By Tooth and Claw: Clan of the Claw Book Two - S.M Stirling, Eric Flint, Jody Lynn Nye, Mercedes Lackey and Cody Martin

By Tooth and Claw: Clan of the Claw Book Two

S.M Stirling, Eric Flint, Jody Lynn Nye, Mercedes Lackey and Cody Martin

Baen, Apr 7 2015, $15.00

ISBN: 9781476780405

“Bury My Heart” by Mercedes Lackey and Cody Martin.  The flood left the Clan of the Long Fang surviving Mrem destitute as they flee without Dancers from the still rising waters and the vicious Lishkash.

“A Clan’s Foundation” by S.M Stirling.  Klar leads the desperate ragged band to needed water while fearing Ashala’s Lishkash troops will slaughter most of them and enslave those left alive.

“Sanctuary” by Eric Flint.  Sebetwe takes charge of dispatching Knest’s soul and leading his followers up the mountain while concealing from his superstitious Lishkash followers his disdain for those who worship the Goddess Huwute.  After Zilikazi’s army slaughtered most of their Dancers causing the Mrem tribe to flee in disarray terror, Achia Pazik and a few others find themselves separated from the main pack with no hope of surviving.

“Feeding a Fever” by Jody Lynn Nye.  In an oasis, Petru begs Lailah Clan lead Dancer Cassa to eat, but she says she cannot as she believes she soon will join Assirra in heaven before they reach haven.  Water remains a problem for the clan especially after what they recently found proved lethal.

Based on the premise the asteroid that ended the dinosaur era did not occur, the second Clan of the Claw alternative history (see Exiled) contains four pleasurable survival novellas.  All are well written as the Mrem feline mammals and the Lishkash humanoid dinosaurs are intelligent enemies fighting for domination in the Bronze Age.  My personal favorite is the heroic sacrifices of brave warriors in “Bury My Heart”.

Harriet Klausner