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Mammoth #omnibus 1-3
Behemoth
They have measured the slow pulse of the seasons as the Earth spins its stately annual dance. Their memories stretch back across the million-year cycles of the ice sheets.
Their stories tell of the making of the world. And as the millenia have passed, their legends have served them well.
And a thousand years from now, on a different world, they will be the difference between life and death, between extinction and a future as long as the past.
This new edition collects three of Stephen Baxter's early books together for the first time.
Their stories tell of the making of the world. And as the millenia have passed, their legends have served them well.
And a thousand years from now, on a different world, they will be the difference between life and death, between extinction and a future as long as the past.
This new edition collects three of Stephen Baxter's early books together for the first time.
793 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 11, 2004
5 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Baxter
403 books2,601 followersStephen Baxter is a trained engineer with degrees from Cambridge (mathematics) and Southampton Universities (doctorate in aeroengineering research). Baxter is the winner of the British Science Fiction Award and the Locus Award, as well as being a nominee for an Arthur C. Clarke Award, most recently for Manifold: Time. His novel Voyage won the Sidewise Award for Best Alternate History Novel of the Year; he also won the John W. Campbell Award and the Philip K. Dick Award for his novel The Time Ships. He is currently working on his next novel, a collaboration with Sir Arthur C. Clarke. Mr. Baxter lives in Prestwood, England.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 13, 2017
"'No,' said the Ragged One, 'They loved us. They loved the idea of us. That is what I believe. They wanted to remake us, to bring us back from the extinction to which they almost drove us, to give us this new world where there would be room for us to browse.'"
The scope of the mammoth series sweeps from Neolithic times to near-future space colonisation and is told through a multi-sensory xenomorphic perspective from three enigmatic and stately mammoths. The woolly mammoth, one of evolutions greatest and most recent symbols of the sheer vastness and power of life, is imagined in Baxter's narrative with a meticulously researched combination of earth-shattering communication rumbles and a deep oral history which defines the species and their intelligent interactions.
The Mammoth books feel animal, expressing a unity with the past and with the landscape rarely felt by the urban human population. These animals are intelligent, individual, conversing in terms familiar to the reader but from a perspective which we humans have distanced ourselves from with our thirst for change in the world around us. The emerging relationship between humans and rare species is a lesson broader than that of the fate of the mammoths, from sparse human hunters to global threatening of animal habitats to a conservation movement which often fails to address welfare before existence of the species around us.
Thinking as a mammoth has been an enlightening, empowering experience, and has also increased my awareness that preserving species at all costs without awareness for their place in nature and in the geographical bedrock of the world is a stance that needs to be re-thought as humans continue to address the damage our ancestors have done to the environment. A rich demanding read. Highly recommended.
The scope of the mammoth series sweeps from Neolithic times to near-future space colonisation and is told through a multi-sensory xenomorphic perspective from three enigmatic and stately mammoths. The woolly mammoth, one of evolutions greatest and most recent symbols of the sheer vastness and power of life, is imagined in Baxter's narrative with a meticulously researched combination of earth-shattering communication rumbles and a deep oral history which defines the species and their intelligent interactions.
The Mammoth books feel animal, expressing a unity with the past and with the landscape rarely felt by the urban human population. These animals are intelligent, individual, conversing in terms familiar to the reader but from a perspective which we humans have distanced ourselves from with our thirst for change in the world around us. The emerging relationship between humans and rare species is a lesson broader than that of the fate of the mammoths, from sparse human hunters to global threatening of animal habitats to a conservation movement which often fails to address welfare before existence of the species around us.
Thinking as a mammoth has been an enlightening, empowering experience, and has also increased my awareness that preserving species at all costs without awareness for their place in nature and in the geographical bedrock of the world is a stance that needs to be re-thought as humans continue to address the damage our ancestors have done to the environment. A rich demanding read. Highly recommended.
March 4, 2025
1. Silverhair ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Μακριά από το αγαπημένο του διάστημα, τις σχετικιστικές ταχύτητες και τα εσωτερικά των άστρων, ο Stephen Baxter μας δίνει μια πολύ όμορφη τριλογία... παλαιοντολογικής φαντασίας.
Η Silverhair, είναι μαμούθ και μάλιστα σε μια εποχή που ένας νέος κίνδυνος έχει εμφανιστεί πάνω στη γη. Ένας κίνδυνος που βαδίζει περίεργα, πάνω σε δύο πόδια...
2. Longtusk ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ο Longtusk ζει σε μια εποχή που η ανθρωπότητα τείνει να εδραιώσει την κυριαρχία της πάνω στη γη. Μικρόψυχο, άπληστο και ενοχλητικό σαν παράσιτο, το είδος των δίποδων θα αιχμαλωτίσει τον Longtusk κρατώντας τον μακριά από το μεγαλειώδες πεπρωμένο του. Για πόσο όμως;
3. Icebones ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Το τρίτο μέρος της τρολογίας Behemoth είναι και αυτό που απαιτεί τη μεγαλύτερη "ηθελημένη άρση δυσπιστίας" του αναγνώστη, καθώς ξεφεύγει από το κλασικό προϊστορικό πλαίσιο και τοποθετείται στο μέλλον, αν και ο αναγνώστης δεν το αντιλαμβάνεται άμεσα αυτό.
Ωστόσο, δεχόμενος τη βασική παραδοχή που απαιτεί η ιστορία, ο αναγνώστης απολαμβάνει την περιπέτεια της Icebones, ίσως ακόμη περισσότερο όταν η αλήθεια για τα whereabouts της αποκαλύπτεται μπροστά του.
Μπορεί να μην είμαστε τόσο σάπιοι όσο νομίζαμε, ως είδος.
Αυτή η τριλογία, μπορεί να μην είναι το απαύγασμα της τελειότητας της επιστημονικής φαντασίας, αλλά δεν παύει να είναι μια πολύ ευχάριστη εμπειρία η ανάγνωσή της, με τους από καιρό εξαφανισμένους ευγενικούς και δυνατούς γίγαντες ήρωές της. Δώστε της μια ευκαιρία, θα σας ανταμείψει.
Μακριά από το αγαπημένο του διάστημα, τις σχετικιστικές ταχύτητες και τα εσωτερικά των άστρων, ο Stephen Baxter μας δίνει μια πολύ όμορφη τριλογία... παλαιοντολογικής φαντασίας.
Η Silverhair, είναι μαμούθ και μάλιστα σε μια εποχή που ένας νέος κίνδυνος έχει εμφανιστεί πάνω στη γη. Ένας κίνδυνος που βαδίζει περίεργα, πάνω σε δύο πόδια...
2. Longtusk ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ο Longtusk ζει σε μια εποχή που η ανθρωπότητα τείνει να εδραιώσει την κυριαρχία της πάνω στη γη. Μικρόψυχο, άπληστο και ενοχλητικό σαν παράσιτο, το είδος των δίποδων θα αιχμαλωτίσει τον Longtusk κρατώντας τον μακριά από το μεγαλειώδες πεπρωμένο του. Για πόσο όμως;
3. Icebones ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Το τρίτο μέρος της τρολογίας Behemoth είναι και αυτό που απαιτεί τη μεγαλύτερη "ηθελημένη άρση δυσπιστίας" του αναγνώστη, καθώς ξεφεύγει από το κλασικό προϊστορικό πλαίσιο και τοποθετείται στο μέλλον, αν και ο αναγνώστης δεν το αντιλαμβάνεται άμεσα αυτό.
Ωστόσο, δεχόμενος τη βασική παραδοχή που απαιτεί η ιστορία, ο αναγνώστης απολαμβάνει την περιπέτεια της Icebones, ίσως ακόμη περισσότερο όταν η αλήθεια για τα whereabouts της αποκαλύπτεται μπροστά του.
Μπορεί να μην είμαστε τόσο σάπιοι όσο νομίζαμε, ως είδος.
Αυτή η τριλογία, μπορεί να μην είναι το απαύγασμα της τελειότητας της επιστημονικής φαντασίας, αλλά δεν παύει να είναι μια πολύ ευχάριστη εμπειρία η ανάγνωσή της, με τους από καιρό εξαφανισμένους ευγενικούς και δυνατούς γίγαντες ήρωές της. Δώστε της μια ευκαιρία, θα σας ανταμείψει.
February 7, 2017
2015 Reading Challenge:
A Trilogy, A Book With Non-Human Characters, A Book More Than 500 Pages
--------------
REVIEW WIP
Book One--Silverhair: Three Stars This was my least favorite of the trilogy, and I completely understand why many readers gave up on this series after book one. It has an absolutely fantastic beginning, introducing the fascinating mythology and culture of mammoth-kind, artfully blending science and spirituality into a completely plausible culture for these creatures. For instance, the mammoths' ability to hear in infrasonic is modeled on this real-life ability seen in modern African and Asian elephants. This means that not only can they hear each other over long distances, but they can also hear the deep rumblings and geologic activity of the very planet itself, making decisions and learning about their environment based on what they hear. They are literally listening to the songs of the earth, creating a powerful spiritual bond between mammoths and the earth that is also firmly rooted in scientific fact. Pure genius writing on Stephen Baxter's part.
Now onto the problems of this first book. Because of the long and troubled history between humans and elephants, it's a given that humans should be portrayed as antagonists of a story told from the mammoths' perspective. This first book, however, takes it WAY too far. The human villains here are sickeningly, disgustingly, and cartoonishly evil, making even Captain Planet villains look subtle in comparison. These characters could hardly be more evil if they were freaking Nazi rapist pedophiles. Not even joking. This severely affected my enjoyment of this book, but not enough to make me want to give up on the trilogy altogether.
Book Two--Longtusk: Five Stars As you can see, I adore this second book. All of the awesomeness of mammoth culture and creation myths are here, as well as a fantastic lead character, fantastic side characters, an amazing setting, and a much more complex and tragic portrayal of humans. This book might have even worked as a wonderful standalone, except for the epilogue which leads into the third and final book, and which also doesn't make a lick of sense unless you've read the first book.
Book Three--Icebones: Five Stars This one was a slow-burning reading experience for me. Unlike the second book, which had my attention and held it from page one, and the first book which had my attention and gradually lost it as the pages wore on, this one didn't grab me immediately, but slowly worked its roots into my heart. Icebones is another fantastic lead (who might even make my top ten list of favorite female protagonists), surrounded by more fantastic side characters, and while Mars is an incredibly weird setting for an epic tale about woolly mammoths, it grows on you after a while.
And that ending...that ending, man...This was one of those stare-at-the-ceiling-and-hug-the-book-tightly-to-your-body-while-you-breathe-deeply-and-turn-the-fictional-events-over-and-over-in-your-mind kind of endings. Spot on, pitch perfect, and makes the entire experience worthwhile.
If you have an open mind and are looking for something truly unique in either science-fiction or xenofiction/animal fantasy, definitely give this trilogy a try. I can truly say that as far as I can tell, there's really no book quite like this.
A Trilogy, A Book With Non-Human Characters, A Book More Than 500 Pages
--------------
REVIEW WIP
Book One--Silverhair: Three Stars This was my least favorite of the trilogy, and I completely understand why many readers gave up on this series after book one. It has an absolutely fantastic beginning, introducing the fascinating mythology and culture of mammoth-kind, artfully blending science and spirituality into a completely plausible culture for these creatures. For instance, the mammoths' ability to hear in infrasonic is modeled on this real-life ability seen in modern African and Asian elephants. This means that not only can they hear each other over long distances, but they can also hear the deep rumblings and geologic activity of the very planet itself, making decisions and learning about their environment based on what they hear. They are literally listening to the songs of the earth, creating a powerful spiritual bond between mammoths and the earth that is also firmly rooted in scientific fact. Pure genius writing on Stephen Baxter's part.
Now onto the problems of this first book. Because of the long and troubled history between humans and elephants, it's a given that humans should be portrayed as antagonists of a story told from the mammoths' perspective. This first book, however, takes it WAY too far. The human villains here are sickeningly, disgustingly, and cartoonishly evil, making even Captain Planet villains look subtle in comparison. These characters could hardly be more evil if they were freaking Nazi rapist pedophiles. Not even joking. This severely affected my enjoyment of this book, but not enough to make me want to give up on the trilogy altogether.
Book Two--Longtusk: Five Stars As you can see, I adore this second book. All of the awesomeness of mammoth culture and creation myths are here, as well as a fantastic lead character, fantastic side characters, an amazing setting, and a much more complex and tragic portrayal of humans. This book might have even worked as a wonderful standalone, except for the epilogue which leads into the third and final book, and which also doesn't make a lick of sense unless you've read the first book.
Book Three--Icebones: Five Stars This one was a slow-burning reading experience for me. Unlike the second book, which had my attention and held it from page one, and the first book which had my attention and gradually lost it as the pages wore on, this one didn't grab me immediately, but slowly worked its roots into my heart. Icebones is another fantastic lead (who might even make my top ten list of favorite female protagonists), surrounded by more fantastic side characters, and while Mars is an incredibly weird setting for an epic tale about woolly mammoths, it grows on you after a while.
And that ending...that ending, man...This was one of those stare-at-the-ceiling-and-hug-the-book-tightly-to-your-body-while-you-breathe-deeply-and-turn-the-fictional-events-over-and-over-in-your-mind kind of endings. Spot on, pitch perfect, and makes the entire experience worthwhile.
If you have an open mind and are looking for something truly unique in either science-fiction or xenofiction/animal fantasy, definitely give this trilogy a try. I can truly say that as far as I can tell, there's really no book quite like this.
February 19, 2021
I found this book seriously depressing so I wouldn't recommend reading it unless you are of a strong disposition. It basically tells the story of Mammoths through extinction on earth and Resurrection into a new habitat in the far future, from the perspective of the mammoths.
It's written well, but I really didn't enjoy the overall misery of it.
It's written well, but I really didn't enjoy the overall misery of it.
September 2, 2013
I've been wanting to read this trilogy for a long time and I really enjoyed it. I'd have liked to know why exactly mammoths were brought to Mars (nothing else could do the terraforming?) but other than that, really fun series of books.
December 28, 2010
well worth reading
January 15, 2016
Silverhair (Bk. 1) - Jan 13, 2016 - 3 stars
Longtusk (Bk. 2) - Jan 14, 2016 - 4 stars
Icebones (Bk. 3) - Jan 14, 2016 - 4 stars
Longtusk (Bk. 2) - Jan 14, 2016 - 4 stars
Icebones (Bk. 3) - Jan 14, 2016 - 4 stars
March 9, 2014
Surprisingly enthralling!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews