Shadow Valley

By: Steven Barnes

Narrated by: Patricia Floyd

This mythical tale—a sequel to Barnes’ Great Sky Woman - is set in Africa in 28,000 B.C. and follows a tribal leader who must find a new land for her people.

After the catastrophic eruption of Father Mountain, the Ibandi are divided, desperate, and afraid. Most have followed the only person in whom they still believe: young Sky Woman, who was on the great mountain when it exploded and who, along with Frog Hopping, returned to tell the tale. Nurtured by an elder whose searing visions have left her blind, Sky Woman nonetheless doubts her own visionary powers as she follows a path she can hardly discern-across savannah and parched plains-to find a valley of plenty for a people on the brink of collapse.

But in fact, Sky Woman and Frog were not the only survivors of the mountain's explosion. Another man has emerged from the destruction, vengeance pulsing in his veins, to lead a separate group of Ibandi into a vicious and reckless act of war. Soon these two strands of survivors will meet, through chance, desperation, and sheer willpower.

In a world in which every moment is lived on the edge between life and death, where animal and human predators can strike in an instant, where the gods themselves seem lost, and dreams entwine with reality, a people's destiny rushes toward them. The Ibandi must make a last, violent stand against complete destruction.

Listen to Great Sky Woman.©2005 Steven Barnes (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

“[A]ll at once rugged and elegant in style, a mix of harsh bloodletting with a primeval close-to-the-land beauty.” (Publishers Weekly)

Life as it should be

it takes strength to survive, it takes courage to stand up and be counted for the good of your family and friends.

Fantastic first contact stories!

I loved the multitude of different human species interacting with each other. Speculative prehistoric fiction and scifi is like my favorite genre, and imagining different human groups interacting for the first time is such a juicy question to flesh out, and I think it’s done well here. Complex characters, interesting plot, well-read. I loved it!

Steven Barnes has done it again!!!

If you could sum up Shadow Valley in three words, what would they be?

I enjoyed Great Sky Woman so much and was delighted to find this sequel. It certainly lived up to the task. Thank you and I do hope there will be more.

What about Patricia Floyd’s performance did you like?

I love Patricia's narritive. She really makes the characters come to life.

Any additional comments?

Thank you Steven, Patricia, and Audible.