Tatham Mound

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book with only a few minor drawbacks.
Review: Anthony, a consummate fantasy bard, steps out into the real world and develops a compelling story from a collection of bones excavated, in part, by his daughter. This story of native Americans meeting the Spanish Conquistadors gives an easy read introduction to this time of dramatic change. With relevant and appropriate detail, Anthony lets the average reader experience the onslaught of the white man from an Indian perspective. At the same time, the reader comes to know a little more about the native American tribes in the South Florida region and learns some of the narratives that must have enriched thier lives. This book is not a research piece, but a fun, lively story which grips the reader with heartwrenching strength through to the foreshadowed cataclismic ending. Both my thumbs were up so high, I had trouble turning pages!

Rating:
Summary: Quite the native Tale Teller
Review: Anthony, a consummate fantasy bard, steps out into the real world and develops a compelling story from a collection of bones excavated, in part, by his daughter. This story of native Americans meeting the Spanish Conquistadors gives an easy read introduction to this time of dramatic change. With relevant and appropriate detail, Anthony lets the average reader experience the onslaught of the white man from an Indian perspective. At the same time, the reader comes to know a little more about the native American tribes in the South Florida region and learns some of the narratives that must have enriched thier lives. This book is not a research piece, but a fun, lively story which grips the reader with heartwrenching strength through to the foreshadowed cataclismic ending. Both my thumbs were up so high, I had trouble turning pages!

Rating:
Summary: It took me forever to find this book!!!
Review: It was well worth the wait, a breath taking read. I hope he writes more historical fiction, his style is very good and the story will keep you up at night to see the end.

Rating:
Summary: Truly Stunning! Deserves Six Stars! REPRINT IT!
Review: Most people who know of Piers Anthony are familiar with his light fantasy. I have read (and re-read) his "Incarnations of Immortality" series, which takes place in a version of our reality where magic holds equal status with science, and each major aspect of reality - death, time, fate, war, nature, good, evil - is run by an ex-mortal who has, by choice or chance, inherited the job of running that aspect.

"Tatham Mound" is not in this series, and it isn't easy to believe that it was even written by the same author. If you read the Author's Notes in "Tatham Mound" this apparent discrepancy gets explained. Piers Anthony had a deal with his publisher and editor that, for every so many high-volume-sales light fantasy books he wrote, he could write one completely of his own choosing. "Tatham Mound" is one of those "his own choosing" books, and is truly magnificent.

"Tatham Mound" is the story of a Native American man just before and during the Spanish discovery of the Americas. The young man is injured and cannot be a warrior; he instead becomes a traveler and earns his living by telling stories and relaying news from village to village, tribe to tribe, ranging from his home in Florida, north into New England, west into the Great Plains, south to Mexico, and eventually back home. Along the way, the reader learns how the great victory and conquest for the Spanish in the "New World" was a devastating tragedy for many Native Americans. Entire cultures were lost, while others were irrevocably altered and damaged. Some of this was deliberate and cruelly intentional, while much of it was due to ignorance, apathy, and tragic happenstance (e.g., the measles brought by the Spanish wiped out entire villages at a time).

While this book is often going to be catalogued as "historical fiction", which will drive away many readers who think that category too dry, "Tatham Mound" is a stunning and magical example of epic tragedy told by a master wordsmith. It is an outrage that this book is out of print, while the bookstands are cluttered with a significant amount of pulp that is best suited for kindling.

Rating:
Summary: Truly Stunning! Deserves Six Stars! REPRINT IT!
Review: Most people who know of Piers Anthony are familiar with his light fantasy. I have read (and re-read) his "Incarnations of Immortality" series, which takes place in a version of our reality where magic holds equal status with science, and each major aspect of reality - death, time, fate, war, nature, good, evil - is run by an ex-mortal who has, by choice or chance, inherited the job of running that aspect.

"Tatham Mound" is not in this series, and it isn't easy to believe that it was even written by the same author. If you read the Author's Notes in "Tatham Mound" this apparent discrepancy gets explained. Piers Anthony had a deal with his publisher and editor that, for every so many high-volume-sales light fantasy books he wrote, he could write one completely of his own choosing. "Tatham Mound" is one of those "his own choosing" books, and is truly magnificent.

"Tatham Mound" is the story of a Native American man just before and during the Spanish discovery of the Americas. The young man is injured and cannot be a warrior; he instead becomes a traveler and earns his living by telling stories and relaying news from village to village, tribe to tribe, ranging from his home in Florida, north into New England, west into the Great Plains, south to Mexico, and eventually back home. Along the way, the reader learns how the great victory and conquest for the Spanish in the "New World" was a devastating tragedy for many Native Americans. Entire cultures were lost, while others were irrevocably altered and damaged. Some of this was deliberate and cruelly intentional, while much of it was due to ignorance, apathy, and tragic happenstance (e.g., the measles brought by the Spanish wiped out entire villages at a time).

While this book is often going to be catalogued as "historical fiction", which will drive away many readers who think that category too dry, "Tatham Mound" is a stunning and magical example of epic tragedy told by a master wordsmith. It is an outrage that this book is out of print, while the bookstands are cluttered with a significant amount of pulp that is best suited for kindling.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book with only a few minor drawbacks.
Review: Piers Anthonys book "Tatham Mound" was an excellent story. From the beginning it is exciting and gives one a very in depth and real idea of what Native American life might have been like. I recommend it to readers from teen up. The whole plot is well laid out. A few parts may drag a little but, as always, Mr. Anthony never leaves you disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: .
Review: Read this book. Plain and simple. Whatever your tastes are. Read it

Rating:
Summary: History and Heroism
Review: Tathem Mound is a wonderful book about a native Floridan, circa 1500. It includes many cutures in the area including Maya, Creek and Cherokee. It also tells some of the myths in the Native Oral Tradition beautifuly. It gives insight to what may have happened within a native family around the time when the conqestadors first landed. Due to sexual content, it may not be sutible to younger readers, but the myths make lovely bedtime stories.

Rating:
Summary: History and Heroism
Review: Tathem Mound is a wonderful book about a native Floridan, circa 1500. It includes many cutures in the area including Maya, Creek and Cherokee. It also tells some of the myths in the Native Oral Tradition beautifuly. It gives insight to what may have happened within a native family around the time when the conqestadors first landed. Due to sexual content, it may not be sutible to younger readers, but the myths make lovely bedtime stories.

Rating:
Summary: Facinating departure for Piers Anthony & his fans!
Review: This book proves that Piers Anthony is a man of many talents. This is a facinating look at pre-historic life, in a realistic setting; not what you would expect from this author. No one else could have done it better! As always, the author's comments provide great insight.