In the 22nd Century, mankind has been rescued from complete energy crisis by the Galactic Milieu: a confederation of technologically advanced aliens who see enough potential in the human race to lend a helping hand. However, such aid comes with a price – and while imposing a more structured, peaceful model of society doesn’t sound like a bad thing, many human beings just cannot live with such constraints. And then the ultimate escape is found: a scientific anomaly opens a one-way door to Earth’s distance past. Misfits the world over are drawn to the prospect of a new start, a simplier life in a peacefully primeval setting.

Or so they think – but really, no one knows just what awaits them through the portal. Preparations to defend against Pliocene-era wildlife aren’t enough to face what really lies 6 million years in the past…

I was almost surprised at myself for enjoying this book so much. It’s somehow dated (if the ‘80s-tastic cover shown above doesn’t give that away!), but from such a recent decade that it feels odd. The story is good, although sometimes swamped in description I couldn’t help myself skimming over, and often described in a somewhat distant third-person narrative.

That said, the characters are interesting and likeable, and the build up of tension is great, especially as the group we are following steps through that portal into the unknown. I hadn’t read much about the book, so I really didn’t know what to expect – and if you plan to read the book, I would recommend trying to avoid any spoilers.

There are several sequels – hurrah! Nothing like a bit of a futuristic/sci-fi/prehistoric/adventure romp!

Well, I’ve finally finished the book – and I say finally because it took me long enough. At one point, I just stopped being overly eager to read it. At one point, it just stopped being overly interesting. I mean, I LIKED most of it, I just didn’t get too emotionally involved. I still like the characters a lot – ALL of them – but the pace didn’t suit me at all. Too much retelling, somehow, too many explanatory dialogue. And when it came to action, I just didn’t feel the proper tension.

Honestly, the ending was ancticlimactic, for me. Too few of the old PoV characters were there, in the end, so, yet again, I couldn’t get really emotionally involved. I new I SHOULD care about what would happen, but somehow didn’t, not much. I get the feeling that the battle was well thought out, but I couldn’t FEEL it, somehow.

Now. It seems I’ve pointed out only what I didn’t like. I rated it as ‘worth reading’, though. I love how folklore and legends are mixed in with everything else. I love demythologizations. And characters are rather well develpoed.

Besides,It’s just the first book in a series, and there were a lot of things tht needed explaining. I will definitely continue reading the series… just not at once. I need a short break.

I started today, and I’ve read a 1/3 or so of the book. In the begining it was rather difficult to get into the story – the cast of the main characters is largish, and when the author switched the PoV it always took me some time to remember who was who, and what they were like. It also took me time to get used to May’s writing style.

But now I’m growing to really, really like the book. I’m already attached to the characters(esp. Steinie the Viking and Aiken); the writing style is nice and picturesque but not overly descriptive (which I like), and I got really pulled into the story.

We’ll see what happens later on…