Potent if overlong, Dann's (The Good Neighbors) prehistoric epic is a dizzying amalgam of legend, myth, archaeology, warfare and romance. Set somewhere on the Eurasian continent around 30,000 B.C., the novel pits lovers Agon and Eena against tradition and taboo in a time of immense brutality and a place of vast, pristine beauty. Agon is known simply as Axe Man while Eena is referred to as Spear Woman, a title she first lives up to in a gruesome scene in which she adroitly casts her spear down the throat of a hyena. Agon is the son of mighty chieftain and sorcerer Grae, leader of a warrior tribe known as the Bison Hunters. He spies golden-haired Eena with her brother and father along the banks of an immense glacier-fed river. Before his eyes, the men are slaughtered by a rival Neanderthal tribe led by the murderous shaman, Ka, who kidnaps and rapes Eena. Heroic Axe Man saves Spear Woman, and the two begin their own tribe, yet they still fear the vengeance of Ka's children. Their love is not like that of their fellow cave-dwellers, but a reciprocal passion and a mutual respect for each other's strengths. In his sweeping, cast-of-thousands tale, Dann tackles the culture of the Ice Age in sparse, biblically tinged prose.
"In the tradition of Clan of the Cave Bear this mesmerizing saga will enthrall a broad spectrum of readers." Booklisto
Song of the Axe is the story of two lovers, Agon and Eena, and their family, who lived 30,000 years ago. Agon is a great warrior, a master of the deadly axe song, the music of his weapon. Eena, beloved of Mother Earth, can fight like a man and cast a spear better than anyone. They and their tribe live by the banks of a huge, glacier-fed river at a time near the end of an Ice Age, when fearsome invaders threaten their lives.
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."
Song of the Axe is the story of two lovers, Agon and Eena, and their family, who lived 30,000 years ago. Agon is a great warrior, a master of the deadly axe song, the music of his weapon. Eena, beloved of Mother Earth, can fight like a man and cast a spear better than anyone. They and their tribe live by the banks of a huge, glacier-fed river at a time near the end of an Ice Age, when fearsome invaders threaten their lives.
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."
Set in 30,000 B.C.E., Dann's debut novel is reminiscent of Jean Auel's The Clan of the Cave Bear. It combines elements of anthropological history and the mythologies of several cultures. When Eena is captured by Ka, leader of the clan of Kaan, Alor comes to her rescue, killing Ka and taking Eena as his mate. A mighty hunter, Alor is virtually invincible in battle owing in large part to the magic tied to his axe. Together, Alor and Eena become the legendary Axe Man and Spear Woman. In spite of their desire to live in peace with their sons, they can't escape the shadow of Ka, for his offspring pursue them, seeking revenge.
