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This is meant to be a general review of all of the “Echoes of the Past” Science-Fantasy Trilogy by Adrian Tchaikovsky.The three books do form an integrated whole.
First one must note the kind of narrative world we have. All of the action takes place in a world where people are “double souled”, that is, one aspect of the nature is human and the other aspect or soul is linked to a particular animal. The novel opens with a clan in which the members are able to “step’ between being wolves or humans. They may step back and forth instantly at will and the animal form will carry any attributes of the human soul including the weapons they wield and the armour they wear. This is the key to the titles of the three books. “The Tiger and the Wolf”refers to the heroine, Maniye, who has a father in the wolf clan and a mother linked to the Tigers. Thus Book 2, “The Bear and the Serpent” and the final volume, “The Hyena and the Hawk” refer to characters with specific abilities linked to those shape-shifting manifestations. It is also possible for some to shift to a “Champion” manifestation with very special strengths.
The technology of the world is primarily Late Neolithic with the major civilisation being in the Bronze Age. The Wolf clan alone can make limited use of iron.
Finally. There are “the Plague People”. They have an extremely sinister connotation to all other groups who have a deep fear of them. They apparently cannot step and are thus perceived as “hollow”. Through them Tchaikovsky develops themes of social and cultural conflict which are still relevant today.
“Echoes of The Fall’ is an earlier work of the author and perhaps does not reach the heights of the “Chldren of Time” sequence but it is still a remarkable Science-Fantasy creating a unique world which reflects some disturbing similarities to our own civilisation.
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