Shaman

I really loved this book. It expanded my mind in regards to what it means to be Homo sapiens. KSR knows how to write about and accurately portray nature, landscapes and the ecological relationships that tie them all together. Great eye for detail & understanding of science and anthropology of our precursor ancestors. The people & culture of Homo sapiens clans 30K years ago in southern France, at a time when the African fauna were part of the local fauna. He describes fully believable characters & scenarios that stirred my imagination. The Neanderthals are the strange 'old people' both pathetic & dangerous at times. Rich in shamanic culture & sapient problem-solving with the tools at hand = The description of the Shaman's council at the Summer Meet of all the Clans was one of KSR's inventions that especially resonated with me (a retired field researcher in Africa, Tiber & western USA). What did we use before compasses, topo-maps & GPS? Shamans meeting from regions afar, would share their knowledge & model in rocks, pebbles, soil, sand, sticks, etc. the landscapes depicting distances, mountain ranges, river drainages & lakes, good-hunting and wildlife migrations of their respective regions. There is a fun lot to digest & learn here, if it appeals to you. Some KSR novels are long-slogs or unreadable while others are Brilliant. This one is Brilliant. Related See also: Bjorn Kurten, "Dance of the Tiger" & Werner Herzog documentary, "Cave of Forgotten Dreams". You will not be disappointed. (Y)