Earth's Children saga by Jean Auel

[SixPins]

Hey guys, I have been wanting to read a really well researched and enviornmentally rich historical fiction novel dealing with prehistoric times. I came across Clan of the Cave Bear on amazon and saw that it was praised and that is also a first in a series with four other books. Anyone read these? Are they pretty good? It certainly sounds like it has potential to be a phenominal series.

Few tidbits I noticed...
- The latest book didn't seem to be accepted too well.
- A sixth and possible seventh book are due in the series but no release for no. 6 has been announced.

[Moderator]

I liked them a lot but read the first four back to back and if I read "throbbing manhood" one more time, I thought I might scream. The last book was okay but didn't grab me the way the first four did. Steve is a big fan of the series, too. As he says, "there's nothing like a little caveman sex."

[Matticus]

:lol:

I feel the same way. I thought the first one was GREAT and it hooked me for the rest.

Valley of the Horses was good but not all that and it went from there.

Jondalar!!

Ayla!!

<prehistoric snuggles>

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed them up to Plains of Passage (4), and I've recommended them to many who've also enjoyed them, but there's no doubt that Ms Mod is right (as always) and Jean M. Auel seems to have run out of ideas about there.

But Clan of the Cave Bear is excellent IMO and her research was impeccable when it was written, although far more of the Neanderthal has been discovered since.

Jean M. Auel

Earth's Children

Long days and pleasant nights

PS 'Throbbing manhood' indeed, Ms Mod, LMFAO!

[ihavepromisestokeep]

I read these as I young man, lets just say I enjoyed certain parts of the books more than others.

[tillyn]

Heard of them , haven't read them. Guess another series for the list (sigh! So little time, so much to read!)

[SixPins]

Thanks everyone! I've heard that there is some pretty hefty sex in the books. I don't mind at all as long as a strong story, nice prose, and and good characters are the root of the books.

[ecoll]

Well, I have read these, but it has been a VEEEEEEEEERY long time. From what I remember, they were very good. I was a huge fan until the fourth one, I think it was. Now, apparently Jean Auel did do quite a bit of research to write these books and I was impressed by how well formed her opinions on prehistoric people were. As many have mentioned, there is quite a bit of prehistoric boning (sorry, I know it's a bad joke, but just humor me), but believe it or not, the books wouldn't be quite the same without it. It gets old, fast, but their "ruttin' like aminals" is what makes it all the more believable.

[Gwenivere]

This is an excellent story and one of my favorite series. A definite must read.
All volumes sit right up there on the shelf with Stephen.

[Mjenn]

I love these books, spent a few years years working in archaeology, and these were always a guilty pleasure.

Clan of the Cave Bear is the best 'novel' but it's also probably the least historically based of the books. By book number 4 I'd say Jean switched tracks. She spent a lot of time at research conferences in between the books and I think she got carried away with the archaeology.

Book 4 really is a beautiful description of many theories/ideas on prehisotic life. I loved reading about the housing, food, decorations etc. but the 'novel' aspect of it is terrible.