North America's Forgotten Past
6 primary works • 28 total works
NO. 19 OF
A thousand years ago, the mighty Cahokian civilization dominated the North American continent from its capital near modern St. Louis. From Wisconsin to the Gulf of Mexico, settlers and priests carried word of the power of their gods. People who wouldn't bow to that power were conquered or slaughtered. At the heart of the empire stood a vast city, teeming with tens of thousands. Power rested in one being, Morning Star, a god resurrected in the body of a living man. An old enemy has returned to Cahokia, bringing with him emissaries from a civilization that rivals Cahokia. It becomes apparent to the gods-possessed Lady Night Shadow Star, human sister of Morning Star, that they could be conquered by this technologically advanced culture. The fact that the living god, Morning Star, is unwilling--or unable--to play a role in the outcome is a conundrum with horrific possibilities.
Clan fighting over a powerful totemic mask has brought the Mount Builder peoples of the Great Lakes region to the edge of destruction. It is up to Star Shell, daughter of a Hopewell Chief, to rid her people of this curse. Along with her companions: Otter, a trader; Pearl, a runaway; and Green Spider, either prophet or madman, she braves the stormy waters of the lakes to reach the majestic waterfall known as Roaring Water. She is determined to banish the mask forever to a watery grave. But vengeful clan members are close on her heels, and they have a similar fate planed for her.
"People of the Lightning" takes us to ancient Florida, to a village of fisher folk who must face their deepest fear: Pondwader, now a lanky boy of fifteen summers. He is the White Lightning Boy - the first of his kind to be born in tens of tens of summers. His white hair, pink eyes, and pale skin make him fearsome enough, but legends foretell that a Lightning Boy will make Sister Moon bury her face in the clouds and weep falling stars - and the winds of destruction will be unleashed. The folk manage to trade him in marriage to Musselwhite, a woman warrior who does not really want him. She must face an old enemy who has captured her beloved husband, an enemy who is determined to destroy her. What good to her is this softhearted youth? She has yet to learn that Pondwader is a Lightning Boy. He can hear the voices in the wind, telling.
The oldest city in America is not St. Augustine, Florida (1565 AD) or even Old Aralbi of the Hopi Mesas (1240 AD), but the vast 400-acre earthen mound of Poverty Point, Louisiana, dating back some 3500 years. A booming commercial centre, its thousands of inhabitants traded as far north as Wisconsin and Ohio. People Of The Owl tells the story of this vast trading empire and its people - their war stories and songs, and their fiery loves. Most of all, this is the story of the noble warrior and shaman, Salamander. An impassioned messiah, his stirring vision would shape the People of the Owl, inspire their dreams, fire their faith, and lead them into truth-and sometimes into slaughter.
"In this third book of the People of the Longhouse quartet, dangerous sorcerer Atotarho sets into motion a cataclysmic battle that threatens to destroy the Iroquoian world. Only three people are brave enough to challenge him: a disgraced warrior known as Sky Messenger; his friend War Chief Hiyawento; and a powerful clan matron named Jigonsaseh. To stop the madman, they must find a way to bring five warring nations together"--
Published 15 October 2013