LitPick Review
Among the hoard of grown men, the youth Zan could easily be picked out as the weakest and most susceptible to danger. Yet, as fate would have it, it was Zan who killed the lion on the great hunt, earning scars to prove his worth in battle and the honorary name of Zan-Gah. So like a prehistoric Hercules, Zan-Gah began his legacy. When Zan's beloved twin brother Dael mysteriously disappears, it comes as no surprise that Zan embarks on a perilous journey to rescue Dael. Fueled by his love for his brother, Zan endures harsh climates with limited resources and surprise attacks from hostile clans in order to accomplish his goal. Along the way, Zan learns more about himself and discovers a previously unknown weapon to use against his enemies. The story of Zan-Gah's adventures is an epic portrayal of a Neanderthal society.
Opinion:
Zan-Gah was a fast paced novel and an easy read. Allan Richard Shickman describes the setting and events so vividly that you feel as if you are observing each scene in real life, especially during the lion hunt. It was fascinating to see how the characters evolved throughout the book, too. However, while I was entertained by this novel, I thought that it could be a tad more engaging with the reader. During a few parts of the book, I found it hard to connect with some of the characters. In addition, I thought that much of the vocabulary was too advanced for a prehistoric time period. In regards to the plot, I thought that it was exciting at first, but after a while, I found that the plot was kind of repetitive. It seemed as if Zan was always either wandering around in a desert or fighting people from an enemy tribe; this got kind of boring. All in all, Zan-Gah is a mediocre book that was amusing to read the first time, though I would not reread it.
