A review of ‘Past the Last Island’

While sailing through the islands of the South Pacific a few years ago, I had a recurring question, ‘How did these isolated islands get populated?’  There are many unknowns but our knowledge is expanding thanks to fields of science providing tantalizing clues about the genetic, linguistic, and physical culture of the people of the South Pacific.

But, until more is known, you can be thoroughly entertained by the excellent new book  by Kathleen Flanagan Rollins, ‘Past the Last Island’ a speculative prehistory of the area circa 14000 years ago.

A group of islanders face a variety of problems forcing some to sail past the last known island in search of a new home.  In this quest, they develop new boat designs as well as many other inventions that allow for long distance ocean travel. 

Rollins creates a robust universe populated by individuals who engage in complex games and intricate life skills.  Difficult problems are solved by imaginative and creative solutions undertaken by cooperating groups of people.  Not everyone is good or positive and not everything goes perfectly, but it’s always interesting to see how the characters will react and what will happen.

This novel will allow you to escape into a fully formed world, with plenty of interesting things to consider.  It’s hard not to wonder if people from our culture could ever manage such feats.