Monday 26 July 2021

Jacqui Murray’s “Dawn of Humanity” trilogy – the 2nd instalment: ‘Laws of Nature' …

 

This second part of Jacqui’s trilogy continues with some thoughtful and interesting changes in Lucy’s clan, especially their reliance on each other’s skills and knowledge.

 

The author: Jacqui Murray

I, with Jacqui, pondered these subjects and came up with some thoughts …

 

Lucy, the leader, is developing ideas … so the clan grows stronger and becomes more able to adapt to the world around.

 


The Wonderwerk caves being nearly at an elevation of 4,900 feet (1,500 metres) are extremely cold in winter, and where the wind whistles around the entrance …

 

… winter has given Lucy time, when they are unable to move around, to explore her blind companion’s ability to react more quickly to changes in noises around their camp … while also noting that he raises his head as the bats fly in and out …

 

Perhaps early signs of bat echo-location becoming essential to early man, which blind people are able to use today; while African tribes still use ‘click sounds’, as did their early ancestors … before speech evolved …

 

Lucy’s group is absorbing small pieces of knowledge to help them stay alive, and to improve their clan’s chances to remain in history …





Tagline introduction

 

A boy blinded by fire. A woman raised by wolves. An avowed enemy offers help. 

 

Summary

 

In this second of the Dawn of Humanity trilogy, the first trilogy in the Man vs. Nature saga, Lucy and her eclectic group escape the treacherous tribe that has been hunting them and find a safe haven in the famous Wonderwerk caves in South Africa. Though they don’t know it, they will be the oldest known occupation of caves by humans. They don’t have clothing, fire, or weapons, but the caves keep them warm and food is plentiful. But they can't stay, not with the rest of the tribe enslaved by an enemy. To free them requires not only the prodigious skills of Lucy's unique group--which includes a proto-wolf and a female raised by the pack--but others who have no reason to assist her and instinct tells Lucy she shouldn't trust.

Set 1.8 million years ago in Africa, Lucy and her tribe struggle against the harsh reality of a world ruled by nature, where predators stalk them and a violent new species of man threatens to destroy their world. Only by changing can they prevail. If you ever wondered how earliest man survived but couldn’t get through the academic discussions, this book is for you. Prepare to see this violent and beautiful world in a way you never imagined.

 

A perfect book for fans of Jean Auel and the Gears!

 




Book information:


Title and author: Laws of Nature

Series: Book 2 in the Dawn of Humanity series

Genre: Prehistoric fiction

Editor: The extraordinary Anneli Purchase

Available print or digital) at: Kindle US   Kindle UK   Kindle CA   Kindle AU  Kindle India


Author bio: 

Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular prehistoric fiction saga, Man vs. Nature which explores seminal events in man’s evolution one trilogy at a time. She is also the author of the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers and Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. Her non-fiction includes over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, reviews as an Amazon Vine Voice,  a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Natural Selection, Winter 2022.


Social Media contacts:


Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jacqui-Murray/e/B002E78CQQ/ 

Blog: https://worddreams.wordpress.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacquimurraywriter/ 

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jacquimurray

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/askatechteacher 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/worddreams 

Website: https://jacquimurray.net 



Book trailer video ...
Click for the link to YouTube (https://youtu.be/gbyA9rDSy9k)

Other bloggers have promoted the first chapter ... I have omitted it here - but there are plenty of links above ... 


I have included this image of migrations that formed the 'Modern Rainbow Nation' - it shows South Africa: the so called 'Cradle of Humankind' ... and the migratory routes of the major present day tribes ..


Migrations that formed the present 'Rainbow nation'
South Africa - with Namibia to the west; Botswana between
these two nations ...


Congratulations Jacqui - you are inspirational in tackling these wonderful sagas - giving us the opportunity to think and imagine where we all came from ... and how these early peoples adapted and lived ...


Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

34 comments:

Chrys Fey said...

Hi Jacqui and Hilary! Jacqui's books are on my TBR list. I can't wait to read them. I love the premise.

Natalie Aguirre said...

It must be interesting to watch the changes in Lucy's clan. Congrats to Jacqui!

And Hilary, I've been meaning to thank you for a tip you posted on another person's blog about adding pictures to blog posts. I leave the spaces in like you suggested and then adjust after I insert the picture. Everything looks so much better that way. I think of you everytime I do it now. Thanks so much!

Liz A. said...

Who was it that said that the first signs of a culture is when members of the group take care of those that need help? I've phrased it badly, but it was an interesting point. Them taking care of a blind member of their group qualifies.

Elephant's Child said...

It sounds fascinating.
Thank you Hilary and congratulations to Jacquie.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Chrys – yes I’ve got ‘Against All Odds’ – book 3 of the CrossRoads Trilogy … I loved it – so enjoy.

@ Natalie – it’s so long ago … it’s difficult to envisage a life like that – but yes … definitely congratulations to Jacqui.

Oh great – that you’ve been able to utilise those thoughts about putting pictures into blogger’s posts. It’s a bit of a nuisance … but worth the trouble …

@ Liz – remember this is 1.8 million years ago – and they’ve no culture, no speech per se … but any group needs to look out for each other when one’s in the wild; the blind boy may well help the group hugely as his auditory senses will be more acute.

@ EC – good to see you … and yes I’m sure it’ll be a fascinating read – I think Jacqui has done an amazing job.

Thanks for visiting … I hope you can get a chance to read her books – cheers Hilary

Vallypee said...

That sounds a fascinating read, Hilary, Another one for my TBR list!

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
It's always good to have a book that absorbs one - and makes one think! During the 1980s I devoured Jean Auel's Earth's Children series (1st one, Clan of the Cave Bear) as much for the descriptions of how to live in prehistoric times as for the characters themselves. Fascinating. YAM xx

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Best wishes to Jacqui for great success with her book.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

It does sound good

Computer Tutor said...

It's so nice to be here with your efriends, Hilary. Thank you for hosting me!

Computer Tutor said...

Thanks so much, Chrys. It's easy to forget that these amazing people are where we-all started. They were amazing.

Computer Tutor said...

@Natalie--I do show Lucy's tribe changing over time. Early man didn't evolve quite that fast but I squeeze it all into a few hundred pages.

Computer Tutor said...

@Liz--I spent a lot of time researching the true meaning of 'culture'. I used to think it was mostly beliefs and that sort but many believe it is as much about shared beliefs. I go with that in this trilogy.

Computer Tutor said...

#ElephantsChild--thank you for stopping by. Hilary has such a fascinating blog. I'm excited for her to host me.

Computer Tutor said...

@Valleypee--thanks for stopping by! I know you love life on the water. My folks don't discover boats until the next trilogy--Crossroads--and then not to live on. Actually, I'm not sure when that happened.

Computer Tutor said...

@Yamini--me, too. I felt toward the last few in the series, Jean Auel was tiring of her story but those early ones were incomparable.

Computer Tutor said...

@David--thanks for stopping by. In my books, your earliest ancestors loved birds, thought them their equal. In my second trilogy, they actually learn to talk like birds. Thanks to Hilary, it is quite interesting.

Computer Tutor said...

Thanks for visiting, Jo-anne! I hope their lives are quite interesting!

Susan Scott said...

Such a lovely review Hilary. Jacqui is a great writer and story teller, and lovely to see that her blind companion is an addition to the story whereby the tribe have to take care of him and learn other life lessons along the way.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Val – Jacqui’s books are really interesting and absorbing …

@ Yam – as I mention to Val above … definitely a worthwhile, thought provoking read; your memories of Jean-Auel’s books … must enhance Jacqui’s stories …

@ David – I’m sure Jacqui’s books will be enjoyed by many …

@ Jo-Anne – thank you …

@ Jacqui – great to see you … and for everyone to have a chance to learn more about your storytelling abilities … I’m delighted to host you.

@ Susan – you’re so right Jacqui is a wonderfully engaging story-teller; her inclusion of the blind boy will definitely add to Lucy’s history. Jacqui is very brave in her research and the writing of these trilogies …

Thanks so much to you all for being here – and supporting Jacqui in her quest to promote Lucy’s story ("Dawn of Humanity") – I loved ‘Against All Odds’ the third of her Crossroads Trilogy … well worth a read. All the best to you all - Hilary

Computer Tutor said...

Thanks for visiting, Susan. The story really sparked when I added Ahnda's blindness. Everyone learns from that.

Sandra Cox said...

This was a great post, about a great read.

Keith's Ramblings said...

This certainly sounds like a must-read series. It's completely different from the genre I usually dive into, and one I feel I should explore.

Joanne said...

Quite the saga. Wow!

hels said...

Building a Midshipman sounds both appealing and relevant !

Dan said...

Thanks for a nice introduction to Jacqui's book. It sounds like an interesting trilogy.

retirementreflections said...

Congratulations to Jacqui!
Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Hilary!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Sandra – it does sound such an interesting book …

@ Keith – I really enjoyed Jacqui’s book ‘Against All Odds’ … so highly recommend these pre-historic sagas she has written …

@ Joanne – yes definitely a saga … well worth the read …

@ Hels – Jacqui’s daughter has provided a great subject for her ‘Building a Midshipman’ book …

@ Dan – I really enjoy Jacqui’s writing … so highly recommend …

@ Donna – yes – Jacqui is definitely to be congratulated – she’s researched and crafted a very well written pre-historic saga …

Thanks to Jacqui for these very interesting books … and to you all for commenting – I hope you’ll all take the opportunity to read – all the best Hilary

Computer Tutor said...

@Sandra--Thanks, girlfriend. You and I love the same type of characters

Computer Tutor said...

@Keith--if you like strong people with no quit in them, I think you'll like my characters. They have no technology--at all--not even the wheel--but there are many times I think that's a plus!

Computer Tutor said...

@Joanne--thanks for the wow! I hope my book lives up to the sentiment.

Computer Tutor said...

@Dan--Hilary has that inquisitive curious mine I so love. She did a great job introducing this book. Thanks for visiting.

Computer Tutor said...

@Retirementreflections--thanks for visiting!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Thanks everyone for your comments and support for Jacqui and her books - enjoy reading them ... take care all of you - cheers Hilary