People of the Owl: A Novel of Prehistoric North America

By W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear

Book Overview

Michael and Kathleen Gear, bestselling authors and award winning archaeologists are famous for writing novels about prehistoric America that are fast-paced, steeped in cultural detail, and smart. Here, in their most ambitious work to date, they combine their distinctive trademark of high action with a rich psychological drama. Four thousand years ago, in what centuries later will be the southern part of the United States, a boy is thrust into manhood long before he's ready. Young Salamander would much rather catch crickets and watch blue herons fish than dabble in the politics of his clan. But when his heroic brother is killed, Salamander becomes the leader of America's first city. He inherits his brother's two wives, who despise him, and is forced to marry his mortal enemy's daughter to forge an alliance for the trade goods his people desperately need. But he's only fifteen winters old Technically he's not even a man, and most people consider him to be the village idiot Worse, each of his wives has secretly been ordered by her clan to kill him. Cast adrift in a stark wilderness of political intrigue where assassins are everywhere, young Salamander has no choice but to become a man-and quickly. For his own greatest enemies are closing in, intent upon destroying him and his clan and taking over Sun Town for themselves.It would all be a simple matter if he could just run away, but he can't. He has three problems: Their names are Night Rain, Pinedrop and Anhinga. His wives. Despite what their clans have ordered them to do he loves them. And he loves the children they have given him. As the end draws close, he realized he has only one duty he cannot shirk-to protect his family. Salamander will do it. No matter the cost in blood.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312877412
• ISBN13: 9780312877415
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Forge Books
• Length: 560 Pages
• Weight: 2.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 1.7" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Great

This is a very large series and I don't remember which book is the first one but the entire series is excellent and anything Gear is the best

Couldn't put it down!!!

I am the first to admit it took me a bit to get into. As soon as I thought I had a grasp on all the characters, they start to change on me. I had to stop reading it for awhile. However, once I started reading it again, I was quickly drawn into the intricate web of political struggle developing among the characters. I was mesmorized and couldn't put it down! If you give it a chance and push yourself past the beginning, it is well worth it. The Gears' skill is phenominal. I found myself crying along with the characters in the end. I felt I knew them so well. This book was truly a masterpiece any fan of the Gears should read!

You won't want to put it down

This isn't just the classic story of the unlikely hero, as mentioned by another reviewer. It is a story about finding oneself, a journey of politics, lessons and love. The writing is really amazing and captures not only the fictional story of Salamandar and the Sun People, but also integrates the way these people lived long ago. If you read this book, you won't be able to put it down. Don't purchase it as a reference for the way the Sun People lived at one time, it's not that type of novel. It is a fictional story that will teach you lessons and provoke your own thoughts on the way you live your own life. Times are not so different today as they were long, long ago...

Good read

If you are looking for a book on facts, then don't pick this up -- the Gears write hoping to understand what life may have been like for prehistoric Americans, based on what we do know about various cultures. This book isn't tedious fact after fact - it is a historical fiction book and a wonderful one at that. If you enjoyed the others in the series, then you are definitely going to enjoy this one as well.

Gear & Gear great yet again

This story continues the people of north america seriesand it does what all the Gear's books do :provides a great story with insight that you can trust to be based on hard research. yet they are truly readable.I have been captivated by the charactersand these writers

Open Wide the Gates

In their latest "People of the Owl" Micheal and Kathleen show us once again how narrow our view of our country is. This land is a great land doesn't even begin to explain the wonders of the acients that preceded us on this Continent. The Story is fantastic.