Central Europe, 5000BC. The first farmers are advancing across the continent from the east. The age of the hunter-gatherer in Europe is drawing to a close.
When a young, Mesolithic hunter is sent into the winter forest, he has no idea his rite of passage will be different to those who had gone before. But the gods have other plans.
Beyond the brutal wilderness, his path will lead him to a different people. People from distant lands, moving ever closer to his. But as his journey takes him further into their world, the plight of a child and a young girl will show him where his true purpose lies - deep in the heart of a conflict as old as mankind.
Against a backdrop of beauty and horror, of compassion and genocide, his is a journey that might have been our own; a coming of age and rise of conscience that marked the dawn of a new era.
The Walk of the Wandering Man by Ric Szabo is an epic story of humanity that starts 5000 BC in the harsh environment of Central Europe.
Fans of Jean Auel’s Clan of the Cave Bear series will absolutely love this book. The plot is complex in that it encompasses the lives and deeds of a number of characters and their clans. The reader embarks on a journey with Vratu that informs as it entertains. The age of the hunter-gatherer was ending as the farmers began to assert their right to land. Clashes and killings, and some degree of xenophobia were inevitable as the fight over resources raged. Alliances are formed, then broken, then remade in an intricate story line.
The reader who enjoys prehistory and its detail will be impressed, as I was, at the meticulous research done to bring the epoch to life. The author writes in a lyrical style that is appropriate for the genre, slightly archaic but most pleasing to read. A modern author voice would not have worked, and Szabo gets it just right. I enjoyed the descriptions which are vivid and immersive; indeed, readers find themselves thrust right into the action, be it fighting to survive the elements or in the midst of battle. The story takes the reader back in time most amazingly. Social constructs and mores, traditions, customs, and laws are explained by seamlessly integrating them into the plot. The themes of spirituality and worship, and the place of nature in an emerging society’s ethos are clear. The story unfolds at a leisurely pace, although the prologue starts with action and mystery, and death.
This is an epic adventure and one that belongs not only to Vratu, but to the communities he encounters and the people he calls his friends and companions. A thought-provoking, instructive, and extremely enjoyable read.
Review Rating: 5 Stars
. . . a coming-of-age saga, a quite complex spiritual and moral quest which will resonate in the hearts of the readers, and the world-building skills of the author is remarkable, as well as the unique voice and writing style which truly brings a reader into this ancient world. . . While a quite lengthy novel, this is one to savor and take your time in reading, letting the words saturate your soul as the narrative threads through your heart and mind. The time taken is well worth the effort and you will not be disappointed - Five stars and the "highly recommended" award of excellence
