Historical Fiction or Fantasy?

books:


	• People of the River (The First North Americans series, Book 4) W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear Tor Books, 1993 - 544 pages average customer review:based on 17 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Weak

I'm a fan of some of the Gear's books in this series, and think the concept of novelizing the lives and stories of people who lived in ancient America is fascinating, but this book is a little weak. First off, this novel comes across as more "New Agey" than any of the other 3-4 in the series I've read. It comes close to being about magic and psychic visions rather than about history and anthropology. I didn't like that. Its cardinal sin, in my eyes, was the underuse of the presence of Cahokia, the greatest city in pre-eighteenth-century America. Barely a description is given of this metropolis beyond brief mentions of its walls and "the great mound". Had a chapter or two been put in detailing the might and glory of Cahokia, or had this become a novel about Cahokian culture itself, then this book might truly have earned five-stars.

Would I have read it if I knew then that it would be a story about a little girl's vision quests as a weapon against (apparently god-created) drought in the mid-Mississippi basin? Probably....but it does let me down that what could have been a tale of Cahokia the Great, was misused as a tree-hugging fable about the management of the earth, and the inner strength of the apparent weakest members of society.

Maybe someday the Gears or another author will do justice to Cahokia and write a good novel about it at its height. I hope so.

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All the books are good

But this one was great. I really got into the action and the quest that was going on and the characters were fantastic. One of my favorites from the series, and I have loved every one of them.

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People of the River

This is one of those "can't put it down until it's finished" reads.
Excellent insight into North American prehistory.

Historical Fiction or Fantasy?

The story of the collapse of Mississippi Valley civilization in the early 16th century. The characters are well rounded and the plot is suspenseful. However, the mysticism dives deep into the realm of fantasy and the happy ending seemed a bit contrived.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

A gripping new saga of pre-historic America that takes us to the Mississippi Valley and the tribe known as the Mound builders. It is a time of troubles. In Cahokia, the corn crop is failing again and a warchief--and the warrior woman he may never possess--are disgusted by their Chief's lust for tribute. Now even the gods have turned their faces, closing the underworld to the seers. If the gods have abandoned the people, there is no hope--unless it comes in the form of a young girl who is learning to Dream of Power.

A masterful story of the first north Americans by the bestselling authors of People of the Earth.

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