Page 8 - The Michigan Daily - Monday, January 12, 1987 Books Singletusk By Bjorn Kurten Pantheon Books $14.95 There once lived a group of "Blacks", a group of "Whites", and their offspring called "Browns" on THE DAILY CLASSIFIEDS ARE A GREAT WAY TO GET FAST RESULTS CALL 764-0557 the continent now known as Europe. Single tusk, by Bjorn Kurten, is a fictional narrative of how these homo-sapiens (Blacks) and Neanderthals (Whites) lived together during the latter years of the Ice Age. Kurten's new novel is the sequel to Dance of the Tiger. The first book introduced the reader to Tiger, a homo-sapien, who fell in love with Veyde, a proud Neanderthal leader. Tiger settled with Veyde, and they produced a generation of sterile, hybrid Browns. Kurten admits that at the time Dance of the Tiger was written there was some controversy over the poss - ibility of the Neanderthals and sapients co-existing in Europe. In his postscript, however, he cites recent evidence of the high proba - bility of co-existence, and discusses other aspects of Ice Age life as well. Kurten is one of Europe's leading paleontologists. He has lectured at Harvard University and has worked extensively in other parts of the world. His postscript analysis of Ice Age culture explains interesting facets of that period's societies. His second novel itself, however, is not as enjoyable. The book concerns Whitespear, Tiger's nephew, who travels in search of a holy shaman (revered doctor/priest) to cure his father's serious illness. At the same time, his Brown cousin, Avens, searches for the evil shaman (feared doctor/ priest). She feels the Browns are social outcasts, barren people with - out a purpose in life. With the powers of the evil shaman, however, she can form a renegade band of Browns and seek vengence on Blacks and Whites. By doing this, she wants to prevent the production of more Browns , since they are destined to unhappy lives . The plot is sketchy and the novel remains a simplistic frame - work without sufficient devel - opment. There is little emotional depth in the main characters and even less in the secondary char - acters. For example, the reader is given a detailed description of Avens by Whitespear in the first chapter. She does not reappear, however, until the end of the no - vel. Her journey in search of the evil shaman is probably more entertaining than Whitespear's (for the most part boring) journey. More importantly, the reader never witnesses the emotional changes Avens experiences throughout the story to emerge the character she is by the end. Singletusk does provide, how - ever, an enjoyable glimpse at what life might have resembled before our time. Kurten does a nice job of combining fact with fiction, and dispels some anthropological myths in the process. It is interesting to note that, according to Kurten, some of the fantastical events that occur in the novel were actual cultural practices performed years ago. He contends that Ice Age societies were much more culturally advanced than previously believed and that violent aggression, as personified by the cartoon caveman image, was rare. Kurten's char acter, Whitespear, supports this evidence by shunning violence and promoting peaceful communi - cation. He is a talented craftsman, creating exquisite designs from flint and other stone. Many of Kurten's other characters also possess artistic skills. Singletusk paints a colorful picture of a past society, but its overall effect is disappointing. For more entertaining anthropological fiction one should check out Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear series that has dominated the recent bestseller list, a list Singletusk probably will never see. 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He wrote or cowrote all but three of the tracks and displays skill in penning strong, diverse songs. Particularly impressive are the album's closers, "Ridin' High" and the Budy Guyish "Don.'t Play Games." They reveal Walker and the Boss Talkers' ability to shift musical gears effortlessly from uptempo rockers to more classic blues. Both songs also feature stinging, lyrical guitar work by WELCOME BACK WITH A WEEK OF SUNSHINE TANNING CENTERS 4 One week of tanning (one session a day) west side $1900 t hs ncaps 1896 W. Stadium coupon 216 S. State4 { 662-2602 STUDENT *REQUIRED 747-8844 THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN HOSPITALS VOLUNTEERS Walker. Walker appears on Hightone records, the big little label that put Robert Cray on the charts last year, and the similarities are too obvious to avoid. Both men mix rock, soul, and jazz elements with their blues to mold a unique sound. Both also have very strong, gospel influenced voices and are excellant guitar technicians. However, Walker's album tends a little more towards rock than Stax type soul and his voice has a rougher edge. Cold is the Night is an en cr- aging album and certainly pegs Walker as an artist to keep an ey on. -Alan Paul' Pete Seeger, Jane Sapp, and Si Kahn Carry it On Flying Fish Even if it wasn't a pleasure to hear, this would be an important release. In conjunction with Carry it On: A History of America's Working People in Song and Story by Seeger and Bob Reiser (published by Siman and Schuster) it assembles a much needed collection of working songs. Folk songs played an important role in struggles by I.W.W. and A. F.L. organizers long before they were subsumed into pop culture by the Kingston Trio and, of course, Seeger's own Weavers. Unfortun- ately, songs like "John Henry' "Joe Hill," and "Solidarity Forever' became so well known that people more or less stopped recording them. As a result, it's been years since all of these songs were available in one place. This two album set is hardly a showcase of outstanding perfor - mances. Of the three, only Sapp transmits her live energy onto vinyl. Seeger and Kahn, who works as a union organizer when he isn't performing, come out of the same tradition of the itinerant balladeer. They are strongest before an audience and most of these cuts are from the studio. Sapp, on the other hand, has a voice reminiscent of Odetta's and her selections here, particularly "Harriet Tubman" and "Black, Brown, and White Blues," are gems. Each of the performers has his moments, though. Seeger's version of his sister Peggy's "I'm Gonna Be an Engineer" transmits a good jolt of the warm humor that has sustained him as the premier folk performer in America and Kahn's "A Hayseed Like Me" shows him in a mild mixture of humor and def iane. -Joseph Kraus 7,4r Venture into High Tech and add to the Human Touch Help patients with the Healing Process Learn about the 150 rewarding volunteer opportunities One Free Small Coffee r , - 1 -. *1 rI - , fI 7am - 8am with any breakfast entree : 7am - 11 am with any hot cake order : " II I INFORMATION SESSIONS MONDAY, JANUARY 12 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Hospital Amphitheater THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Hospital Amphitheater TUESDAY, JANUARY 20 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Room 2C228, University Hospital Please call 764-6874 for additional information. OF NIICIGAN L CN R __.._ J IBM Emulation on Atari ST and Amiga I. -r _ .. 1