The West of Eden Trilogy (Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature)
At a glance:
- Author: Harry Harrison
- First Published: 1984
- Type of Work: Novels
- Type of Plot: Science fiction—alternate history
- Time of Work: The present
- Setting: North America, Africa, and South America
- Genres: Long fiction, Science fiction, Alternate history
- Subjects: North America or North Americans, Africa or Africans, Twentieth century, South America or South Americans, Genocide, Prehistoric animals
- Locales: Africa, South America, North America
The Plot
On the parallel Earth of these novels, the meteor that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs never struck. From the prehistoric dinosaurs evolved the dominant life-form on the planet, the Yilanè, an advanced reptilian race. Increasingly colder winters drive the Yilanè, who inhabit Africa, to attempt the colonization of North America, where they first encounter the Tanu, human hunters.
The Yilanè, a militaristic, matriarchal species whose males are kept cloistered, establish their first colony, Alpèasak, in Florida. The shrewd, ambitious Vaintè becomes its...
[The entire page is 1455 words long]
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