Зима в Рая

West of Eden #2

by Harry Harrison, Григор Гачев (translator)

Две толкова различни цивилизации, а Земята е само една…
Има ли начин светът да бъде поделен, или една от расите е обречена да загине? Според предводителката на динозаврите хората задължително трябва да се изличат от лицето на света, но според Керик — човек, отгледан от динозаврите — проблема би могъл да има и друго решение…

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Alternate History, Fiction, Dinosaurs, Science Fiction Fantasy, Speculative Fiction

440 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey) was an American science fiction author best known for his character the The Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! (1966), the basis for the film Soylent Green (1973). He was also (with Brian W. Aldiss) co-president of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Miguel Ángel Alonso Pulido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buena continuación de las aventuras de Kerrick y sus amigos, y la lucha entre la humanidad y las yilané. En este libro, Harrison introduce nuevos elementos y personajes que enriquecen el libro y abren nuevas incógnitas sobre esta Tierra tan parecida y diferente a la nuestra. Aunque se cierra de una forma más o menos satisfactoria, quedan cabos sueltos más que evidentes para poder cerrar el libro en una trilogía. CF de la buena, llena de imaginación. Muy recomendable.

[Jonah Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s really cool except for the whole sexism thing :/

My favorite characters are the dinosaurs who go to South America to start a communist city.

[Steven Cooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good continuation of the first book, and I'm into the last of the trilogy. The writing is always good, but my rating dropped just a bit because after the initial "new" concepts of the first book, this one is more of an adventure story. I like the exploration of social and scientific issues in SciFi, and Mr. Harrison is very creative. Unfortunately for my enjoyment, there were several "disconnects" in the technical details.
The story is interesting, but as the second book moves on, no more development of the social structures are really explored although there are some more parallel lines of continuing themes. Most glaring to me was the lack of infrastructure (or other explanation) for the high level of "science" in the Yilane. The other characters followed a more plausible learning curve and technology usage.

[Scott Coulter]

For the 2023 #vtReadingChallenge, this is my 21st book, for the category "A Book with at least 400 Pages". I will admit to taking this wide-open category as a "wild card" opportunity to continue a trilogy, of which I completed the first volume toward the end of last year, before starting this reading challenge. It was brought to mind when I noticed (on Goodreads) that the first volume, "West of Eden", was the longest book that I read in 2022. It does bend my self-imposed guideline to avoid re-reads, but it's a book I originally read quite a number of years ago, and has been on my re-read pile for a while now.
This is a continuation of Harrison's story of an alternate earth where dinosaurs didn't die out, but instead evolved intelligence, communities, and science, all slightly ahead of the development of mammal kind. The conflict between reptile and mammal sentients is accelerated by an oncoming ice age, which prompts our warm-blooded protagonists to move further south, into "reptile territory".
As the story widens out in this middle volume, we follow those among each species who wish to "live and let live", and those who prefer to fight until one species or the other is wiped off the globe. I'll admit that the story did drag in a few places, but it's mostly a fascinating narrative, and I'm looking forward to an eventual re-read of the concluding volume.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Harrison's interesting imagination and worldbuilding are once again on full display, but this time the story is a lot less interesting and engaging. Most of it could play out with the Benny Hill theme in the background: characters travel vast distances criss-crossing oceans and continents looking for each other, and just miss each other, prolonging the word count in a transparent bid for padding. There is no central driving idea or conflict either, just a lot of wheel-spinning to make time for the third book. Some interesting threads do emerge, sometimes with one character, sometimes with another. And the writing is always clear and engaging, even as it makes an absolute butchery of the concept of punctuation (most commas should be periods or at least semicolons, and the few semicolons in the book should be em-dashes, etc., etc.). The human characters are particularly dull and unlikeable this time around, and the mosasaur people are concomitantly more interesting as a result.

Possibly the best summary I can give is that there was momentum and I was aware of things happening through the story, but no particular character or event or storyline has stuck with me now I've finished.

[Chuck McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant epic trilogy of novels in which the dinosaurs never went extinct, but instead evolved into a race of sentient beings that suddenly find themselves coming into conflict with primitive man. The characters, plot, and world-building (especially the decidedly unhuman culture and science of the reptilian Yilane) are all top-notch, and readers are guaranteed to be utterly engrossed throughout.

[Alton Motobu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reptiles have co-evolved with humans but with superior intelligence. There are parallel plots in this book: human, Kerrick, stands up to and defeats the reptiles; and the reptiles, realizing that humans are becoming dominant, must prepare for their doom. Interesting but not as good as West of Eden.

[Gio C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off great but then got a little boring fast. Still love the concept but I thought the ending was a little bit of a cop out. I will def read the last installment when I get a chance. I think the author was trying really hard to make this into a trilogy.

[Katrine Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adding to my history as read ages ago (high school!) but memorable enough to recall I DEVOURED this series that proposed an alternate earth history - where dinosaurs became sentient as well as primates. Really was a cool read!

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series that keeps growing on me.

Though maybe lacking in action, the worldbuilding and exploration of culture is so immersive that I like just hanging out in this wacky alternate universe.

Get someone caveman jams playing in the background and start readin'

[Aaron Krell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this one I like as it talks about Kerrick trying to raise a family with the threat of the Yilani still in the world. However, he is also trying to show his people that the males known as Fargi, are harmless to them.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harry certainly went into a lot of detail in creating his world, but sometimes the use of new words from the languages of his different races slowed the story down a little.
Still a classic though.

[Rafael Ontivero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ya empieza a cansar tanto dinosaurio inteligente...

[Jack Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love them mastodon.

[Tracy Griffin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm DNF this book. Since I do not have the desire to pick it back up.

[Brunnstag · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed, though it did feel like a "middle of a trilogy" book. But well worth the read if you enjoyed the first, and I'm excited to read the third and final book of the series!

[Paul Johanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever alternative history. I read it some thirty years ago, and some scenes and characters stuck in my mind ever since. Was great to get re-acquainted with it.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second book in this trilogy and it was just as good as the first. You do need to read the first one - well, first.

[Thomas Routson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harrison continues his excellent world building by introducing us to more hominid and reptilian species. He fleshes out their societies quite well so it’s easy to imagine them. Again the only thing lacking is his characters. I feel no closer to Kerrick than I did in West of Eden. This book is worth it to experience more of his incredible world building.

[Ernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story, but an unbelievable quantity of spelling errors. At times it was difficult to read.
Not sure if this was the fault of transcribing or proofreading.

[Darnoc Leadburger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn't a big fan of West of Eden. I felt the worldbuilding was great and saved the book, while the plot and characters were marginal at best. In the next installment, Harrison can't rely on the unique world because it's already been created. And without the worldbuilding, most of this book is seemingly meaningless plot. I'm probably being harsh, but it just didn't excite me. I'm still going to read the third and final book for two reasons - 1) I already own it and 2) the book did lay some interesting seeds that could be sewn for the final book, Return to Eden.

[Ellis Wasend · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book, expanded well on the concepts introduced. I wish they got a little more into the weeds of world building but very worth the read. If you liked the first one I’m guessing you’ll like the this one slightly more.

[Vince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice follow up to the 1st book. Can't wait to see how the series ends.

[Francesco · Rating 5 out of 5]

L'ucronia assoluta.
Immaginate una storia alternativa per il nostro pianeta. Ma non semplicemente una delle tante variazioni del flusso degli eventi storici, bensì qualcosa di più radicale.
Immaginate che sulla Terra si sia sviluppata una civiltà il cui progresso scientifico sia imperniato sulla manipolazione genetica di ogni forma di vita. Una civiltà in grado di costruire città con il tessuto vivente di multiformi specie arboree, di solcare il mare a bordo di grandi pesci-nave, di attaccare i suoi nemici con rampicanti velenosi, di studiare i tessuti utilizzando il potere di ingrandimento visivo di animali dotati di lenti naturali, di sparare usando come fucili i corpi sottili di bestie che emettono dalla loro bocca spore venefiche prodotte da altre piante a loro volta modificate, di combattere il freddo con animali termostatici da indossare, di suturare le ferite o nettare i corpi con animaletti coagulanti o pulitori. Continua a leggere qui: http://letturefantascienzaedintorni.b...

[John Montagne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much of the same sentiments held as West of Eden, but an entertaining tale - loved the paleolit fic elements. Loved that HH's Eden books can be read to a nice resting point with Winter, like the twofer because most favor or perhaps need the trilogy... refreshing. I'd perhaps read the third of Eden if I come across it naturally. In regard to the author himself, I have two others of his slated as on deck. The (recently late - was why I started reading his work - admittedly) Harry Harrison was a damn good writer, my three stars to West and Winter is a little on the stingy side on my part I think... I would certainly rank West and Winter as a tale together with four stars.

[Andreas · Rating 2 out of 5]

What if dinosaurs had not become extinct, but instead evolved sentience? These sentient dinosaurs have also developed biotech to a certain extent, using non-sentient dinosaur species for various purposes. In the trilogy, the dinosaur civilization founds a colony in America and comes into contact with Stone Age humans. This whole thing could rapidly have descended into sillyness but it is mildly entertaining and thought provoking. The three novels are:

West of Eden
Winter in Eden
Return to Eden

http://www.books.rosboch.net/?p=831

[Su · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good extension of the story, although the motivations of Kerrick are kind of unbelieveable. So you've spent all this time rescuing your partner, have a child, then abandon them for two years? Even though your fascination with the Yilane culture and technology as caused major rifts between you and her? Not to mention the fact that you know that your archenemy is desperate and working tirelessly to to find you and wipe out your family and your entire race?

Right.

[Malcolm Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The excellent follow-up to the fantastic West Of Eden takes place moments after the end of the previous book and takes the characters to new places to discover surprising new things. Vaintè's hatred seeks to corrupt all of Yilanè while Kerrick is still struggling with his own dual identity. Is there any hope for peace in this world of two sentient species?
Really engrossing, fully immersive and cleverly written. Also comes with a handy glossary of words.

[Ieva · Rating 1 out of 5]

Vai tas ir tik daudz prasīts, lai autors atceras, cik dinozauriem ir pirkstu?

Pirmā grāmata bija laba. Aizraujoša. Taču abās nākamajās tēli rīkojas stīvi un neatbilstoši viņu pagātnei. Skarbi mednieki izplūst garos savu motīvu izskaidrojumos kā telenoveļu varones, galvenais varonis mētājas savos uzskatos turpatpakaļ. Jāķeras pie labākas literatūras.

[grundoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 As the trilogy continues, with very much the same central conflict, we spread out geographically and are introduced to divergent groups of both evolutionary and philosophical nature. Though this remains rather impressive speculative fiction, the shift in emphasis was greatly appreciated here... I might even say necessary to maintain my interest for another installment.