Customer Reviews

People of the Weeping Eye (North America's Forgotten Past)

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3 star:		(1)
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It'd been years since I last read a volume in this series, but I am glad I renewed my interest in these novels, because People of the Weeping Eye is one of the best books the Gears have published so far. I liked the fact it is set in more historically recent times (the books that took place during the ice age or even the so-called archaic period sometimes felt too removed to be relevant) and loved the tie-ins to Aztecan and other contemporaneous cultures who shared the hemisphere with the mound building Mississippians. As always, the authors of the series have brought an underlying genre into the story itself, and while I won't give away what that was this time, I will say it was not a murder mystery, like Peoples of the Mist, nor a quest tale, such as Peoples of the Lakes, nor a cautionary tale, as was Peoples of the River. Peoples of the Weeping Eye is something altogether unique among these works.

This series brings the gift of truly leading a reader out into contemplation of the American landscape as it was in pre-Columbian times. Far from being primitives or (God forbid) savages, the titular First Americans as described were intelligent, articulate men and women who dwelled in societies every bit as intricately organized and colorful as our own. These were humans a present-day individual could respect, people who thrived amid challenges few of us, denizens of a softer age, could overcome. There is one flaw I've always been annoyed with about the First Americans series, though, and that is how the authors tend to deviate from strict realism and bring in elements of mystical fantasy: spellcasting, visionaries, out of body travel, etc. I guess others enjoy that and the authors are of course free to do as they want with their own material, but I always wished they'd stick to a more straightforward anthropological tale. As I read about past cultures I like to think of the events "that could really have happened" and at times I've been unable to when something obviously supernatural intruded into the plotline.

All in all this is both an enjoyable novel and a sound addition to a series that's been out there for about twenty years now. With its storylines about civilization(s) and trade across the North American landscape, People of the Weeping Eye is a fine investment of an evening's reading time.

Almost a millennium ago, an advanced civilization existed on what is now the Moundsville section of Alabama. Split Sky City had one thousand inhabitants with giant palisades and mounds built as a gate to protect the citizens. Like suburbs, additional villages were located nearby along the river and occasionally one tribe conquered another. Alligator Town has been attacked and the Chief Clan of the Sky People avenges them with a daring raid.

While this is transpiring, Trader, who left the city after killing his brother, also left behind the woman he loves. He becomes a Trader journeying far and wide seeing things few men have ever observed. In one village, he hits the mother lode of copper, and meets Old White also known as Seeker. Old White also left the city under a cloud; he too became a Trader reaching the Aztec Civilization in the south and the icy tundra in the north. His dreams led him to Two Petals, a powerful mystic, who sees and acts the opposite way of most people. Seeker is going home with Two Petals to redress an old wrong. Trader joins them because the Power moves him to help prevent a catastrophe from happening.

This book ends with a cliffhanger as the tale of Trader, Seeker, and Two Petals will continue in the next First North Americans saga People of the Thunder. Once again the Gears bring alive an ancient North American civilization this time showing somewhat how the Moundsville tribes and the people near the head of the Mississippi lived based on archaeological historical information. The research is impeccable but does not overwhelm the story as the key characters are superbly developed especially when they undergo trials and tribulations. Although no climax occurs, fans of the series and those of Jean Auel will relish the vivid details of the PEOPLE OF THE WEEPING EYE.

Harriet Klausner

The Gears write top rate prehistoric fiction out doing Auel 200%. I have read every North American novel published by the Gears and all are extraordinary. I live close to prehistoric mounds and this book gave me an idea to the people I have wondered so much about. It took me a second to sort and remember all the characters in this book but other than that it was interesting and full of adventure. Pay close attention to the vivid images and you can imagine the actual people and their homes and the South East in 1200AD. The Gears lay it out from herbal preparations to Indian lore to the type of food the Mound builders enjoyed. I cannot wait till People of the Thunder.

I am a big fan of the authors and have read all of the novels in the North American series. The People of the Weeping Eye will not disappoint any reader who is familiar with the sweeping epics written by the Gears. However, for the first-time reader be warned: The spell-binding tale that unfolds in this book does not come to a conclusion when the reader reaches the last page! Rather, the story continues in a second book that is due out after the summer! That this book is only part one of a story is revealed in the introduction and "A message to the reader" page at the beginning of the book, but I was so eager to jump into the story itself that I somehow overlooked that fact. Imagine my surprise when I came to the end of the novel only to discover that there was no resolution to any of the story threads! I wouldn't have minded so much if the "part two" book was available for purchase, but it isn't. By the time the next part of the saga is published, I won't remember the characters nor the intricacies of the plot. I believe that the Gears erred in allowing this great story to be split into two books. Either publish the story in one longer book or publish the second novel immediately after the first; Don't keep fans waiting. While I love the Gears' stories, I will be hesitant about purchasing another!

As the authors explain, when they wrote this story it was so large that their publisher recommended that they split it into two books. This is the first in the series and it is such a cliff-hanger that I suggest you buy the second book, People of the Thunder, at the same time so you don't have to wait to continue reading the story. These early North American historical-tales are set in the Mississippi-Tennessee region in about 1300 A.D. Change is coming to these peoples and they can sense it. There is a growing disregard for tradition and custom. Alliances are changing. Against a backdrop of raids, retaliations, ceremonies, and games, we follow the stories of the main characters. The old trader, Old White, and the young female contrary, Two Petals, who he is led to through Power and dreams. The younger trader, Trader, and his dog, Swimmer. The young matron, Morning Dew, who becomes a slave to Heron Wing who is married to the evil war chief, Smoke Shield. A nice long story to get lost in for a few days.

Sometimes history moves like a river, taking its own course, and carrying people along with it, even if there is another path they would rather take. Old White, called by some The Seeker, was brought to where he could collect a girl with a great gift of Power, causing her to live life backwards. And now he must go to the home he hasn't seen in many years. Trader has also been wandering, seeking his fortune, and trying to forget the past that haunts his every night. And now that he has his fortune, he finds that he too must return home and probably loose all. Just what is going on? Only the Contrary, Two-Flower seems to know, and she's mad. Will they survive this mad mission, and what will be the result?

This is another very interesting and entertaining story by the Gears. They did an excellent job of bringing the ancient Native-American people alive, and showing how their history moved. Now, this book is less a work of historical fiction than it is a work of fantasy. People magically communicate over great distances, and the life of the spirit world is at the very heart of the story. So, if you are looking for a realistic story of life in among the people of the Tennessee River area, you will be disappointed.

If, on the other hand, you want a fantastic and fascinating story that revolves around Native-American cosmology, then you will like this book. I really enjoyed it, and do not hesitate to recommend it.

By the way, as an added bonus, the hardcover addition (at least) contains a chart that puts all of the First North Americans series stories in their position in space and time.

I own and have re-read almost everything W. Michael & Kathleen O'Neal Gear have written, and I do not think either one or both together are capable of writing a bad book. I think they're incredible. This book continues their 'mound' culture books that began with People of the River.

I always look forward to reading the Gears' next book. This book took a while to "get into;" it was a bit difficult keeping the characters straight, at first. However, the more I read the harder it was to put the book down. "People of the Weeping Eye" and its sequel, "People of the Thunder," continues the tradition of Michael and Kathleen Gear's fascinating forays into ancient cultures. A true must-read!!

I am from Alabama and when I saw the book was based on the life of the Native Americans living in Alabama and at Moundville I just had to read it.And again W. Michael and Kathleen Geardid a wonderful job with the historical novel bringing the people at Moundville back to life.I enjoyed the book so very much I could not put it down.I was so impressed with the book that I referred it to my Chickasaw friends in OK.Bless you in your endeavors in creating such great books.

I have been a big fan of the Gear's People series. I have read thier other books as well and haven't been as keen on them. I felt the (People) stories were losing their edge in the last couple books they have written. While still good, they lacked a little something. I thought they were just loosing steam after writing for so long. This story however, they came back as a vengence as storytellers. Loved it! So happy! I hope the continuation will be as good.