, and although they do not believe his stories, have so much respect for Urban that they accept. They get far more than they bargained for as they travel across England and South Africa. The author shows a remarkable knowledge of several of the hard sciences and has done a great deal of research, or loves knowledge, or both. The book is intelligent, interesting and well written and it would probably spoil the plot to go into too much detail, although I did find the ending a bit of a let down, and the second last chapter of the book, not a glossary, pointless and irritating. Ian Jamieson Top of the page Light Across Time - Tom Learmont Kwela Books - R190.00 Review 2 Steve Stevens, whose name is really Alan and Melanie Austin both work in London. Alan researching the Casino trade while Melanie works for a tabloid following the UFO business. He has lost his wife and children in an auto accident and she is divorced. Through an Internet site they start a gentle relationship. Then Melanie introduced Alan to Elemer Urban who sets them off on a quest giving them clues, from which they are to try and find the heart of his secret..He firmly believes that the crystals in his ring enable him to travel through time and space. They are given manuscripts one of which tell a story of the distant past and another which tells of England in the 1500?s. In the background is the tale of Melanie?s mother, Catherine who is dying of Cancer with great dignity and the story takes them to Harrismith in the Free State. Eventually they come to the startling conclusion that Elemer is actually telling the truth and they are invited to join the Aeriam, who are Temporonauts. They join up and the story presumably begins?? This South African novel is well written and as you follow the quest of Alan and Melanie there are many interesting ideas presented. I enjoyed following the puzzle as it was unraveled. One thing jarred though. There is a chapter called ?Questions Frequently asked by Temporonaut Recruits?, which I feel that the book really did not need. To me it feels uncomfortable clinical after the story which flows easily. Read and enjoy. Gail Jamieson Top of the page After more than 30 years since the Clan of the Cave Bear appeared on our shelves, Jean M Auel has finally published the final book in her Earth?s Children series: The Land of Painted Caves. It concludes the story of Ayla, the Cro-Magnon woman saved by the Clan (Neanderthals) after a catastrophic earthquake which separated her from her family; and Jondalar of the Zelandonii, her mate whom she saved from certain death when attacked by her ?pet? Cave Lion in The Valley of Horses. Ayla and Jondalar returned to his people in the Shelters of Stone and in this book, they are well settled in their home of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii. Living with them are Ayla?s tamed horses, Whinney and Racer and her pet wolf, Wolf. The book tells how Ayla?s relationship with Jondalar?s people develops and flourishes; made easier by her healing knowledge, intelligence and willingness to learn and harder by her strange relationship with animals and her association with Flatheads (whom she calls the people of The Clan). Ayla and Jondalar have a daughter, Jonayla, who begins to develop into a little- Ayla in many ways. She has a way with animals and has glowing blonde hair which quickly makes her the apple of Jondalar?s eye. But Ayla struggles to focus on her little family when she is chosen by the Zelandoni who is First as her acolyte (apprentice). In this story, Zelandoni (once known as Zolena) takes Ayla on her Donier tour which entails viewing all the sacred sites in Zelandonii territory to appreciate and understand the ancestral roots of the Zelandoni people. Ayla also has a striking revelation about the parentage of children which she shares with the Zelandoni; much to their disagreement and disbelief. Unfortunately, Auel?s repetition and long-winded descriptions of the scenery detracts from the story and lets the mind wander away from the story. However, putting the repetition from past stories aside, the story of Ayla and her new people is enthralling and fulfilling. The book starts out slowly and takes a while to get into, but the final third of the story did not allow me to put it down until the very last page. If you enjoyed the story of Ayla so far, you will appreciate this final installment and be able to skim through the pages and pages of repeated stories and descriptions of scenery and focus on the core of the story; Ayla?s fulfillment her destiny. Worth the read! Erin Brunette-Finch Top of the page

Established in 1969 and based in Johannesburg, Science Fiction South Africa (SFSA) is a club for fans of both science fiction and fantasy. Membership benefits include:

Monthly meetings
Monthly discussion evenings
Annual mini-conventions
An extensive library
Quarterly Probe fanzine
Nova short story competition
and much much more!

International and country members are more than welcome :)

Book Reviews 2011

Last Argument of Kings - Joe Abercrombie
The Heroes - Joe Abercrombie
Towers of Midnight - Robert and Brandon Sanderson
Robert A. Heinlein, The authorized Biography Vol 1-W. H. Patterson, Jr.
The Light of Burning Shadows - Chris Evans
The Blade Itself -   Joe Abercrombie
Surface Detail - Ian M. Banks
Sky Guide South Africa 2011- Ed. A.B. Jones or Wayne Trow
The Double-Edged Sword - Sarah Silverwood
Horns   -   Joe Hill
DC75   -   DC Comics Year By Year
The Evolutionary Void   -   Peter F. Hamilton
Alma Katsu - The Taker: An Immortal Love Story
Embassytown - China Mieville
Unseen Academicals - Terry Pratchett
The Dresden Files: Dead Beat & Proven Guilty - Jim Butcher
The War of the Dwarves - Markus Heitz
The At-Lanti Chronicles: Time Marker - Nic Wayne
Light Across Time - Tom Learmont - REVIEW 1
Light Across Time - Tom Learmont - REVIEW 2
The Land of Painted Caves - Jean M Auel

Last Argument of Kings - Book Three of the First Law Trilogy - Joe Abercrombie

This novel follows on 'Before They are Hanged' (which refers to forgiving your enimies).
In a primitive unnamed country the capital city Adva, is besieged by enemy forces. The king is dead, the cynical and manipulative magician Bayaz has lost control of his party and the torturer Glotka is trying to keep the ruling party together.
In the last book in an epic fantasy trilogy, Abercrombie gives us an action packed story, but at time confusing magical interventions. Not quite as character driven as the two previous novels, but Abercrombie has still given us an interesting ending in a plot that doesn?t overwhelm the reader.
An enjoyable read.

Ian J.

Who would want to be a hero, to be venerated, to have songs made up of your escapades, to have hacked to death so many you can?t remember?
Abercrombie?s brutal and bloody book takes us into the hearts and souls of men who are supposed to be hero?s to discover that they are simply men who have killed and survived and have been given Names, like Black Dow, or The Bloody Nine (who happens to be a man with nine fingers). It is a cynical touch of the author that ?The Heroes ? of the title are a circle of stones with no value whatsoever, but where a battle fought largely over three days will kill thousands of men. And for what?
Like most wars it is fought by men who happen to be one place or another, usually the wrong place, and have little or no notion what the war is about.
The author?s men are just that, men who usually have special skills in killing others and staying alive themselves. ?The Heroes? is unusually bleak and grim, but with just enough humour to repudiate any notion of what heroes actually are.
This is a stand alone novel set shortly after his ?First Law? Trilogy and with some of the same players, but you do not have to have read the trilogy first.
This is a masterful novel by a writer at his peak, and is one of the best epic fantasy?s I have read.
The blurb on the back of my copy says it all.

    THREE MEN
    ONE BATTLE
    NO HEROES.

Ian J.

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Towers of Midnight - Book Thirteen of the Wheel of Time
Robert and Brandon Sanderson

At last we approach the conclusion of all that has been set before us in the ?Wheel of Time?. This is the penultimate novel in the series, once again written by Brandon Sanderson using the notes that were left by Robert Jordan after his untimely death in 2007.

?The Last Battle has started. The seals on the Dark One?s prison have started to crumble. The Pattern is unraveling, and the armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight.
The sun has begun to set on the Third Age?
So states the blurb on the back of the book.
A lot of this novel involves Perrin Aybarra and his wife Faile. He nees desperately to come to terms with the wolf within him. Also Mathrim Cauthon who fears what will happen when he is reunited with his wife.
Elayne discovers that her mother , Morgase is not dead after all and Egwene contines to support Rand al?Thor. Min does so as well and from much closer to him. Even Avienda is there, even though she is struggling to come to terms with her station in life.
Slowly but surely the strands are being drawn together? and there are many of them. I still am unable to see how the climax will be achieved with the death of al?Thor. However I am convinced that it will be achieved somehow.
The story remains complex but as I have said before Brandon Sanderson is doing an extremely good job of continuing Robert Jordan?s enormous saga. I got through the 861 pages in a very short time.
I think that I will have to take a couple of weeks leave when the final book is realeased and start from the very beginning and read them all again without the large gaps in time and see if the total product is as good as I remember.
A really good read and heartily recommended.

Gail J.

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Robert A. Heinlein - the authorized Biography Vol 1 - Learning Curve 1907 - 1948 : In Dialogue with his Century William H. Patterson, Jr.

This book is one of those sent to SFFSA from David Herrington in the U.S.A.
This biography takes us from Heinlein?s birth in 1907 until his divorce from Leslyn in 1948 and his immediate marriage to Ginny two days later.
It chronicles his relatively comfortable childhood through to his stint in the Navy and his health problems which ultimately forced him to retire from it. It tells us of his first strange marriage to Elinor Curry and 2nd marriage to Leslyn. We see how this union finally broke down, seemingly due to her weaknesses, but it also makes mention of the fact that they had an ?open? marriage. We also see the beginning of his relationship with Virgina Gerstenfeld, who was his support and great love and later aided this author by making available all of the necessary documentation to complete this biography.
We learn about his political leanings. A left wing politician in the 1930?s, he became an inspiration to American Libertarians in his later years.
We see his long relationship with John W. Campbell and also how he supported other SF authors, sometimes financially. And we how at the beginning he was not convinces he would become a success.
He truly believed in the importance of science and was convinced of the future of space flight and did many things to further its cause.
He was a nudist and a patriot. All in all a complex human being who happened to be an extremely talented writer.
The book is accompanied by an extensive set of notes and two appendices. The author tells us exactly where he has found his information. This was not so interesting to me but it shows that William Patterson has really done his research into a naval man and author whose life fascinates him.
I hope that we will see the second volume as this has given me a completely different insight to an author who novels I have enjoyed over a long period of time.
It is in the SFFSA library. Borrow it and read it.

Gail J.

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The Light of Burning Shadows - Chris Evans

The Iron Elves Book II Jonathan Ball (Pocket Books) R110. 396 pages

The Iron elves and their leader Konowa Swift Dragon, had been banished for carrying the marble of the Shadow Monarch.

Konowa has been recalled to duty and from the dregs and misfits of the army has reformed the Iron elves. Having already saved the Calahrian Empire by ensuring the Red Star did not fall into the shadow Monarch?s hands, Konowa must now cross the treacherous seas, find his original Iron elves, save the next Star, and overcome the forbidding darkness of Kaman Rhal.

A straightforward adventure story with rather underdeveloped characters, although the dwarf Ymit Arkhorn some nice interplay with his squad.

There are no subtleties or complexities in this novel but if there is nothing better at hand give it a read. You might enjoy it

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The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie

Book I - The First Law Jonathan Ball (Gollancz) R115 593 pages

As with most fantasy series Abercrombie uses the first book to set up a typical fantasy cast:

The nobleman who is not noble; the barbarian who is starting to think; the inept apprentice; the Magus who eventually drives the plot and the crippled intellectual.

This novel focuses mainly on three characters; Jezal Luthar, the selfish golden boy of society who thinks only of himself, until he meets his friends sister; the torturer, Glotka, once also a golden boy, now a crippled wreck; and the barbarian Logen Ninefingers, now getting older, he has lost, he believes all his comrades, and is now happy just to be alive.

Abercrombie has given us believable human characters, warts and all, and as he slowly starts to weave their stories together the reader will care what happens to them all.

Oh... and his descriptions of the fight scenes are excellent.

A must read and not just for fantasy fans.

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Surface Detail - Ian M. Banks

Penguin Orbit Books

A tattooed beautiful slave, Ledeje Y?breq, had attempted to escape her evil master and was killed in the attempt. Revived by the Culture she sets out on revenge. Meanwhile further across the Galaxy a war is being fought over the right for Hell to exist. It?s a virtual hell but just as horrifying for all that.

Banks takes several different characters and twists their stories together, but it takes a long time for that to happen. There is plenty of action, humour, revenge, and some excellent characterisation.

After the disappointment of both ?The Algebraist? and ?Matter? I am so glad to see that Banks is back to his best.

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Sky Guide South Africa 2011- Ed. A.B. Jones or Wayne Trow

Astronomical Handbook for Southern Africa

Random House Struik R85

An interesting and informative little book of 116 pages, that will be a major source of information on the night sky. It contains a great deal of detail on the objects that can be seen and unseen with the naked eye. It covers the sun, moon, planets stars etc and gives excellent descriptions.

It gives a summary of events for each month, with photographs, diagrams and charts. This is its 65^th year of publication and a must for anyone with an interest in the night sky.

Even better than the Internet.

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The Double-Edged Sword - Sarah Silverwood

Book I of The Nowhere Chronicles. Jonathon ball (Orion) R165

As a baby Finemore Tingewick Smith had been placed (not abandoned) on the steps of the Old Bailey. Now sixteen he had been brought up under a strange set of rules. He lives two very different lives, spending alternate years at two very different schools. One a very expensive boys school, the other a standard comprehensive.

Now his guardian has been killed and Fin discovers that there is an alternate London accessed through the Doorway. The Knights of Nowhere have kidnapped the Storyholder and a Black Storm is approaching, one which threatens both worlds.

Well written but for teenagers only.

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HORNS - JOE HILL

Jonathan Ball (Orion) R140

Ignatius Perrish had most things going for him. His father was a renowned trumpeter, his younger brother was arising late night TV show host, and he had wealth and position. But most of all he was in love with, and loved by, the beautiful and vivacious Merrin Williams. Then, one terrible night Merrin was raped and murdered, and Ignatius was the only suspect. He was never tried for the crime, but in the court of public opinion he was guilty. The Ig woke one morning with a hangover, and a set of horns. He now also has a gift to go with the new look, he instantly knows people?s worst secrets and darkest desires, and he can influence them to make those desires come true. He means to use his new powers to find the killer and to get his revenge.

Hill examines the forces of good and evil, and exposes the brutal, savage and uncaring side of human nature. An excellent reads of disturbing revelations.

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DC 75 - DC COMICS YEAR BY YEAR

Senior Editor Laura Gilbert.

Published in 2010, this is an almost month by month account of the chronicles and publications that made up 75 years of DC Comics. IT covers the events of the Golden Age (1938 -1955), the Silver Age (1956 ? 1969) and so on to the Modern Age (1980 to the present). This is a visual chronicle which takes you to the very start of the company, even before Superman and Batman, right up to the present day and covers the superhero?s and villains, love stories, humour, war, horror and everything in between. Most importantly as well is the appreciation handed out to the writers and artists, whom over the years have kept DC at the forefront of Comic Literature.

It doesn?t matter how old you may be, this is 343 pages of total fascination.

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THE EVOLUTIONARY VOID - PETER F. HAMILTON

Part Three of the Void Trilogy Pan Mac Millan R195

Inside the Void Edeard has finally mastered all of his considerable physic abilities, only to discover that there are just as many problems as before. So he uses his ability to travel back in time to try to solve the problems. (He is a bit of an altruist.)

He has to do this many times before he gets things to more or less the way he wants them.

Outside the Void millions of Living Dream Pilgrims have embarked on their journey in FTL spaceships, to reach the Void and hopefully, gain access to it. The fact that if they succeed, the Void will expand and keep on expanding until it devours the Galaxy does not seem to bother them.

Stories within stries, descriptions within descriptions and two very different stories that only rarely come together. At 726 pages, just too many words.

Disappointing.

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Alma Katsu - The Taker: An Immortal Love Story
Randon House Struik R215.00

And it is a love story ?. But with a bit of a difference. Dr Luke Findlay has his own reasons for hiding in a small town hospital. One freezing night a murderer is brought in for him to decide if she is sane or not. The man she has killed is somewhere in the frozen forest. She spins a tale of a love that has taken 200 years to get to this deadly point He slowly begins to believe her and to have some sort of feelings for her.
I suppose it is Fantasy and is saved by the fact that it is well written. Give it a try.

Gail

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Embassytown - China Mieville
Macmillan

Avice Cho Benner has been an immerser. She has travelled through Space but she has returned to Embassytown, where she, once as a child, was incorporated into Language, for the hosts as a similie.
Embassytown is a small culture on a planet on the outskirts of the Universe. The town?s people live here breathing air supplied by the alveoli and trade with the hosts. the Arieke, to survive.
Humans can understand Language but the Arieke can only understand the Ambassadors, who are humans who must be tailored to look alike and who speak in unison, what is called the Cut and Turn voice.
The universal government decides to try and engineer a new type a Ambassador to obtain more from the Arieke but this backfires and the Arieke become addicted to the voice of this new ambassador, EzRa. As the addiction gains hold the Arieke stop providing for the human inhabitants of Embassytown and some even go so far as to tear off their hearing devices, or giftwings, in order to try to escape the addiction.
Eventually things degenerate so far that it seems as if the Arieke ?deaf? will kill all the human inhabitants of Embassytown.
Avice must try to find a way to make to make the Arieke understand that there is a way to communicate with the other Ambassadors in order to save both Arieke and humans who live in Embassytown.
This is an extremely clever and complex novel. Mieville uses his words in an innovative way and if he cannot find the word he needs he makes one up.
The whole concept of ?Language? is fascinating but not easy to understand. This is not a novel that you can fly through but I found it well worth the effort to follow the tortuous path that Avice and Spanish Dance, an Arieke, go through, not to cure, but to deal with the addiction of the most of the Arieke.
Underlying all of this is also the story of Avice and her husband Scile who has a different idea of how to solve the issue. We also follow her relationship with some of the Ambassador pairs, her lovers and co-conspirators.
I think that the final result is worth the concentration it takes to understand this novel. It is truly different.

Gail

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Unseen Academicals - Terry Pratchett
Random House Struik R125.00

Another Disc World novel. And this time soccer has come to Ankh-Morpork. Along with cheerleaders and hooligans. A different sort of novel with some completely new and different characters, but enough of the old ones, mostly in the background, to make us feel comfortable on the back of a giant turtle.
The Wizards of the Unseen University have to form a team to take on the toughs of the Ankh-Morpork streets, most of whom think that a little violence is more important than skill with a ball.
Pratchett is still as clever as ever. I sometime wonder if Vetinari is his alter ego. Lots of turns and twists to get to the all important match. He is still one of the few authors that can make me laugh out loud at a turn of phrase, and then think about some of his comments a good while later and still smile.
Read and enjoy. One small niggle though. The quality of the book is not up to the usual standard. The pages are coming loose after only a couple of readings.

Alan Campbell Sea of Ghosts: The Gravedigger Chronicles Book One
Pan Macmillan R260.00
Another strange world. You?re safe on land as long as the brine from the sea does not touch your skin. Sea water turns your skin into sharkskin and you can no longer live on land. There is a whole community who wander, seemingly aimlessly below the surface. Evil men search the sea bed for ?Trove? which is treasure they can sell to enrich themselves.
Ianthe is the daughter Granger did not know he had. He has fled the Empire and become a jailer in Ethugra, a prison city which is being flooded by brine. Ianthe is blind but has a skill which makes her very desirable to the searchers of Trove.
Maskelyne is a powerful man in the city and he steals Ianthe from Granger, but he does not realize that she is a double edged sword who sows disaster into his family.
From the author of Scar Night this is an involved novel and I enjoyed it.

Gail

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The Dresden Files: Dead Beat & Proven Guilty - Jim Butcher
Penguin

If you enjoy the Dresden Files, and I do, these novels are very entertaining. Harry Dresden is the only wizard in Chicago who advertises in the Yellow Pages. Karin Murphy of the police Department occasionally uses him when magic and mayhem threaten to break the surface of normal life in the city.
In ?Dead Beat? it is almost Halloween and Marva, a vampire wants to find the magic words that will allow her to really awaken the dead on that mystical night. Harry discovers things about wizards that he did not know and manages to overcome, at least to an extent, the dislike and distrust that the White Council have of him. In fact they are losing wizards because of the war with the Red Court and he is made a Warden and given the grey cloak to wear. He gets to know a forensic pathologist named Butters, who enjoys Polkas and his dog Mouse grows up.
Read and enjoy.
In ?Proven Guilty? he gets involved in a Horror Convention and finds real horror. Molly Carpenter, the oldest daughter of his friend Michael comes to him for help, and it slowly becomes obvious that she is deeply involved in the problem.
He has to learn to deal also with the demon Lasciel, a portion of who lives inside his head. She has a habit of appearing as an extremely appealing women who can do wonderful things for him. Not to say he?s not tempted but knows what will happen eventually if he does accept her help.
Murphy takes time out of her job to help him to try to stop the demons who are coming through at the Horror Con and feeding on the fear this creates. His brother Thomas, who is a Vampire, complicates the story.

Read and enjoy this one as well.

Gail

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The War of the Dwarves - Markus Heitz
Penguin Books.

The War of the Dwarves is a sequel to The Dwarves. The books are English translations (superbly done by Sally-Ann Spencer) of the original Germany Fantasy novels, while the third book has already been translated and will be available overseas in November 2011. As with any sequel, Heitz makes constant references to the first book, although he specifically wrote it so that it is not necessary to read the first book before reading the sequel. Nevertheless, a purist would find the references frustrating, as would be advised to read The Dwarves first. As the tale is 714 pages long (slightly longer than the first book), excluding a map and Dramatis Personae, it is as heavy as a Wagnerian opera, and not for the faint-hearted. But if an epic fantasy of war, politics and a dash of romance is of interest, then Heitz does not disappoint.
Dwarves inhabit a world alongside humans, orcs (the hated enemy of dwarves), elves and ?lfs (the hated enemy of the elves). As if the internecine war amongst the dwarves of the five kingdoms of Girdlegard was not enough, some orcs become immortal, thanks to the power of Black Water. And rumours spread about the incandescent demi-god Avatars appearing in the Outerlands, who wish to rid the world of all evil (that is, anyone who is not pure of heart, which more or less applies to all others).
Tungdil, the only dwarf in the kingdom of humans, is a blacksmith who wields the battleaxe Keenfire forged in The Dwarves to defeat the Dark Lord N?d?onn, is once again the main protagonist in the sequel. He discovers a unaffiliated group of dwarves, the Freelings, who offer an intriguing opportunity for social commentary. A dwarf is fiercely committed to their clan, and is strictly bound by rules governing the daily lives and loves. To be outcast is the ultimate disgrace. So to find a group that don?t belong to a clan, that are free of puritanical rules, and live proudly (albeit secretly, because they would be killed by clannish dwarves) is a shock to Tungdil, but his own upbringing amongst humans allows him to identify with them and even to find a life partner amongst them.
The soul of the book, however, belongs to war and political intrigue. Although it is too long for my taste, the book is difficult to put down, because the action flows swiftly, captivating the reader.

Gavin

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The At-Lanti Chronicles: Time Marker - Nic Wayne

Decades ago, a common criticism levelled against SF novels, as opposed to thriller novels, was that characters were one-dimensional, and simply place-holders for essence of the novel, namely, speculations on scientific futures. Many modern SF novels have changed that, concentrating on character development and introducing vivid descriptions of emotions and sexual liaisons, and relegating the speculative component to background scenery. The At-Lanti Chronicles - Time Marker adopts a merged approach: the SF component is critical, but a fair amount of the narrative is devoted to explicit romantic descriptions. It also moves at the pace of a modern thriller, with plenty of political intrigue, war and suspense to keep the reader interested.
Time Marker narrates two timelines leading to their intersection, when the impact of a war thousands of years ago on the island of At-Lanti, in the southern Atlantic Ocean, threatens modern-day civilisation. The ancient war was waged by the technologically advanced Neshi, and the predecessors of modern humans, the Changelings. The first timeline follows the rise and fall of Lord Quod. In the prologue we discover a plot to murder a family, although the son, Jab-Neh, and the daughter, La-Myh, survive, but are separated. We then follow the exploits of an adult Mih-Nam, who murders his adopted father to become Lord Quod, and schemes to rule the Neshi on the island of At-Lanti. As the plot unfolds, the split personalities of Lord Quod (as the innocent child Jab-Neh, and the psychopathic adopted son Mih-Nam) duel for control as Lord Quod?s actions threaten the very existence of the island. Many political intrigues ensue, such as the battle of the Kavah to return to their original homeland Bab-Il, and we rediscover the adult La-Myh in a rather predictable subplot that would be the envy of scriptwriters for As the World Turns.
Parallel to this timeline, two contemporary archaeologists, Tim Angler and Cyan Phillips, explore new vaults discovered under the Great Sphinx of Giza, hoping to discover the legendary House of Records. They are making a live broadcast of their exploration, but as they enter the Sphinx from the south below the front paw, they descend so deep that they become isolated and lose communication with their support TV crew. An orb capable of holographic projection (and much more), Nee-Thah, who was an assistant to Neshi senator Ha-Zhon thousands of years ago, awakes and communicates with them, purporting to be merely a "sophisticated human interface". It is more than just a recorder; it replays the events of the Neshi in such a way that Tim and Cyan experience living the lives of the Neshi, until they discover the threat to modern civilisation.
One drawback from Time Marker is that, just as one wants to concentrate on the news rather than the newsreader, one does not want to be untimely ripped from the fantastical world in which one is immersed because of glaring typographical errors. This happens often enough to cause irritation. Also, the myth of Atlantis has been exploited to death, so that is is difficult to present a new slant. But, while not my cup of tea, Time Marker is an action-packed SF thriller that will appeal to many.

Gavin

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Light Across Time - Tom Learmont
Kwela Books - R190.00
Review 1

Alan Stevens, originally from Zimbabwe, was a widower, his wife and children killed by a speeding police car. Melanie Austin, originally from South Africa was a childless divorcee, younger looking than her 38 years. Melanie works for one of the London tabloids investigating UFO sightings and other paraphysical phenomena. They have recently started dating, taking it very slowly, when they have a chance encounter with a remarkable older man, Elemar Urban. He is exceptionally intelligent and educated, although he does have some rather far-fetched ideas on the crystals in his ring, which he calls X-crystals, but which are actually Andabisite, usually found in South Africa.

Urban challenges the two lovers to take up a series of quests of his devising, and although they do not believe his stories, have so much respect for Urban that they accept. They get far more than they bargained for as they travel across England and South Africa.
The author shows a remarkable knowledge of several of the hard sciences and has done a great deal of research, or loves knowledge, or both.

The book is intelligent, interesting and well written and it would probably spoil the plot to go into too much detail, although I did find the ending a bit of a let down, and the second last chapter of the book, not a glossary, pointless and irritating.

Ian Jamieson

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Light Across Time - Tom Learmont
Kwela Books - R190.00
Review 2

Steve Stevens, whose name is really Alan and Melanie Austin both work in London. Alan researching the Casino trade while Melanie works for a tabloid following the UFO business.

He has lost his wife and children in an auto accident and she is divorced. Through an Internet site they start a gentle relationship.

Then Melanie introduced Alan to Elemer Urban who sets them off on a quest giving them clues, from which they are to try and find the heart of his secret..He firmly believes that the crystals in his ring enable him to travel through time and space.

They are given manuscripts one of which tell a story of the distant past and another which tells of England in the 1500?s.

In the background is the tale of Melanie?s mother, Catherine who is dying of Cancer with great dignity and the story takes them to Harrismith in the Free State.

Eventually they come to the startling conclusion that Elemer is actually telling the truth and they are invited to join the Aeriam, who are Temporonauts. They join up and the story presumably begins??

This South African novel is well written and as you follow the quest of Alan and Melanie there are many interesting ideas presented. I enjoyed following the puzzle as it was unraveled.

One thing jarred though. There is a chapter called ?Questions Frequently asked by Temporonaut Recruits?, which I feel that the book really did not need. To me it feels uncomfortable clinical after the story which flows easily.

Read and enjoy.

Gail Jamieson

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After more than 30 years since the Clan of the Cave Bear appeared on our shelves, Jean M Auel has finally published the final book in her Earth?s Children series: The Land of Painted Caves. It concludes the story of Ayla, the Cro-Magnon woman saved by the Clan (Neanderthals) after a catastrophic earthquake which separated her from her family; and Jondalar of the Zelandonii, her mate whom she saved from certain death when attacked by her ?pet? Cave Lion in The Valley of Horses.

Ayla and Jondalar returned to his people in the Shelters of Stone and in this book, they are well settled in their home of the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii. Living with them are Ayla?s tamed horses, Whinney and Racer and her pet wolf, Wolf. The book tells how Ayla?s relationship with Jondalar?s people develops and flourishes; made easier by her healing knowledge, intelligence and willingness to learn and harder by her strange relationship with animals and her association with Flatheads (whom she calls the people of The Clan).

Ayla and Jondalar have a daughter, Jonayla, who begins to develop into a little- Ayla in many ways. She has a way with animals and has glowing blonde hair which quickly makes her the apple of Jondalar?s eye. But Ayla struggles to focus on her little family when she is chosen by the Zelandoni who is First as her acolyte (apprentice).

In this story, Zelandoni (once known as Zolena) takes Ayla on her Donier tour which entails viewing all the sacred sites in Zelandonii territory to appreciate and understand the ancestral roots of the Zelandoni people. Ayla also has a striking revelation about the parentage of children which she shares with the Zelandoni; much to their disagreement and disbelief.

Unfortunately, Auel?s repetition and long-winded descriptions of the scenery detracts from the story and lets the mind wander away from the story.

However, putting the repetition from past stories aside, the story of Ayla and her new people is enthralling and fulfilling. The book starts out slowly and takes a while to get into, but the final third of the story did not allow me to put it down until the very last page.

If you enjoyed the story of Ayla so far, you will appreciate this final installment and be able to skim through the pages and pages of repeated stories and descriptions of scenery and focus on the core of the story; Ayla?s fulfillment her destiny. Worth the read!

Erin Brunette-Finch

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Last Update: 2 9 November 2011