The Mammoth Hunters

Earth's Children, Book 3

By: Jean M. Auel

Narrated by: Sandra Burr

An epic novel of love, knowledge, jealousy, and hard choices.

Ayla, the independent heroine of the Earth's Children series, sets out from the valley on Whinney, the horse she tamed. With her is Jondalar, the tall, handsome, yellow-haired man she nursed back to health and came to love. Together they meet Mamutoi - the Mammoth Hunters - people like Ayla. But to Ayla, who was raised by the Clan of the Cave Bear, they are the "Others". She approaches them with a mixture of fear and curiosity.

It is the Mamutoi master carver of ivory - dark-skinned Ranec, flirtatious, artistic, magnetic - who Ayla finds herself drawn to the most. Because of her uncanny control over animals, her healing skills, and the magic firestone she discovers, Ayla is adopted into the Mammoth Hearth by Mamut, the ancient shaman of the Great Earth Mother.

Ayla finds herself torn between her strong feelings for Ranec and her powerful love for the wildly jealous and unsure Jondalar. It is not until after the great mammoth hunt, when Ayla's life is threatened, that a fateful decision is made.

Listen to more in the Earth's Children series.©2004 Jean M. Auel (P)2004 Brilliance Audio

Fire! How it became easier to ignite and more!

Part 3 of a 3 part trilogy chronicling the early life of a female born to survive a prehistoric earthquake, early childhood being raised by "knuckle dragging" pre homo sapiens humans, and being abandoned to survive alone. Cast out of the Clan at the age of a teenager she is now skilled with medicinal herbs, hunting skills, and early notions of what causes" the spirit" of a man or woman to create a newborn baby. Ayla, the primary character dispels myths, in her mind, of what she was told as a child of the reason for what we today would think of as religion or sacred history or mythology. She learns new things via travel and her use of horses as a friend and beast of burden. She discovers how to strike fire within seconds, which revolutionizes the ability of humans to bring heat relief within minutes, enhancing survivability. She discovers cultural differences from other people through her travels, aided by her discovery of horses as a mode of transportation, Then we learn how connection to other human communities helped humankind grow at a exponential learning of hunting and better socialization skills/discoveries e.g.. sex for pleasure vs. sex for increasing your hearth. I read this trilogy decades ago. Now I've enjoyed these 3 stories in audiobook format 2 times before I wrote these reviews on all 3 of Jean Auel's novels. Enjoyable way to enjoy prehistory. Great narration. Jean Auel made me wait too long to allow Ayla and her lover to finally find peace with their commitment. That frustration made me "drop a star" on the "Story" rating. I loved this trilogy and recommend highly.

excellent story

Not a big fan of the narrator. She reads everything like a cheap romance novel. Also there is too much lengthy repetition. If edited just a little more this would have been 5 stars.

Laura ,of Auel' s people

Mesmerized, fascinated, and beloved of these unforgettable people I have taken into my heart and mind. They will live on in me a true child of the Mother!

I just Love this series. New fan of an old story.❤

I just Love this series. Proud new fan of an old story thanks to may Dad sharing Clan of the Cave Bears with me. ❤

A continuation

Enjoyable, but some spots of the story seemed to drag on and on, while others seemed rushed and not enough explanation. A few spots where Ayla is remembering something said to her is noticeably a recording being played back.. these were a little distracting and hard to listening through. ***Spoiler*** Also, while Ayla leaving with Jonadalar (and no one else) could be predicted.. it felt like wish fulfillment and odd the way it happened.

still going strong

Sandra Burr does her usual great performance, and the plot is still great in the 3rd installment of the series. There are a few plot twists I felt were out of character, but overall still a great story.

very good I loved it

it was a very good book I enjoyed listening to it I love it I loved it

awesome

great book... loved it...highly recommend... it will definitely keep your interest... whole series has been great.

book was amazing, and the narrator did it justice.

the narrative was amazing! she kept me engrossed in the book the entire time!! I kept wanting more of the book, now it's next in the series!

great book

love this book as read. loved when I read it but got mote out of it when read to me