People of the Raven (North America's Forgotten Past)

By Kathleen O'Neal Gear, W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal & W.Michael Gear Gear

Book Overview

Award-winning archaeologists Michael and Kathleen Gear spin a vivid and captivating tale around one of the most controversial archaeological discoveries in the world, the Kennewick Man---a Caucasoid male mummy dating back more than 9,000 years---found in the Pacific Northwest on the banks of the Columbia River A white man in North America more than 9,000 years ago? What was he doing there? With the terrifying grandeur of melting glaciers as a backdrop, People of the Raven shows animals and humans struggling for survival amidst massive environmental change. Mammoths, mastodons, and giant lions have become extinct, and Rain Bear, the chief of Sandy Point Village, knows his struggling Raven People may be next. One day a strange and beautiful red-haired woman, Evening Star, stumbles into his council lodge and begs him for sanctuary. Rain Bear soon learns that she is an escaped slave from the North Wind People, the Raven People's mortal enemies. If he offers to protect her, the North Wind People will attack, but if he sends her back, Rain Bear knows Evening Star will be tortured and perhaps killed. But when Evening Star warns Rain Bear that the North Wind warriors are already on their way to Sandy Point Village, Rain Bear must decide at once if he should take his people and run or gather them into a battle that could result in the Raven People's complete demise.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 076530855X
• ISBN13: 9780765308559
• Release Date: September 2004
• Publisher: Forge Books
• Length: 496 Pages
• Weight: 1.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.6" x 1.6" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

People of the Raven

Great books for suppence and intertainment, but at the same time gives you insite on how our ancesters lived. I have the whole series and enjoy reading them over again. Very well researched and written.

Worth waiting for.

I waited several months for this latest book. It was well worth waiting for! This book was as excellent as the ones before it. The history in the books is outstanding. The characters and story line make the book so believable. Anyone who has not read this book or the previous ones I urge you to start. This series of books is the "BEST" I have ever read on the North American Indians. Some of the stories have brought me to tears so vivid are the details in the book. The Gears have made the characters so real that you can almost feel what they went through thousands of years ago. If I had to register the Gears on excellent writing from (1) to (10) I would give them a (13! After finishing the People of the Ravens I am now (and I mean it) anxiously waiting for the People of the Moon! Kathy Riley [...]

A Great Read!

I bought this book with apprehension because of the review by MorganCraft. "A cheap romance novel" - she says. So I read the book, and I have read all the other books in the series as well. Well- People of the Raven is an excellent book.. I could not put it down and even stayed up till 3:00 one morning. Each chapter was so well written that I could not put it down. I kept saying to myself "just one more, just one more"- This is the first time that I've written a review and after the bad one that MorganCraft gave I had to defend the book. The only sex in the book was a few rapes and they were not brutal. This person must be a prude. The Gear's books are NOT cheap romance novels - I've a read a few trust me, and I don't think the Gear's book's read like them. If you've read the other Gear books or are just starting them, this book is a must. I can't wait till the next one.

A Great Read! Don't miss out!

Although this was a scary book to pick up and dive into, due to the length, it is a very easy read. I have laughed so hard at the antics of Green Spider and the group of mismatched men traveling the river. As usual there are a number of powerful women and men in battles of strength, wit, and stamina as well as physical power. This is one of the best I've read so far, being only the 5th in the series. I intend to finish off the series. These are all fantastic books. The wonderful story is woven through threads that tie clans and families together and cords of power that tie them all. The story is built on a strong foundation of historical knowledge and the details abound thoughout this novel of prehistoric North American life. Descriptive and captivating, you'll enjoy every minute of it.

A favorite

I've read all of the Gear's books in "The First North Americans" series, and this is my favorite! I can't remember the last time I was so engrossed in a book. Not only was the story dramatic and intriguing, it actually had me laughing out loud in some places. This is a "must" for Gear fans and anyone interested in native American culture.