Book excerpt: "Noted paleontologist Kurten is the author of the well-received Dance of the Tiger, a novel of the prehistoric Ice Age. This book continues the fateful encounter between the peaceful Neanderthal and newly emergent Homo sapiens cultures, enlivened by Kurten's artful sociological and historical conjecture and his intriguing speculations on the reason Neanderthal man mysteriously disappeared. The Homo sapiens hunter, Tiger, has married into a Neanderthal community. When his brother is critically injured, Tiger is forced to send his favorite son, Whitespear, on a quest to bring back a healer. Whitespear travels through unknown territory, encountering bigotry in the alien settlements he passes through, and falling in love with two women with whom his fate becomes entwined. His sister Avens follows her own destiny, becoming estranged from Whitespear, and when brother and sister meet again, tragedy ensues. Kurten combines his scholarly understanding with the vivid imagination of a novelistto produce a story that is convincing, authoritative and entertaining. (Publishers Weekly)--www.amazon.com.