People of the River (The First North Americans series, Book 4)

Thousands of years ago, small hunting bands crossed the fragile land bridge linking the Eurasian continent to the Americas and discovered a land untouched by humankind. Over the centuries that followed, their descendents spread throughout this land. Bestselling authors and award-winning archaeologists W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O’Neal Gear bring the stories of these first North Americans to life in this magnificent, multi-volume saga. In 1100 C.E., master astronomers, merchants, and engineers walked the halls of Mound Builder cities. From their multi-story palaces in the central Mississippi Valley, they governed a civilization that spread across all of eastern North America. Then climate change shook the civilization to its roots, and a mad God-King arose. The People’s only hope of survival rested in a rogue war chief who had betrayed his own people and a young girl who was learning to dream of Power…. Publishers Weekly Following their three bestselling paperbacks ( People of the Earth , etc.), the Gears cross over to hardcover with this absorbing addition to their First North Americans series. Here they cover the culture of the so-called Mississippians, who, between 700 A.D. and 1500 A.D., lived in the area surrounding Cahokia in what is now Illinois. The authors, who are also professional archeologists, depict a hierarchical society that depends on corn for sustenance, worships various gods, builds mounds of earth (some as high as 100 feet) and develops a precise knowledge of astronomy. As the novel opens, a severe drought has hit the region. The villagers near Cahokia cannot feed themselves, much less pay the required tribute of corn to Tharon, their chief, but he sends his soldiers to prey on them anyway. The religious ceremonies, ethics and taboos as well as the passions and longings of these ancients are made urgent and vivid in dramas centering on Tharon's conflicted chief warrior; the woman who fights at his side; a priestess whose dreams predict the future; and a young Dreamer who will be a priestess someday. Fast-paced and engrossing, the novel has the ring of authenticity as well. Major ad/promo; author tour. (July) "People of the River is a gripping new saga of pre-historic America that takes us to the Mississippi Valley and the tribe known as the Mound builders. It is a time of troubles. In Cahokia, the corn crop is failing again and a warchief--and the warrior woman he may never possess--are disgusted by their Chief's lust for tribute. Now even the gods have turned their faces, closing the underworld to the seers. If the gods have abandoned the people, there is no hope--unless it comes in the form of a young girl who is learning to Dream of Power. A masterful story of the North America's Forgotten Past by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear, the bestselling authors of People of the Earth"--Provided by the publisher A gripping new saga of pre-historic America that takes us to the Mississippi Valley and the tribe known as the Mound builders. It is a time of troubles. In Cahokia, the corn crop is failing again and a warchief--and the warrior woman he may never possess--are disgusted by their Chief's lust for tribute. Now even the gods have turned their faces, closing the underworld to the seers. If the gods have abandoned the people, there is no hope--unless it comes in the form of a young girl who is learning to Dream of Power. A masterful story of the mound-building Cahokia empire on the Mississippi River, by the bestselling authors of People of the Earth. The Mississippi River Valley and Cahokia are the homelands of the people known as moundbuilders. A warrior chief can love, but never possess the woman he loves. Together they must find a means to overcome the Chiefs" thirst for power and tribute. With the gods forsaking them and the crops in the fields failing, the people look to one who can possess the Dream of Power, the age-old ability to communicate with the gods With the corn crop failing and the Cahokia Chief's lust for tribute growing, a war chief and the warrior woman he loves look to the gods for a sign of hope for their people