[.uk] Behemoth: Mammoth, Long Tusk, Icebones (ISBN 0575076046)

Believable, enjoyable SF!:
I enjoyed these books immensely. The first book, Silverhair, is the story of the last living Family of mammoths, who have somehow survived into modern times on an isolated island. The story follows Silverhair, the daughter of the Family's Matriarch, Owlheart, and her Family's fight for survival against an unforgiving environment and the brutal humans, whom they call the Lost. Silverhair takes place sometime between 2000 AD and 3000 AD. The second book, Longtusk, is the story of a figure in Mammoth history, an individual of mythical proportions who was reputed to have brought the mammoths across the ocean to live on the Island. It is the story of the mammoth behind the myth, relationship with the Dreamers (the neanderthals) and the Fireheads (early humans), and his trials to prove himself as the greatest hero of them all. It takes place circa 16,000 BC. The third book, Icebones, takes place on the planet Mars, in 3000 AD. With no room left for Mammoths to live on Earth, the Lost have sent Icebones, the daughter of Silverhair, to become the Matriarch of the Martian Mammoths. Icebones tells of her struggles to bring the Lost-raised mammoths together as a proper family and to lead them to prosperity on a barren world. The mammoths are portrayed interestingly. They are given emotions and personalities that the reader can relate to, but they are far from humanized. One can clearly tell that they are animals from their language and mannerisms. Their legends are colourful, reminding me of childrens' Bible stories, and their relationship with the Earth profound. This book's only failing, which cost it the fifth star, is that the reading can sometimes become slightly laborious. Baxter is intensely descriptive, and this can sometimes detract from the pace.