#1 – The Clan of the Cave Bear
After an earthquake kills her family, five-year-old Ayla is found by a group of Neanderthals who call themselves the Clan of the Cave Bear. Although her appearance, instincts and rapid learning mark her as one of the Others, the healer Iza adopts her and the shaman…
#2 – The Valley of Horses
Expelled from the Clan, Ayla travels alone until she finds a sheltered valley where she can survive the coming winter. She develops new hunting methods, experiments with fire and tools, and forms unusual bonds with a horse and a cave lion. Her self-sufficiency protects her, but…
#3 – The Mammoth Hunters
Ayla and Jondalar are welcomed by the Mamutoi, a community of mammoth hunters living on the open steppe. Ayla’s medical knowledge, skill with animals and ability to make fire quickly earn respect, but she must learn unfamiliar social customs and decide whether she can belong to…
#4 – The Plains of Passage
Ayla and Jondalar leave the Mamutoi and begin the long journey west towards Jondalar’s home. Travelling with their horses and a wolf, they cross rivers, grasslands, mountains and territories occupied by many different peoples. Their animals and unfamiliar techniques attract curiosity, suspicion and hostility, while natural…
#5 – The Shelters of Stone
Ayla reaches the limestone shelters of the Zelandonii, Jondalar’s people, where she must establish a place within his family and a large, settled community. Her foreign upbringing, relationship with animals and unconventional abilities inspire admiration in some and distrust in others. As she prepares for marriage…
#6 – The Land of Painted Caves
Now accepted among the Zelandonii, Ayla continues her training as a spiritual leader while raising her daughter and maintaining her partnership with Jondalar. Her duties take her through a network of sacred caves whose paintings, carvings and ceremonies preserve the beliefs of different communities. The demands…