Clan of the Cave Bear series.....

[Epona]

Anyone else like this series by Jean M Auel?
I am a big fan, so would like to hear people's opinions - what did you like, what didn't you like, all the usual stuff.
Only 3 and a half months to go until Book 5 is released (Shelters of Stone) so how do you think the story will continue?

(If posting spoilers from the first 2 chapters which were released in COTCB special edition, please clearly mark your post as a spoiler!)

[J'aran]

So there's a book 5 a-coming? Cool! Didn't know that. I read the first three (or was it four? I forget) books years ago and I thought the series was finished.
I liked the books overall, although in the end I grew somewhat bored with the endless descriptions of the landscapes. That became a bit too much IMO.
No idea how the story will continue though. As I said it was years ago since I read it, and I need to go over the story again if I want to remember the details before I settle down with book 5.

[Epona]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by J'aran:
I thought the series was finished.
<hr></blockquote>

No no no no no!!! Not yet it ain't!
We are also due for a book 6 sometime next year hopefully.
Book four was Plains of Passage in case you haven't seen that one.

Know what you mean about the descriptions of landscapes - I tend to skip over those if they're not vital to the story when I re-read the series.

[Kresselack]

The description of the landscapes and the life of the lifes of the primitives are what I like about the story. It makes me feel that the Jean M Auel has really researched or think about the story, on the other hand I feel that she really overdid the sex description thing.
The main characters seems to be having sex all the time and she seems to have to tell us every sordid details!!!!

Anyway I like the series very much but am indiferent to the main characters, imho she made them too perfect and the noble savages sentimentality about prehistoric cultures is so sickening. I hope that the next book is more true to primitive society (wars n conflicts).
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[Epona]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Kresselack:


I hope that the next book is more true to primitive society (wars n conflicts).
<hr></blockquote>

Don't know where you get that from Kresselack, which archaeological evidence are you referring to? I would be interested to read the report, although I have to say I am first and foremost a Roman archaeologist, but I do have an interest in prehistory. As far as I recall there is hardly any evidence whatsoever for your postulation.

There is evidence that Neanderthal individuals who were badly crippled and who would not have been able to fend for themselves were cared for by their societies into old age - the injuries Creb carried throughout his life were based on archaeological evidence, as were all the dwellings and burials mentioned in the books. Like you, I don't like the term 'noble savage' - because there was nothing savage about these people.

[ 01-18-2002: Message edited by: Epona ]</p>

[Lilia Fawne]

Kewl!!
I just read those books a few months ago and I really liked 'em! I could have done without the sex scenes tho (bleh!), and I did like the descriptions of the scenery, it made me feel more in the books. That's sooo cool that there are more books coming!!

(As you can prob tell I love to read.)

[Fljotsdale]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it as well! I think she HAS to bring in the Iceman in either 5 or 6. And of course, they were going to his his home area - I wonder how she will be received by his family?
And wasn't Ayla in an 'interesting condition' at the end of book 4?

I agree with the people who said there was too much sex. Sex is a great thing, but it felt like reading pornography sometimes! The ONLY thing I didn't really like about the books.

[ 01-19-2002: Message edited by: Fljotsdale ]</p>

[J'aran]

Heh, as I said it was years ago that I read the books, I was only thirteen or fourteen years old at the time, so those sex scenes were one of the things that appealed to me the most
But now I've matured a bit I agree with you people, in that she overdid that at times.

[Talthyr Malkaviel]

Really!
Cool, I had no I idea it was out so soon, I've been waiting for book 5 for ages, I just didn't know when it would come out, what with the huge time gap between each one.
(With good reason of course.)

[ 01-20-2002: Message edited by: Talthyr Malkaviel ]</p>

[Epona]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Fljotsdale:
Yeah, I'm looking forward to it as well! I think she HAS to bring in the Iceman in either 5 or 6. And of course, they were going to his his home area - I wonder how she will be received by his family?
And wasn't Ayla in an 'interesting condition' at the end of book 4?

I agree with the people who said there was too much sex. Sex is a great thing, but it felt like reading pornography sometimes! The ONLY thing I didn't really like about the books.

[ 01-19-2002: Message edited by: Fljotsdale ]<hr></blockquote>

Sorry to dissapoint, but if you mean Otzi the Iceman, he lived 5000 years ago, not 30000 - so I don't think Auel will be able to write him into it somehow

I agree that some of the sex scenes are a little overdone - it got boring after a while!