The West of Eden Trilogy by Harry Harrison
The "West of Eden Trilogy" is a series of speculative fiction novels exploring an alternate Earth where dinosaurs never faced extinction. In this world, an advanced reptilian species known as the Yilanè, characterized by a militaristic and matriarchal society, dominate the landscape. As the climate grows colder, the Yilanè migrate from Africa to North America and encounter the Tanu, human hunters. The stories revolve around the political intrigue and conflicts between these two species, particularly focusing on key characters such as Vaintè, the ambitious leader of the Yilanè, and Kerrick, a Tanu who becomes embroiled in their power struggles.
Throughout the trilogy, themes of identity, cultural clash, and the consequences of war are explored, especially through Kerrick's journey as he shifts between both worlds. The narrative unfolds through a series of conflicts, betrayals, and alliances, culminating in a significant confrontation that forces both species to reconsider their perceptions of each other. The series ultimately raises questions about coexistence, violence, and understanding across different cultures, all set against the backdrop of an imaginative prehistoric landscape.
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The West of Eden Trilogy
First published:West of Eden (1984), Winter in Eden (1986), and Return to Eden (1988)
Type of work: Novels
Type of plot: Science fiction—alternate history
Time of work: The present
Locale: North America, Africa, and South America
The Plot
On the parallel Earth of these novels, the meteor that caused the extinction of the dinosaurs never struck. From the prehistoric dinosaurs evolved the dominant life-form on the planet, the Yilanè, an advanced reptilian race. Increasingly colder winters drive the Yilanè, who inhabit Africa, to attempt the colonization of North America, where they first encounter the Tanu, human hunters.
The Yilanè, a militaristic, matriarchal species whose males are kept cloistered, establish their first colony, Alpèasak, in Florida. The shrewd, ambitious Vaintè becomes its eistaa, or leader, and seeks to rid the surrounding countryside of the Tanu, who to her are filthy beasts. She spares a Tanu named Kerrick to gain information about humans. Kerrick is taught Yilanè language and customs by Enge, a member of the Daughters of Life, a sect that deplores violence and reveres all forms of life. Kerrick becomes an invaluable assistant to Vaintè in her political intrigues because he can lie; the Yilanè are biologically incapable of lying. After a sexual encounter with Vaintè, Kerrick visits the compound where males are housed and discovers that in Yilanè procreation, fertilized eggs are implanted in the male, who carries the young to term.
One day, Kerrick’s uncle, Herilak, is taken prisoner. He awakens in Kerrick memories of his childhood and a sense of his human identity. Kerrick attacks Vaintè and escapes with Herilak to live among the Tanu, where he takes a wife, Armun, and has a son, Arnwheet. As Yilanè attacks intensify, Kerrick realizes that the campaign of genocide against the Tanu stems in large part from Vaintè’s desire for vengeance against him. He persuades the scattered tribes to unite and take the offensive. The humans attack Alpèasak with fire, which is little more than a legend to the cold-blooded reptiles. The city is burned, and the Yilanè withdraw to their home continent.
In Winter in Eden, Kerrick lives near the ruins of Alpèasak with his family and two Yilanè males, Nadaske and Imehei, who are happy to be free of the restrictions placed on them in their own culture. Meanwhile, Vaintè has found an ally in Lanefenuu, eistaa of Ikhalmenets, an island city. With her support, Vaintè rebuilds Alpèasak and uses it as a base for raids against the Tanu. With the aid of the Paramutan, a seafaring tribe of humans, Kerrick launches a destructive attack on Ikhalmenets, threatening to burn the city and slaughter Lanefenuu’s herd of uruketo, mutated ichthyosaurs that the Yilanè use for sea travel. The animals are especially important for an island city. Lanefenuu renounces her allegiance to Vaintè. Vaintè’s raids are halted, and she is forced into exile.
In Return to Eden, Vaintè, returning from exile and learning that Enge has established in South America a city for the Daughters of Life, proceeds to that continent and claims the city for herself. The Daughters of Life can offer little resistance, for resorting to violence would contradict their beliefs. With Enge as hostage, Vaintè voyages to Florida to reclaim Alpèasak. Coming ashore near the city, she captures Arnwheet and Nadaske, who has become increasingly bitter toward the dominant females of his species. Imehei has died in childbirth after being forcibly impregnated by hunters from Alpèasak. When Kerrick arrives to rescue his son, Nadaske lunges at the distracted Vaintè and stabs her to death. One of her confederates poisons Nadaske, who then falls dead beside Vaintè. Kerrick and Enge walk along the beach, pondering the apparent incompatibility of their two peoples.