Five Books With Highly Imaginative Takes on Prehistoric Existence

I regret I cannot remember the Disco-Era caveman short story where
it was revealed some hominids could generate electric shocks, because
I definitely would have included it.

https://www.tor.com/2023/11/27/five-books-with-highly-imaginative-takes-on-prehistoric-existence/
--
My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
My tor pieces at https://www.tor.com/author/james-davis-nicoll/
My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

On Monday, November 27, 2023 at 10:15:48 AM UTC-5, James Nicoll wrote:
> Five Books With Highly Imaginative Takes on Prehistoric Existence
>
> I regret I cannot remember the Disco-Era caveman short story where
> it was revealed some hominids could generate electric shocks, because
> I definitely would have included it.
>
> https://www.tor.com/2023/11/27/five-books-with-highly-imaginative-takes-on-prehistoric-existence/

I've read most of these. I had no idea the film 'Quest for fire' was based on
such an old book.

The film is pretty good, but limits itself to Neanderthals (the protags) and
Cro-Magnons (met partway through). The scene where a young CM woman
creates fire for the NT is pure magic.

pt

On Monday, November 27, 2023 at 11:08:32 AM UTC-5, pete...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Monday, November 27, 2023 at 10:15:48 AM UTC-5, James Nicoll wrote:
> > Five Books With Highly Imaginative Takes on Prehistoric Existence
> >
> > I regret I cannot remember the Disco-Era caveman short story where
> > it was revealed some hominids could generate electric shocks, because
> > I definitely would have included it.
> >
> > https://www.tor.com/2023/11/27/five-books-with-highly-imaginative-takes-on-prehistoric-existence/
> I've read most of these. I had no idea the film 'Quest for fire' was based on
> such an old book.
>
> The film is pretty good, but limits itself to Neanderthals (the protags) and
> Cro-Magnons (met partway through). The scene where a young CM woman
> creates fire for the NT is pure magic.

Turns out the film is on YT. Here's the scene: https://youtu.be/RRzrPZdrdrE?t=4320

pt

In article <4d1e4fbf-ac9e-4fc9-89c9-584de2dd4119n@googlegroups.com>,
pete...@gmail.com <petertrei@gmail.com> wrote:
>On Monday, November 27, 2023 at 10:15:48 AM UTC-5, James Nicoll wrote:
>> Five Books With Highly Imaginative Takes on Prehistoric Existence
>>
>> I regret I cannot remember the Disco-Era caveman short story where
>> it was revealed some hominids could generate electric shocks, because
>> I definitely would have included it.
>>
>>
>https://www.tor.com/2023/11/27/five-books-with-highly-imaginative-takes-on-prehistoric-existence/
>
>I've read most of these. I had no idea the film 'Quest for fire' was based on
>such an old book.
>
>The film is pretty good, but limits itself to Neanderthals (the protags) and
>Cro-Magnons (met partway through). The scene where a young CM woman
>creates fire for the NT is pure magic.
>
The actress had an adventage creating fire because she was hot.
--
My reviews can be found at http://jamesdavisnicoll.com/
My tor pieces at https://www.tor.com/author/james-davis-nicoll/
My Dreamwidth at https://james-davis-nicoll.dreamwidth.org/
My patreon is at https://www.patreon.com/jamesdnicoll

On 2023-11-27, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:

> https://www.tor.com/2023/11/27/five-books-with-highly-imaginative-takes-on-prehistoric-existence/

I've read _The Clan of the Cave Bear_ and I think three of the ever
more voluminous sequels, where Ayla is in the process of single-handedly
inventing the Neolithic. The series starts out interesting but
becomes increasingly bloated and in dire need of editorial trimming.

--
Christian "naddy" Weisgerber naddy@mips.inka.de

On 11/27/2023 8:37 AM, Christian Weisgerber wrote:
> On 2023-11-27, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:
>
>> https://www.tor.com/2023/11/27/five-books-with-highly-imaginative-takes-on-prehistoric-existence/
>
> I've read _The Clan of the Cave Bear_ and I think three of the ever
> more voluminous sequels, where Ayla is in the process of single-handedly
> inventing the Neolithic. The series starts out interesting but
> becomes increasingly bloated and in dire need of editorial trimming.
>
Personally I found the amount of unnecessary soap to be an issue with
the series.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

On Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 2:15:48 AM UTC+11, James Nicoll wrote:
> Five Books With Highly Imaginative Takes on Prehistoric Existence
>
> I regret I cannot remember the Disco-Era caveman short story where
> it was revealed some hominids could generate electric shocks, because
> I definitely would have included it.
>
> https://www.tor.com/2023/11/27/five-books-with-highly-imaginative-takes-on-prehistoric-existence/

On The Many-Colored Land you write: "One cannot help but be astonished by the Galactic Milieu’s acquiescence in the exile project."

That's explained in the prequels where cause-and-effect comes sharply into play for a main character of both series.

It's all wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey.

Of the others, I've read "Clan of the Cave Bear", which I really enjoyed. I enjoyed it enough to seek out the sequels, to my regret.

-Moriarty

On 11/27/2023 9:15 AM, James Nicoll wrote:
> Five Books With Highly Imaginative Takes on Prehistoric Existence
>
> I regret I cannot remember the Disco-Era caveman short story where
> it was revealed some hominids could generate electric shocks, because
> I definitely would have included it.
>
> https://www.tor.com/2023/11/27/five-books-with-highly-imaginative-takes-on-prehistoric-existence/

One for five here, the excellent "The Clan of the Cave Bear". I read a
couple of the sequels and gave up.

Would Robert J. Sawyer's books about Neanderthals in a parallel world
count here ?
https://www.amazon.com/Hominids-Neanderthal-Parallax-Robert-Sawyer/dp/0765392348/

Lynn