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North America's Forgotten Past #13
People of the Moon
The moon had reached its maximum three times since the Chacoans conquered the First Moon People. The Chaco matrons had built their Great House high atop First Moon Mountain, and their warriors stalked arrogantly through the villages, taking what they pleased. But the gods can only stand so much human arrogance.
Cold Bringing Woman, the goddess of winter, calls upon young Ripple to embark on a perilous quest to destroy the hated Chacoans. But Ripple will not face the task alone; he is aided by his stalwart friends: Wrapped Wrist, a short lothario; Spots, scarred at birth, and aide to the frightening witch, Nightshade; and Bad Cast, a simple family man, who will do anything to free his people.
But the blessed matrons will brook no insurgency. In retaliation, war chief Leather Hand and his warriors embark on a campaign of terror so gruesome it remains unrivaled in the annals of prehistory. It all comes to a climax atop the mountain we now know as Chimney Rock. In the white light of the lunar maximum, the Pueblo gods will dance—and an empire will be engulfed in flames and mayhem.
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear, People of the Moon is a story of North America's Forgotten Past—the battles fought, the heroes made, and the cultures that thrived in America's prehistory.
Cold Bringing Woman, the goddess of winter, calls upon young Ripple to embark on a perilous quest to destroy the hated Chacoans. But Ripple will not face the task alone; he is aided by his stalwart friends: Wrapped Wrist, a short lothario; Spots, scarred at birth, and aide to the frightening witch, Nightshade; and Bad Cast, a simple family man, who will do anything to free his people.
But the blessed matrons will brook no insurgency. In retaliation, war chief Leather Hand and his warriors embark on a campaign of terror so gruesome it remains unrivaled in the annals of prehistory. It all comes to a climax atop the mountain we now know as Chimney Rock. In the white light of the lunar maximum, the Pueblo gods will dance—and an empire will be engulfed in flames and mayhem.
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear, People of the Moon is a story of North America's Forgotten Past—the battles fought, the heroes made, and the cultures that thrived in America's prehistory.
640 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
49 people are currently reading
1516 people want to read
About the author
W. Michael Gear
181 books730 followersW. Michael Gear was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the twentieth of May, 1955. A fourth generation Colorado native, his family had been involved in hard-rock mining, cattle ranching, and journalism. After his father's death in 1959, Michael's mother received her Master's degree in journalism and began teaching. In 1962 she married Joseph J. Cook, who taught tool and die making, and the family lived in Lakewood, Colorado, until 1968. At that time they moved to Fort Collins so that Joe could pursue his Ph.D.. During those years the family lived in the foothills above Horsetooth Reservoir.
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/wmicha...
It was there that Mike developed a love of history, anthropology, and motorcycles. They would color his future and fill his imagination for the rest of his life. During summers he volunteered labor on local ranches or at the farm east of Greeley and landed his first real job: picking up trash at the lake and cleaning outhouses. It has been said that his exposure to trash led him into archaeology. We will not speculate about what cleaning the outhouses might have led him to. On his first dig as a professional archaeologist in 1976 he discovered that two thousand year old human trash isn't nearly as obnoxious as the new stuff.
Michael graduated from Fort Collins High School in 1972 and pursued both his Bachelor's (1976) and Master's (1979) degrees at Colorado State University. Upon completion of his Master's - his specialty was in physical anthropology - he went to work for Western Wyoming College in Rock Springs as a field archaeologist.
It was in the winter of 1978 that he wrote his first novel. Irritated by historical inaccuracies in Western fiction, he swore he could do better. He was "taking retirement in installments," archaeology being a seasonal career, in the cabin his great uncle Aubrey had built. One cold January night he read a Western novel about a trail drive in which steers (castrated males) had calves. The historical inaccuracies of the story bothered him all night. The next morning, still incensed, he chunked wood into the stove and hunkered over the typewriter. There, on the mining claim, at nine thousand feet outside of Empire, Colorado he hammered out his first five hundred and fifty page novel. Yes, that first manuscript still exists, but if there is justice in the universe, no one will ever see it. It reads wretchedly - but the historical facts are correct!
Beginning in 1981, Michael, along with two partners, put together his own archaeological consulting company. Pronghorn Anthropological Associates began doing cultural resource management studies in 1982, and, although Michael sold his interest in 1984, to this day the company remains in business in Casper, Wyoming. During the years, Michael has worked throughout the western United States doing archaeological surveys, testing, and mitigation for pipelines, oil wells, power lines, timber sales, and highway construction. He learned the value of strong black coffee, developed a palate for chocolate donuts, and ferreted out every quality Mexican restaurant in eight states. He spent nine months of the year traveling from project to project with his trowel and dig kit, a clapped-out '72 Wonder Blazer, and his boon companion, Tedi, a noble tri-color Sheltie.
That fateful day in November, 1981, was delightfully clear, cold, and still in Laramie, Wyoming. Archaeologists from all over the state had arrived at the University of Wyoming for the annual meetings of the Wyoming Association of Professional Archaeologists. It was there, in the meeting room, way too early after a much too long night, that Mike first laid eyes on the most beautiful woman in the world: Kathleen O'Neal Gear. The BLM State Archaeologist, Ray Leicht, introduced him to the pretty anthropologist and historian, and best of all, Ray invited Mike to lunch with Kathleen. It was the perfect beginning for a long and wondrous relationship.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/wmicha...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 13, 2014
This is the first book in the series that I would actually say you should read others before reading it. It very closely ties in to the book People of the Silence so I would say you should read them in order. That being said, if you skip this one in the series, I don't really feel like you would miss much.
The First People, under the new command of Webworm, still are not doing as well as they should. They are oppressing the people and when drought and pests destroy the crops, a desperate act by farmers to steal food is brought low by retaliation and cannibalism. A new Dreamer has arrived though and he has seen the end of the First People, but the question remains as to whether people will follow their heart or follow the dream.
I can't say I really liked any of the characters. They weren't developed and there were so many bouncing around that it was hard to keep track of them all. And you didn't get a conclusion on many of them that wraps their stories up, so even if you did care for them, you may not know what happened to them. Nightshade was as spooky as she's been in previous books, but since she's older it's somehow not as menacing. And again there is madness that plagues the antagonists in this book. That seems to be one of the only ways people are truly bad in these books.
This book was long and drawn out. It bounced around from place to place and I felt that some of the plot was just put in there at random without a lot of thought given to it. I actually had a hard time reading this one, it took me about three times longer than normal to read a book of this size. And it's because I had to keep stopping because I wasn't interested in what was going on. A plus would be there was a lot of history and lore in this book. Clothing, rituals, etc. was detailed and it helped explained what happened in that period of history. But unfortunately the actual plot just didn't have enough going for it.
Probably one of my least favorites in the series. I only have a few books left in the series though, so here's hoping they are better!
People of the Moon
Copyright 2005
603 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2014
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
The First People, under the new command of Webworm, still are not doing as well as they should. They are oppressing the people and when drought and pests destroy the crops, a desperate act by farmers to steal food is brought low by retaliation and cannibalism. A new Dreamer has arrived though and he has seen the end of the First People, but the question remains as to whether people will follow their heart or follow the dream.
I can't say I really liked any of the characters. They weren't developed and there were so many bouncing around that it was hard to keep track of them all. And you didn't get a conclusion on many of them that wraps their stories up, so even if you did care for them, you may not know what happened to them. Nightshade was as spooky as she's been in previous books, but since she's older it's somehow not as menacing. And again there is madness that plagues the antagonists in this book. That seems to be one of the only ways people are truly bad in these books.
This book was long and drawn out. It bounced around from place to place and I felt that some of the plot was just put in there at random without a lot of thought given to it. I actually had a hard time reading this one, it took me about three times longer than normal to read a book of this size. And it's because I had to keep stopping because I wasn't interested in what was going on. A plus would be there was a lot of history and lore in this book. Clothing, rituals, etc. was detailed and it helped explained what happened in that period of history. But unfortunately the actual plot just didn't have enough going for it.
Probably one of my least favorites in the series. I only have a few books left in the series though, so here's hoping they are better!
People of the Moon
Copyright 2005
603 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2014
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com
April 6, 2016
This used archaeological evidence to fabric a story about why the Anasazi may have left Chaco Canyon. It was a great story, well crafted and most enjoyable. I love these books.
April 5, 2014
Having lived in the southwest for almost a decade and touring some of the historical sites, I think the authors did a superb job. But then, they are archaeologists and historians. I'd expect nothing but an accurate story. The characters are great. The story is engaging - love, revenge, redemption, war, destruction, and salvation. I haven't read the other thirteen books in this series, but I'm going to read them all now. I had no problems reading this as a stand-alone novel. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but if you aren't into detailed historical fiction, you're going to want to get something more fluffy. Me, I like a little gristle in my story.
September 8, 2008
Good read, part of the series. Intersting learning the culture, religion, etc. I have enjoyed nearly all the books in the series.
November 11, 2015
It was a goodread.
February 9, 2014
Take a step back in time as the Gears transport you back to the site we know as Chimney Rock, in modern-day Colorado. This site is called First Moon Mountain in People of the Moon. Set just a few after years after People of the Silence, People of the Moon answers the questions the reader is left with after Silence and at the end of the Anasazi Mystery trilogy. The First People have controlled the Chacoans (Moon People). The story follows young Ripple, a new visionary for his people. Cold Bringing Woman has given Ripple a quest to follow, to destroy the First People. Ripple is not alone in his quest, his friends, Bad Cast, Wrapped Wrist and Spots follow suit as power leads them on their own paths of the vision. Wrapped Wrist finds the warrior inside him as he saves the warrior woman Crow Woman. Bad Cast is just a simple farmer with a small family but who will do anything to save his people and is tired of the foolish First People and their haughty ways. Spots becomes helper to the Mountain Witch, Nightshade despite his family history with power and their destruction in fire. As the friends journey through Ripple’s vision and Cold Bringing Woman’s plan, god will fight god and clan with fight clan. The First People’s matrons do not want to hear of this vision, and send out warriors, lead by the twisted Leather Hand to find Ripple and make renounce the vision and pay for his insolence like his parents before him. Readers will feel sand blast them as the wind whips around the villages and tempers run high. The former First People matron Nightsun and her former war chief Ironwood re-appear along with the beloved characters of Poor Singer and Cornsilk. The pinnacle of their story is reached amid breaths of snow and ash as the old ways and gods are pushed aside as the First People are challenged with a new way and a new world.
July 31, 2016
People of the Moon was a beautifully written book, but it just didn't hook me into the series.
My rating is based on my experience with the book - it was absolutely beautifully written and I am totally amazed at how well built this world is, but I wasn't hooked. I struggled to keep picking this book and continue working my way through it. I had hoped I would like this book because I have heard great things about this series, but I just couldn't get into it.
This story has love, revenge, fighting, war, drama, and basically everything you want in a good soap-opera/historical novel. The book is incredibly long though, so if you want a quick read this might not be for you.
People of the Moon had "Game of Thrones" syndrome on me - lots of characters that I couldn't keep straight, but clearly a well thought out story. The names of the characters are more names of items (which makes sense historically) but it threw me off everytime I went back to it. I couldn't remember which characters did what, and I had to keep re-reading pieces over and over. For me, that's a dealbreaker in a book. For my friends, they live for it!
This book is for a particular type of reader, so be aware of what you like to read before picking it up. If you are like me and you like super not complex storylines, then this book might not be for you! But, if you want a complex novel with lots of action and drama, pick this up! It is a great book, it's just not a series I should personally read!
Overall, this book was to long and drawn out for me. It's still a great book and I want to applaud the others for how amazing it is! It's just not for me!
One out of five stars - It was way to hard to continue reading this book.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
My rating is based on my experience with the book - it was absolutely beautifully written and I am totally amazed at how well built this world is, but I wasn't hooked. I struggled to keep picking this book and continue working my way through it. I had hoped I would like this book because I have heard great things about this series, but I just couldn't get into it.
This story has love, revenge, fighting, war, drama, and basically everything you want in a good soap-opera/historical novel. The book is incredibly long though, so if you want a quick read this might not be for you.
People of the Moon had "Game of Thrones" syndrome on me - lots of characters that I couldn't keep straight, but clearly a well thought out story. The names of the characters are more names of items (which makes sense historically) but it threw me off everytime I went back to it. I couldn't remember which characters did what, and I had to keep re-reading pieces over and over. For me, that's a dealbreaker in a book. For my friends, they live for it!
This book is for a particular type of reader, so be aware of what you like to read before picking it up. If you are like me and you like super not complex storylines, then this book might not be for you! But, if you want a complex novel with lots of action and drama, pick this up! It is a great book, it's just not a series I should personally read!
Overall, this book was to long and drawn out for me. It's still a great book and I want to applaud the others for how amazing it is! It's just not for me!
One out of five stars - It was way to hard to continue reading this book.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
August 10, 2016
My son’s mother-in-law is Navaho so I was looking forward to reading this particular book. But when I came across the part where Leather Hand and his warriors eat their prisoners, I about put it down. I know this stuff happened, I just don’t like reading it. So I continued, deciding to skip those parts when they came.
The story its self was interesting, though I got a bit confused with the character’s names. This is the firt book in the series that actually is a real sequel to the previous. While the rest may have mentioned the past, they kinda of skipped over a bit of time or changed locations. This one referred to alot of the same areas, history and people as the previous.
Following Ripple, Bad Cast, Wrapped Wrist and Spots as they traveled around each following their own destiny was interesting. Their lives constantly crossed. Ripple again had particularly bad time when he was severely tortured, but I was proud of how brave he was.
While I understand the need for the Made people to be overthrown, it's still sad that a whole race had to be wiped out. I hope the chaos that occured afterwards settles down into a peaceful way of life for the poor people who just want to care for their familes in safety. Hopefully we shall see in the next book.
The various romances in the book were both tragic and heartwarming, as people either learned to trust one another or to be self-sacrificing for the good of the people.
Fave scene: Hard to say as the book had so many special moments. But the part where Wrapped Wrist rescues Crow Women from Leather Hand’s men keeps coming to mind.
The story its self was interesting, though I got a bit confused with the character’s names. This is the firt book in the series that actually is a real sequel to the previous. While the rest may have mentioned the past, they kinda of skipped over a bit of time or changed locations. This one referred to alot of the same areas, history and people as the previous.
Following Ripple, Bad Cast, Wrapped Wrist and Spots as they traveled around each following their own destiny was interesting. Their lives constantly crossed. Ripple again had particularly bad time when he was severely tortured, but I was proud of how brave he was.
While I understand the need for the Made people to be overthrown, it's still sad that a whole race had to be wiped out. I hope the chaos that occured afterwards settles down into a peaceful way of life for the poor people who just want to care for their familes in safety. Hopefully we shall see in the next book.
The various romances in the book were both tragic and heartwarming, as people either learned to trust one another or to be self-sacrificing for the good of the people.
Fave scene: Hard to say as the book had so many special moments. But the part where Wrapped Wrist rescues Crow Women from Leather Hand’s men keeps coming to mind.
August 9, 2014
People of the moon By Kathleen O’Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear
it has been quoted form Robert Frost that the world will end in either fire or ice, in this book by the Gears brings to question, what if it’s both. The Strait path nation is coming to an end, like the never ending spiral of the world it has completed its cycle. Webworm like his counterpart Nero seems to be dancing as the world burns literally around him. For the first time the Gears have brought together two great cast of characters, Night sun and Ironwood from people of the silence, and the powerful dreamer Nightshade. They have both seen the destruction of the world as they know, have come here to witness the battle of the Gods, as they see the world’s self-destruction. In the book we are introduced to four young new characters, four close childhood friends. Ripple, a young dreamer, brought into power by the gods themselves only to be tortured by the Strait Path matron Larksbird. The robust and endowed Wrapped wrist, who thought it, was more fun to play dalliances then any service to his clan or family. Bad Cast a young husband looked up to by all his friends for his jolly nature, and loving wife. Finally Spots, a scared and lonely man who believes he has nothing to look forward to. They all find that sacrifice for family; friends and the gods will bring them the greatest of things but cost them the most dearly. What choices would you make if on one hand you could have the love of life, and all the things you dreamed about, or give up everything to save the world?
it has been quoted form Robert Frost that the world will end in either fire or ice, in this book by the Gears brings to question, what if it’s both. The Strait path nation is coming to an end, like the never ending spiral of the world it has completed its cycle. Webworm like his counterpart Nero seems to be dancing as the world burns literally around him. For the first time the Gears have brought together two great cast of characters, Night sun and Ironwood from people of the silence, and the powerful dreamer Nightshade. They have both seen the destruction of the world as they know, have come here to witness the battle of the Gods, as they see the world’s self-destruction. In the book we are introduced to four young new characters, four close childhood friends. Ripple, a young dreamer, brought into power by the gods themselves only to be tortured by the Strait Path matron Larksbird. The robust and endowed Wrapped wrist, who thought it, was more fun to play dalliances then any service to his clan or family. Bad Cast a young husband looked up to by all his friends for his jolly nature, and loving wife. Finally Spots, a scared and lonely man who believes he has nothing to look forward to. They all find that sacrifice for family; friends and the gods will bring them the greatest of things but cost them the most dearly. What choices would you make if on one hand you could have the love of life, and all the things you dreamed about, or give up everything to save the world?
January 12, 2010
Although with a title and format of the Gear's "People of" series, People of the Moon is a continuation of the story told in the Anasazi Mysteries trilogy. If you have recently finished Bone Walker or People of the Silence and enjoyed either those books, read People of the Moon which includes or mentions characters in both. If you have only read one of Bone Walker and People of the Silence, read the other (and the preceding books in the Anasazi Mysteries trilogy, if you haven't read Bone Walker) before reading People of the Moon and you will enjoy it more.
February 12, 2017
It is actually more like a 3 1/2. I have read almost all of the books in this series and have enjoyed them all. This is the first one that I struggled with. I think mostly because it referred to many times to events in the People of the Silence, whereas the others you can read as a self contained book. All of the other books in the series I have given 4-5 stars. I think I would have scored this higher if I had read The People of the Silence and this book closer together (I read another book in the series in between these two). That is something I would recommend to others reading the series.
The story is about a character named Ripple who is visited by a goddess. The goddess has chosen Ripple as a conduit for the destruction of the First People. What follows is war, cannibalism and starvation as the Made People attempt to overthrow the Frist People. There are the usual characters of dreamers that you see in these books and the reference to the find by the archaeologists at the start of the book - both are trademarks of these authors.
Despite my issues with the book I can't fault the way the author has researched the material. You can tall both of them know their stuff and it makes the book believable. They are a good series and I recommend them all.
The story is about a character named Ripple who is visited by a goddess. The goddess has chosen Ripple as a conduit for the destruction of the First People. What follows is war, cannibalism and starvation as the Made People attempt to overthrow the Frist People. There are the usual characters of dreamers that you see in these books and the reference to the find by the archaeologists at the start of the book - both are trademarks of these authors.
Despite my issues with the book I can't fault the way the author has researched the material. You can tall both of them know their stuff and it makes the book believable. They are a good series and I recommend them all.
October 18, 2020
Book club read, because it is written by a local authors. I tried for 114 pages.
Strike 1 - Lengthy, dry descriptions of southern Colorado / Northern New Mexico terrain. Specifics about what each of many different character sees to the north, south, east, and west. The descriptions did not help me create a picture in my mind as much as make it clear that the authors are definitely scientists (archeologists) first and authors second.
Strike 2 - I couldn't reconcile the time period of the native tribes, approximately 1200 A.D. or so, with the use of modern language words and elements. They talk to themselves and each other like it's the 21st century. I get that we can't know exactly how they might have spoken but "your mama" style jokes were too much of a stretch.
Strike 3 - Overkill on the sexual content. From regular references to both male and female body parts to frequent joking, speculating and indulging in sexual thoughts and encounters - it was kind of like a bad romance novel set in the early americas interspersed with the tedious landscape descriptions noted above.
So... 3 strikes, this book's out. It's over 500 pages long and I'm just not interested in spending time finishing it.
Strike 1 - Lengthy, dry descriptions of southern Colorado / Northern New Mexico terrain. Specifics about what each of many different character sees to the north, south, east, and west. The descriptions did not help me create a picture in my mind as much as make it clear that the authors are definitely scientists (archeologists) first and authors second.
Strike 2 - I couldn't reconcile the time period of the native tribes, approximately 1200 A.D. or so, with the use of modern language words and elements. They talk to themselves and each other like it's the 21st century. I get that we can't know exactly how they might have spoken but "your mama" style jokes were too much of a stretch.
Strike 3 - Overkill on the sexual content. From regular references to both male and female body parts to frequent joking, speculating and indulging in sexual thoughts and encounters - it was kind of like a bad romance novel set in the early americas interspersed with the tedious landscape descriptions noted above.
So... 3 strikes, this book's out. It's over 500 pages long and I'm just not interested in spending time finishing it.
January 6, 2010
A sequel to People of the Silence, some of the characters in the previous book are secondary characters in this second book. The Gears continue the story of the Native American tribes grouped today as the Anasazi, and further explore the reasons for the sudden abandonment of the beautiful cities they built. As always, they do not shy away from the horrors humans are capable of inflicting on others, and this book is definitely not for those with weak stomachs.
January 4, 2010
Almost finished with the book..for me it was slow going at first..I had a time trying to remember the names of the people and the clans..but now that I'm almost finished it is finally getting easier...It is worth the read, but I may have to re-read it later to get a fuller understanding of all the meanings and for it to make better sense.
April 5, 2009
What an awesome book! It's a long read.. but well worth the time. Part of a series, however you don't feel like you had to read any before. I love the story (although some sections weren't easy to digest) and I really like the writing style.
January 14, 2015
people of the moon by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear brings to life our nation's pre-history based on the latest scientific finds. I highly recommend it to all who want to read about our country's past. Viva la The Gears!
March 2, 2008
Really enjoyed this book. I guess it's part of a series -- all are what the author's thought life was like for a variety of Native American clans hundreds of years ago.
May 2, 2012
I Love these books. There is a whole series of them. These books are about native american history and I love history books
June 29, 2025
Just as good the second time around!
April 26, 2017
Great read.
June 30, 2013
Love this series. So detailed that you feel you're living the experiences.
August 21, 2019
Not their best.
July 23, 2014
read this whole series. love this author & his wife Kathleen
December 30, 2014
It has been a while since I have read Michael Gear's books but it was easy to get back into them again. I enjoy his historical fiction. I won this book on a goodreads giveaway.
September 7, 2015
I loved that this book went back to an earlier book in the series to continue a storyline. would like to see more like that with other stories.
Want to read
February 11, 2017I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14245964
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14245964
February 19, 2017
I love all of W. Michael and Kathleen's books!
December 18, 2018
I had put aside the People of books for awhile and I was blown away by this story. I had forgotten how truly powerful these stories are. Bravo!
April 1, 2022
Awful. Probably the worst book in the series. It pales in comparison to the Morning Star series, which has complex and lovable characters, intricate and compelling stories, and wonderful writing.
People of the Moon has a convoluted and somewhat confusing story but I give it two stars for some of its characters being decent and the archeological accuracy. One of the main characters, Ripple, dies in such an unceremonious fashion by some random guy who wanted a bit of turquoise. It was annoying to say the least, but I did not grieve for the character as he is probably one of the worst Dreamers in the series so far. Compared to Wolf Dreamer, Fire Dancer, Bad Belly, White Ash, Lichen and many others, he is mostly bland and doesn't do much for the story. You could argue that some of the Dreamers I named are not that good, sure. But at the very least, they are all different and do so much more.
Ironwood and Night Sun are also screwed over; they are two of my favorite characters from People of the Silence, and some of my favorites as a whole. It feels like they NEEDED a reason for them to die, rather than letting it happen organically. The way it goes, is some Romeo & Juliet-esque reason. I understand that they love each other to death, but in my opinion, it could've been executed much better.
As for the villains, Leather Hand and Turquoise Fox are absolutely detestable. I don't mean that in terms of good writing, I actually despise them.
Turquoise Fox somehow convinces Leather Hand that the only way to assert absolute authority (and fear) is to cannibalize a bunch of starving villagers. I get that this was loosely based off an actual event that occurred, but the way it was executed was terrible (and according to the Gears, what was described in the book wasn't nearly as gruesome as what occurred in the real-world, which I will give them props for not being too candid with it). No consequences really came of Leather Hand's actions, until People of the Canyons (which is another book that is pretty bad and tried to make Ravenfire a complex character).
To rub salt in the wound, it goes into graphic detail about how Leather Hand raped a thirteen-year-old girl then ate her, which further added onto my hatred of him. The whole thing was jarring, and not in a good or impressionable way.
I will say that my favorite scene is when farmers finally decided to oppose the higher ups and burned them alive. It was satisfying to say the least.
My last gripes are the overly done descriptions of the locations they're in. Wanting to show the scenery is fine, but it was overkill in this case. I would say that Orenda suddenly disappearing near the end of the book was a little bizarre. But it was explained in People of the Canyons, I suppose? I don't know, it's hard to keep up with their stories.
Anyhow, those are my thoughts on the book.
People of the Moon has a convoluted and somewhat confusing story but I give it two stars for some of its characters being decent and the archeological accuracy. One of the main characters, Ripple, dies in such an unceremonious fashion by some random guy who wanted a bit of turquoise. It was annoying to say the least, but I did not grieve for the character as he is probably one of the worst Dreamers in the series so far. Compared to Wolf Dreamer, Fire Dancer, Bad Belly, White Ash, Lichen and many others, he is mostly bland and doesn't do much for the story. You could argue that some of the Dreamers I named are not that good, sure. But at the very least, they are all different and do so much more.
Ironwood and Night Sun are also screwed over; they are two of my favorite characters from People of the Silence, and some of my favorites as a whole. It feels like they NEEDED a reason for them to die, rather than letting it happen organically. The way it goes, is some Romeo & Juliet-esque reason. I understand that they love each other to death, but in my opinion, it could've been executed much better.
As for the villains, Leather Hand and Turquoise Fox are absolutely detestable. I don't mean that in terms of good writing, I actually despise them.
Turquoise Fox somehow convinces Leather Hand that the only way to assert absolute authority (and fear) is to cannibalize a bunch of starving villagers. I get that this was loosely based off an actual event that occurred, but the way it was executed was terrible (and according to the Gears, what was described in the book wasn't nearly as gruesome as what occurred in the real-world, which I will give them props for not being too candid with it). No consequences really came of Leather Hand's actions, until People of the Canyons (which is another book that is pretty bad and tried to make Ravenfire a complex character).
To rub salt in the wound, it goes into graphic detail about how Leather Hand raped a thirteen-year-old girl then ate her, which further added onto my hatred of him. The whole thing was jarring, and not in a good or impressionable way.
I will say that my favorite scene is when farmers finally decided to oppose the higher ups and burned them alive. It was satisfying to say the least.
My last gripes are the overly done descriptions of the locations they're in. Wanting to show the scenery is fine, but it was overkill in this case. I would say that Orenda suddenly disappearing near the end of the book was a little bizarre. But it was explained in People of the Canyons, I suppose? I don't know, it's hard to keep up with their stories.
Anyhow, those are my thoughts on the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2020
Two words: IN TENSE! This is the story of the end of the world as experienced by four young men, i.e. the extinction of ancestral Puebloan culture in the Chimney Rock/Chaco Canyon region. Sex and violence all around, done in the Gears' typical historical style.
I couldn't put it down. The only reason it isn't 5 stars is the frequent POV shifts (like a TV show) and the sheer number of characters and place names. I'm going to have to read it again to really get a detailed feel for the places and names.
I couldn't put it down. The only reason it isn't 5 stars is the frequent POV shifts (like a TV show) and the sheer number of characters and place names. I'm going to have to read it again to really get a detailed feel for the places and names.
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