People of the Lightning (The First North Americans series, Book 7) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kathleen O'Neal Gear (Author), W. Michael Gear (Author)

Book Description

Series: First North Americans | Publication Date: November 15, 1996

People of the Lightning takes us to ancient Florida, to a village of fisher folk who must face their deepest fear: Pondwader, now a lanky boy of fifteen summers. He is the White Lightning Boy--the first of his kind to be born in tens of tens of summers. His white hair, pink eyes, and pale skin make him fearsome enough, but legends foretell that a Lightning Boy will make Sister Moon bury her face in the clouds and weep falling stars--and the winds of destruction will be unleashed.

The folk manage to trade him in marriage to Musselwhite, a woman warrior who does not really want him. She must face an old enemy who has captured her beloved husband, an enemy who is determined to destroy her. What good to her is this soft-hearted youth? She has yet to learn that Pondwader is a Lightning Boy. He can hear voices in the wind, telling of coming horror....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In the Gears' latest epic about pre-Columbian North Americans (after People of the Lakes), a wealth of rich historical detail once again bolsters a pulsing narrative set in a turbulent time. Here, the Gears vivify the Windover people, who-as explained in a foreword-lived in Florida about 8000 years ago and, curiously, were "not closely related to any other Native American population." Cottonmouth, the cruel leader of the Standing Hollow Horn clan, and his warriors kill the children of Musselwhite, and capture her husband, Diver. Musselwhite is the soul and great warrior of the Windy Cove clan-as well as the mother and murderer of Cottonmouth's young son. Despite his hatred for Musselwhite, Cottonmouth desperately hopes that she will try to rescue Diver-not only so that he can kill her but because he believes that with her will come a "Lightning Boy" (created when a lightning bolt penetrates a woman's womb) who will help him during a forthcoming cleansing of the world. The Lightning Boy turns out to be the 15-year-old Pondwader, an albino who is married off to the grieving Musselwhite (who believes Diver dead) as payment for his mother's gambling debt. But when Musselwhite learns that Diver is alive, she sets out on a dangerous rescue mission that reaches a dramatic climax. Though perhaps a bit less interesting than the authors' previous works, this tale about love and the struggle to survive will not disappoint their fans.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

This epic historical romance is a fascinating, well-told tale of ancient superstition and culture, set in Florida approximately 8,000 years ago, amid a hauntingly eerie, mystical, and primeval landscape. The story begins in a village besieged by enemy tribes, where Musselwhite, a revered woman warrior and leader, must face her archenemy Cottonmouth after he has captured her beloved husband and murdered her son and is now determined to destroy her and the village. Through a series of events, Musselwhite meets and agrees to marry another husband, 15-year-old Pondwader, an albino, who because of his eyes, hair, and skin is both hated and feared as a "lightning boy," and together they face the dreaded enemy Cottonmouth. The Gears' thorough research and their experience as professional archaeologists lend credibility to their novel and contribute to its absorbing portrait of ancient life. Kathleen Hughes --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books (November 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812515560
• ISBN-13: 978-0812515565
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,686 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The White Lightning Boy must face his destiny., October 9, 2000

By 

A. Tresca - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: People of the Lightning (The First North Americans series, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

For the first time in many generations, a White Lightning Boy, Pondwater, is born to a tribe living in what we now call Florida. He has startlingly white hair, pale skin, and pink eyes. Legends tell of Lightning Boys playing great roles in the creation and the destruction of worlds. Pondwater, the 'fifteen summers old' boy, isn't very frightening or imposing, however. He is a kind soul who is sent to marry the great warrior-woman of the small Windy Cove Clan , Musselwhite. Musselwhite, as leader of the clan, is entitled to more than one husband, but her heart is not in another marriage. She must think of her clan, however, and not just her feelings for her first husband. Pondwaters' Heartwood Clan can offer her many warrior allies in her struggle against her old enemy, Cottonmouth. She and Cottonmouth share a secret past that will come to haunt them both....

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating, will keep your attention, January 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: People of the Lightning (The First North Americans series, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

I always eagerly look forwared to the Gear's books. This one I have just finished and it was a hard one to put down. I can't wait to get People of the Silence and People of the Mist.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wow! I must get the others..., May 10, 2006

By 

Silmarillion (Romania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: People of the Lightning (The First North Americans series, Book 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

A great surprise... a book I expected to get bored with and instead spent a sleepless night reading.
The albino power child Pondwader marries the famous warrior woman Musselwhite, whose clan needs more warriors in order to survive the attacks from Musselwhite's ex-lover's clan, Cottonmouth. Musselwhite's first husband has been taken hostage and tortured as a method of forcing the woman to come to his rescue, and Pondwader (though convinced he'll die freeing the lightning bird he believes is lodged in his own body) knows her only chance to succeed is to take him along. Only, his feeble body and limited sight will prove to be hindering to her desperate fight to save her beloved first husband, and the destruction of the clans' world is sure to come if the power child kills its guardian eagles - by releasing the inner lightningbird. Wich is exactly Cottonmouth's plan.
The writing seems a bit naive, and the adventure is slow to build tension, but the outcome is worth the wait.
The insight on the prehistoric Native American is addictive - even if it may be based largely on imagination. This is a "what if it was like this..." book.
I loved this book. So now I'll have to search for all the others...