Song of the Earth [Hardcover]

John R. Dann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 23, 2004

In John R. Dann's thrilling and romantic prehistoric saga, Song of the Axe, the tribe's chieftain was called Grae, after a famous ancestor. Now Dann returns to tell the saga of the wanderings of one prehistoric tribal family over several generations, always led by that famous, original Grae, and by his children.

The powerful daughters of River Woman saved young Grae from a flooded river after a volcano erupted and destroyed their tribal home. Then they made him chief, but that's almost the last thing they agree on before the tribe splinters.

Grae leads the main group out of Africa ever northward, into central and eastern Europe, always searching for safety and a better life. Challenged by truly monstrous evil tribes, but guided by spirits, they survive. It takes three generations, and three chieftains named Grae, before the tribe comes to rest. Their story is an adventure on the grandest scale, full of dangers, romance, and beguiling mystery in an exotic setting. A rich and complex story told with simplicity, authenticity, and vigor, Song of the Earth is a worthy companion to Song of the Axe.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dann's lackluster prehistorical novel, a prequel to 2001's Song of the Axe, opens with an account of how Old Grae was saved as a child from Ka, the chieftain of a rival tribe, and from a volcanic eruption by seven women, all half-sisters, who along with Grae were the only survivors of their clan. While six of the sisters are virtuous, one of them is not—Lilith, whose name brings a Christian gloss to the Cro-Magnon era. Grae's descendants, led by his son Eagle, form three major tribes, fight the "wide men" (Neanderthals) and in unconvincingly short order invent the club, the knife, clothing and diplomacy. They spread out across the land, learn to hunt the buffalo, and in the time of Eagle's son, Young Grae, fight a battle with Lilith and Ka's descendant Karn, who's allied with Lilith for nefarious purposes. The author is at his best in short snippets of character portrayal and action scenes, but even fans of the genre may be disappointed by this multigenerational jumble of high fantasy, prehistoric adventure and what seems like Christian apologetics. Agent, Bernard Shir-Cliff. (Feb.)
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Review

Praise for Song of the Axe:

"This novel will remind readers of Clan of the Cave Bear. As such, die-hard fans of JeanAuel's works will enjoy this tale. The story line provides much insight into known prehistory . . . . for those who relish prehistorically set tales, John R. Dann's novel is the right stuff." -Midwest Book Review

"Impressive research lends flintiness to a work that holds up well indeed to Jean Auel's Earth's Children trilogy."-Kirkus Reviews

"In the tradition of Clan of the Cave Bear, this prehistoric epic introduces a gallery of memorable characters while successfully conjuring the primitive culture and environment of the Ice Age. . . . Suffused in the mythology and mysticism of an ancient era, this mesmerizing saga will enthrall a broad spectrum of readers"-Booklist

"A novel of high adventure set in Eurasia, 30,000 BC, introducing women of the Ice Age camps as courageous hunters, clever instigators for good or evil, spiritual leaders. The amazing story of Eena and Agon and their progeny will thrill anyone who delights in prehistorical reads and will entice the reader who looks for supporting archeological finds along with an author's fantasy."--Ruth Beebe Hill, author of Hanta Yo

"Potent . . . Dan's prehistoric epic is a dizzying amalgam of legend, myth, archaeology, warfare and romance. . . . In his sweeping, cast-of-thousands tale, Dann tackles the culture of the Ice Age in sparse, biblically tinged prose." -Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Forge Books; 1st edition (December 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765311933
• ISBN-13: 978-0765311931
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,260,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine storytelling, November 15, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Song of the Earth (Hardcover)

Circa 30,000 BC (plus or minus a millennium or two as only word of mouth records handed down by generational storytellers exist) the Young Grae became a great chieftain due to Erida at his side (see SONG OF THE AXE). His father Eagle needed Flower and his grandfather Old Grae had the seven daughters of River Woman to aid him.

The seven sisters, sired by different men, were the only friends of the weird looking and constant jabbering Old Grae when he was a child. Having learned to swim when their mom tossed them into the nearby river, the sisters saved Old Grae when a volcano destroyed their Eden and almost led to his drowning.

The tribe splinters with Old Grae taking one group with him that includes three of the magnificent seven (Spirit Dancer mother to Eagle, Sun Hair, and Lilith) on an Exodus through the wilderness guided by spirits talking to him. As three consecutive generations wander northward, they battle with tyrannical tribes threatening their existence. Old Grae never sees the promised land, but his ancestry the Tribe of Grae continue the quest seeking a land of milk and honey to call home

This prequel is a terrific look at prehistorical society done with a biblical context. The story line grips the reader who obtains a deep look at the wandering tribe's struggle to survive in a harsh environment. The biblical references add an odd intriguing spin, but also slow down the action when enhanced by insightful anthropological concepts on wandering life in 30,000 BC. Still fans will believe that Old Grae, his peers and his ancestors existed in ironically a well written prehistory tale.

Harriet Klausner

1.0 out of 5 stars Please don't compare this with Jean Auel, October 25, 2010

By 

Crime Connoisseur "Brick" (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Song of the Earth (Mass Market Paperback)

The writing skill in this book, although not necessarily the content, may be appropriate to 5th & 6th graders . I found it in the used book store and based on the cover hype, was excited to think I might find something equivalent to the Clan of the Cave Bear series. What a miserable disappointment. The characters are truly stick figures to match their description in the book as "the stick people". I found it impossible to relate to any of the characters.

Speaking of the cover hype, the blond female's legs without full leggins must have been terribly frost bitten in all that cold. Interestingly, the man had enough sense to cover up all over. Perhaps the women's magic made them impervious to the cold.

It's true Cave Bear has weakened with the last two releases but it is still so much superior in every aspect that there is no comparison, and it is a disservice to Jean Auel to imply otherwise. Her books are still worth waiting for the next installment. I will not be waiting for any more of this series or going back to read the Song of the Axe.

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book after reading Song of the Axe, July 13, 2007

By 

Deborah Theisen "drtheisen" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Song of the Earth (Hardcover)

I love to read all types of books, and happened to come across this one and Song of the Axe at the library. It is recommended to read Song of the Axe first. I read that one and could hardly put it down, then followed with Song of the Earth. It is a real treat to have questions answered from reading the Song of the Axe. It goes back in time several generations, explaining how the tribes evolved and split and in some cases, met again. Interesting is how they developed new words, tools, and traditions. I don't know how it is if you approach ths from purely a historic view, but if you want a terrific set of books for entertainment and a unique perspective, you may very much enjoy these. It is enlightening to read how these early people used instinct, creativity and trial/error to survive. I am just hoping there are more than these two books that tell of these specific tribes.