Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I would have rated this two stars, but about halfway through things started happening and it became moderately exciting.
For some reason, as I was reading, I couldn't help but imagine "Shaman" as a fanfic on Archive of Our Own, and what its entry would look like when coming across it while browsing.
Here's the Archive entry I can't get out of my head:
Shaman by Kim Stanley Robinson
Fandoms: Stone Age Humanity
Rating: Mature
Archive Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Categories: F/M
Pairing: Loon/Elga
Complete Work
3 Sept 2013
Tags: research pr0n, plot what plot, historically accurate (hopefully), kidnapping, Once Upon A Time in France 30,000 Years Ago, minor character death, major character death, mysticism, Freud was right about sex being everywhere, but in a non-sexy way, a pussy is a pussy, an animal pussy is a pussy, a cave is a pussy, a triangle is a pussy, everything is a pussy, survival pr0n, cannibalism, seeing ghosts, third person narration, occasional first person narration, POETRY!!!, but not great poetry
Summary:
Loon is going to be the shaman of his tribe, and he doesn't like it.
I hope y'all were wondering about what your average human did every day 30,000 years ago, because here's the answer. Sorry about the plot! I didn't want to add it, but then *something* had to happen so that Loon would have an excuse to visit the polar regions. Enjoy!
For some reason, as I was reading, I couldn't help but imagine "Shaman" as a fanfic on Archive of Our Own, and what its entry would look like when coming across it while browsing.
Here's the Archive entry I can't get out of my head:
Shaman by Kim Stanley Robinson
Fandoms: Stone Age Humanity
Rating: Mature
Archive Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death
Categories: F/M
Pairing: Loon/Elga
Complete Work
3 Sept 2013
Tags: research pr0n, plot what plot, historically accurate (hopefully), kidnapping, Once Upon A Time in France 30,000 Years Ago, minor character death, major character death, mysticism, Freud was right about sex being everywhere, but in a non-sexy way, a pussy is a pussy, an animal pussy is a pussy, a cave is a pussy, a triangle is a pussy, everything is a pussy, survival pr0n, cannibalism, seeing ghosts, third person narration, occasional first person narration, POETRY!!!, but not great poetry
Summary:
Loon is going to be the shaman of his tribe, and he doesn't like it.
I hope y'all were wondering about what your average human did every day 30,000 years ago, because here's the answer. Sorry about the plot! I didn't want to add it, but then *something* had to happen so that Loon would have an excuse to visit the polar regions. Enjoy!
adventurous
slow-paced
Not sure what I think. Parts of the story had me engaged, and others were Kim Stanley Robinson’s deep and slow descriptions that were a struggle - not entertaining. I can appreciate the effort and intellect that goes into the work though.
I stepped in to help him. With my help he would change over between worlds and sleep while waking, wake while sleeping, and live on in the dream world, but nowhere else. And thus endure.
As I scifi girlie I couldn't believe I found Orbit books for <PHP200 at National, but anyway this one ended up in my hands. I tried the audiobook alongside, which I think worked.
Loon is to be the next shaman for his people, and we follow the obstacles and characters that build him into one. What I love about Shaman is how close it brings you to the ancient, natural world, and the simplicity of prehistoric life. I enjoyed the connection to the femininity and masculinity of the earth. There is a lot of spirituality and instinct in Loon's journey, and it's a compelling state of mind.
It was surprisingly comforting to read this because what happened was: the story set the pace, and I followed. Events in the story reminded me of the Big Cycle, how abundance always became hunger and night always gave way to day, and it was a kind of relief. Not to mention that studying in medicine, like I currently am, you are taught how important it is to have that same trust in the laws of nature.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I were to try to create some kind of thematic key to the many books of Kim Stanley Robinson, nature would be high on the list. He’s always been fascinated with the natural world, whether it is the artificial landscape of an orbiting habitat, the wonders of other planets in our solar system, or the Earth itself. Shaman gives him a chance to explore the wonders of prehistoric Earth.
The plot itself is slight. Shaman is a coming of age story for Loon, a shaman’s apprentice during the Ice Age. But the plot is just a frame work for Robinson’s real concern: what was life like during the Ice Age?
With that in mind, Robinson crafts an immersive world, where we are following Loon as he goes through the rhythms of life. Loon’s world is as terrifying as it is wonderful. For every spectacular vista or view, there are dangerous predators or Neanderthals.
This immersive experience is the real draw here. The lack of a propulsive story means that the book doesn’t move quickly. Just as Loon lives to rhythms that are slower than the modern world, so to this book demands a slower read that simply is content to exist in the past that Robinson has crafted. This isn’t an experience that will appeal to all readers. But for those that have felt the lure of the Wild, this is an unforgettable experience.
The plot itself is slight. Shaman is a coming of age story for Loon, a shaman’s apprentice during the Ice Age. But the plot is just a frame work for Robinson’s real concern: what was life like during the Ice Age?
With that in mind, Robinson crafts an immersive world, where we are following Loon as he goes through the rhythms of life. Loon’s world is as terrifying as it is wonderful. For every spectacular vista or view, there are dangerous predators or Neanderthals.
This immersive experience is the real draw here. The lack of a propulsive story means that the book doesn’t move quickly. Just as Loon lives to rhythms that are slower than the modern world, so to this book demands a slower read that simply is content to exist in the past that Robinson has crafted. This isn’t an experience that will appeal to all readers. But for those that have felt the lure of the Wild, this is an unforgettable experience.
An interesting story of a young man and his journey into adulthood in prehistoric times; specifically, near the end of the Neandertal period and the rise of the Cro-Magnon. The story is built on a fascinating base of prehistoric life and full of beautiful detail and scenes. The characters are interesting, with several standing out. I also enjoyed occasional forays into different viewpoints from an animal perspective (e.g. cat).
adventurous
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The first part had me skeptical, but the longer it went, the more invested I was.
By the time it ended, I was in love with the characters, and felt like I had also experienced a journey of growth. This was really an unforgettable experience, one that has forced me to reflect on the basic nature of human beings, and what makes us who we are.
By the time it ended, I was in love with the characters, and felt like I had also experienced a journey of growth. This was really an unforgettable experience, one that has forced me to reflect on the basic nature of human beings, and what makes us who we are.
adventurous
slow-paced
As this book opens, 12-year-old Loon is being sent out naked in the middle of a heavy rain storm to survive on his own in the Ice Age wilderness for a few weeks - this is part of his small tribe's adulthood ritual and also part of Loon's shaman training. Following Loon as he becomes an adult and a shaman, this book imagines humans in the Paleolithic climate with great detail and realism. It's hard to place this into a genre - "prehistoric fiction" might be closest, but it's also a survival story and might appeal to fans of post-apocalyptic speculative fiction. I found it a weird mix of riveting and slow. And, bonus: unlike my decades-old memories of the [b:Clan of the Cave Bear|1295|The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children, #1)|Jean M. Auel|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385331302s/1295.jpg|1584694], there are no rape scenes.
The story is also smart and goes deep into what it means to live in a culture without writing, with only oral tradition, as well as going far into psychedelic drugs and cave painting.
The story is also smart and goes deep into what it means to live in a culture without writing, with only oral tradition, as well as going far into psychedelic drugs and cave painting.