Clan by Sigmund Brouwer

Clan is a novel about a boy's quest to find his place within his clan and to find redemption after disaster strikes. The story is set in prehistoric North America, during the end of the last Ice Age.

Atlatl is a member of the Clan led by his father Nootau. Their Healer, the Clan's spiritual leader is Banti, Atlatl's uncle and Nootau's brother. Atlatl's grandmother, Wawaetseka is Nootau and Banti's mother and the oldest woman in the Clan. Atlatl's clan winters in the Valley of the Turtle. "It was a vast valley; the low set of mountains on the western side, purpled by haze, were at least a day's walk away. Far, far upstream along the river that fed this valley was Ghost Mountain, where the Clan never traveled. Beyond Ghost Mountain was the land of the gods, where the Turtle god had been bound by the others to save the peoples from his anger not a place for mere mortals to tread."

Not yet a man, Atlatl struggles to walk, his left leg twisted at the knee from a fall off a cliff as a young child. Now on an outing in the afternoon on a late summer day, Atlatl is experimenting with a new weapon to hunt birds. Because of his limp, Atlatl knows that without two strong legs, he will never be allowed to join the hunters, led by his father. If he can devise a weapon to make hunting easier, he might be able to join the other men.

But while in the hills, Atlatl finds himself trapped by a saber-tooth tiger. The valley where his clan winters is filled with many predators including dire wolf, lion, cheetah, short-face bear and saber-tooth tiger. As the saber-tooth is preparing to attack, suddenly a cub scrambles from behind Atlatl towards the saber-tooth. Once she sees her cub she loses interest in Atlatl, but as she's preparing to take her cub back to the lair, she along with Atlatl are surrounded by a pack of dire wolves. Atlatl manages to save himself and the cub by climbing the rock face. The saber-tooth tiger is not so lucky. 

At the clan camp, Atlatl first encounters his cousin Powaw, who does not believe his story about surviving the saber-tooth and the attack by the dire wolves. The two boys are natural enemies, as their fathers do not get along. Powaw provokes the cub who scratches him and determined to see Atlatl lose the cub, promises to take his request to the Council of Elders.

Wawetseka and the other women, after hearing both boys decide that the cub may live among the dogs of the Clan and that as soon as it is weaned, it must be set free. Wawetseka asks Atlatl to report on the marker stone set by the river. It was the Healer's tradition to set an oddly shaped stone at the edge of the riverbank to warn of rising water. Atlatl's clan believes that when the other gods had defeated Turtle, he was weighed down with boulders and thrown into the lake behind Ghost Mountain. If he were ever to free himself, Turtle would flood the valley in retaliation. This is why it is the duty of the Healer to observe the marker stone. In Atlatl's clan, that duty falls to Banti but as he is away with the hunters, Wawetseka asks Atlatl to check for her. Although Atlatl has noticed a possible slight rising of the river, he decides not to upset his grandmother with something that might not be.

With the return of the hunters, tensions in the camp rise. Atlatl struggles as he sees his father teaching Powaw the techniques of tool making. He is ridiculed over his attempts to make a new weapon, a throwing stick that can throw stones very far. 

Then Wawetseka accuses Atlatl of lying to her about the marker stone. But the two discover that the river is changing and that the Clan must be warned. Meanwhile after many days, Powaw accuses Atlatl's saber-tooth of stealing meat from the drying rack. When Powaw pokes Cub with a spear, Atlatl grabs the weapon and Cub attacks Powaw, clawing his forearms and knocking him down. This scene is witnessed by Banti who brings it before the Council of Elders.

The Council decides that Cub, considered a member of the Clan, will be banished. But this judgement only sets up further tension within the Clan. Added to this is the discovery by Wawetseka and Atlatl that Banti is moving the marker stone to deceive the Clan about the river. When Wawetseka confronts her son, Nootau, he refuses to act, setting the stage for a catastrophe that will change their lives forever.

Discussion

Clan is a mashup of historical and science fiction, a story that incorporates all the features of a hero's journey while also exploring themes of forgiveness and redemption. The novel is divided into three sections, The Great Flood, Turtle God, and The Gathering, with the main character, Atlatl narrating. Atlatl's age is not specified, but he is still a boy, with a lame left leg, damaged in a fall off a cliff. At the end of the novel, it is revealed that his fall was not accidental but an attempt to kill him by his jealous uncle.

Atlatl is part of a small clan of only twenty-five that is led by his father Nootau. Atlatl's father is in conflict with his brother Banti, and this conflict has spilled down to their sons, Atlatl and Powaw. These conflicts have far-reaching effects for their Clan. The conflict between Nootau and Banti leads Nootau to refuse to move the clan from its camp near the river in order to avoid a confrontation with Banti leading to catastrophic results. The conflict between Atlatl and Powaw almost leads to banishment for Atlatl but disaster strikes before this can happen.

The catastrophe is a great flood that washes away the camp of the Clan. Atlatl, Nootau, Powaw, Banti and a young girl Atlatl loves, Takhi survive and are carried downstream. Eventually Atlatl and his father are separated from the others and reach the safety of a rock. However, Atlatl's father rejects him and so Atlatl sets out on his own, to journey to Ghost Mountain to confront the Turtle God. His journey is transformative; he develops a weapon that allows him to throw a spear very far and thus become a hunter, and he learns to survive on his own even using his new weapon to kill a short face bear. Atlatl also discovers the truth of the story of the Turtle god: that it was a story meant to protect the clans from the disaster of a flood, something had likely happened in the past. He and his father, who has been secretly following him, mend their broken relationship with Nootau accepting responsibility for not moving the clan from the valley as he was advised to do.

Atlatl's journey and his reconciliation with his father, lead him to work towards ending the conflict with Banti's son, Powaw. Nootau tells Atlatl, "My brother, Banti, and I were enemies from the moment we could both walk and speak. Only the laws of the Clan kept us from trying to kill each other. I silently hated him every single day of his life. That hatred, I have come to realize, has hurt me far more than it hurt him.... Banti and I used you and Powaw as we fought for power and position." Nootau urges Atlatl "...to set aside your hatred for Powaw, no matter how he treats you. Hatred is something that burns and consumes. If you can treat him as a brother that you love, you will never diminish yourself....Powaw is stronger than you in body, but he knows he is not as intelligent as you are, and it makes him feel weak. Can you promise me that you will try to make peace with him, and that no matter how many times he turns away from peace, you will keep trying?"

To this end, Atlatl shows his good intentions towards Powaw, after he and his father are allowed to remain with the Clan at the Council of Judgement during the Gathering of the Clans. Even after Powaw wrongly accuses Atlatl of trying to kill him during the flood, Atlatl works to carve Powaw a spear thrower and asks Powaw to be his brother. And even when confronted by the hatred of Banti, who is dying, Atlatl keeps his promise to his father. In offering Banti love and compassion, he saves his own life when the old man threatens to take Atlatl with him when he jumps off the cliff.

To write Clan, Brouwer undertook extensive research into Stone Age technology, the First People's of the Americas and the climate and geography of North America during the Ice Age. The Great Flood referenced in the oral history that Atlatl's grandmother Wawetseka relates, is based on the Missoula Flood which is estimated to have happened between 15,000 and 13,000 years ago in Montana and eastern Washington state. This flood was a glacial lake outburst flood in which an ice dam ruptured, allowing the glacial lake behind it to drain into the valley (in this case the Columbia valley) below the ice sheet. Eventually the ice re-formed, the glacial lake re-filled and the cycle repeated itself. Scientists believe this happened several times over a period of several thousand years. Brouwer includes a Notes section at the back that provides information about some of the animals mentioned in the novel as well as the Great Flood and the atlatl. 

Clan is a refreshing addition to Canadian children's literature. It is an exciting novel with an unusual setting that many readers will find fascinating. It is well-written, fast-paced with exciting action scenes involving animals that are now extinct. Sigmund Brouwer is an accomplished Alberta author who has been nominated for the Red Maple Award and has won the Christy Book of the Year and the Arthur Ellis Award. Clan is another outstanding

Book Details:

Clan by Sigmund Brouwer
New York: Tundra Books     2020
250 pp.

DVD: 1917

1917 is a war movie that tells the story of two fictional soldiers and their journey to warn another British unit that it is not to launch a planned attack on German lines.

Lance Corporal Thomas Blake learns that his leave has been cancelled and that he must see General Erinmore immediately. Told to pick a buddy to come with him, Blake choses Lance Corporal William Schofield. They meet with General Erinmore who asks Blake if he has a brother in the 2nd Devons.  He responds that his brother Joseph is in the 2nd Devons. On a map Erinmore shows Blake the location of the 2nd Devons and asks him how long it would take him to travel there. 

On the ground it appears the Germans have undertaken a strategic withdrawal. Colonel MacKenzie, in command of the 2nd Devons, has sent a message indicating that he is going after the retreating Germans. He believes he can break them. But Erinmore tells Blake that MacKenzie is wrong.

Aerial reconnaissance indicates that the Germans have extensive fortifications, defenses and a new type of artillery. The 2nd are to attack the German line in the morning tomorrow but they do not know about these fortifications. Erinmore can't warn the 2nd because the Germans have cut all their phone lines. Blake and Schofield are to travel to the 2nd Devons at their current position at Croisilles Wood, one mile southeast of the town of Ecoust, and deliver a message to Colonel MacKenzie to call off the attack. If they fail, they will lose two battalions, sixteen hundred men including Blake's brother Joseph Blake.

After being told to leave immediately, Blake and Schofield are given a few supplies and directions to the Yorks. They are to follow the trench west up on Sauchiehall Street, the northwest on Paradise Alley at the front. They are to continue along the front line until they find the Yorks. There they must give a note to Major Stephenson who is holding the line at the shortest span of  no-man's land. It is at this point that they will cross. When they express concern about crossing in daylight and being seen they are told not to worry as there should be no resistance. Nevertheless, as they leave, Schofield tries to convince Blake to wait until dark but he refuses, saying he must save his brother.

Blake and Schofield reach the Yorks and learn that Major Stephenson has been killed and replaced by Lieutenant Leslie. The lieutenant believes MacKenzie is crazy to believe the Germans have retreated. Despite his deep cynicism, Leslie, who tells Blake and Schofield there "is nothing like a scrap of ribbon to cheer up a widow", gives them directions on how to cross no-mans land.

The two soldiers succeed in crossing no mans land and enter an abandoned German bunker which they discover has been booby-trapped. Schofield is almost killed by rock debris when a rat trips the wire and causes an explosion. He is saved by Blake who helps lead him out of the bunker and then wash the rock dust out of his eyes. They cross the rest of no-0mans land, and pass through a deserted forest.

At an abandoned farmhouse, Blake and Schofield are almost killed when a German plane is shot out of the sky and crash lands in the ruins of the barn. The two soldiers rescue the pilot, his suit in flames, from the plane. When Schofield wants to shoot the pilot, Blake insists that they help him. While Schofield is getting water from the well, the pilot turns on Blake and fatally stabs him. Schofield promises a dying Blake that he will continue their mission and find the 2nd Devons to bring Erinmore's message and thus save his brother.

Shortly after Blake's death, Schofield is helped by a unit of British soldiers who have just crossed no-mans land near Bapaume. The commander, Captain Smith offers Schofield a ride part of the way to Ecouste. They are going up to the new line as the Newfoundlanders have requested reinforcements. Just outside of Ecouste, Schofield is once again on his own, as the troops cannot cross the downed bridge into the town.

In Ecouste, Schofield is targeted by German snipers and is eventually grazed and knocked out. When he awakens he finds the town burning. Still being chased by German soldiers, Schofield stumbles into a basement where he finds a young woman caring for a starving baby. He gives her all his food, including his canteen filled with milk.

At daylight Schofield continues on his journey but again encounters German soldiers and is pursued until he jumps into the river and is carried downstream to the Croisilles Wood. Schofield doesn't know this is where he has beached until he hears singing which leads him to the 2nd Devons. The soldiers are preparing to go into battle and Schofield now faces a race to save at least some of the soldiers from certain death.

Discussion

1917 follows the journey of two soldiers as they race against time and fend off certain death to warn a British battalion it is walking into a trap by attacking what appear to be retreating German soldiers. The mission is made even more urgent in that the soldier chosen to deliver the message has a brother in the at-risk battalion.

The film 1917 presents a somewhat false view that the British command during the Great War was deeply concerned about the loss of men. In fact, the potential loss of sixteen hundred men is almost insignificant considering that over one hundred thousand British soldiers died during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. For many military commanders, these losses were deemed necessary by those in positions of authority in France, Britain, Germany and even Russia. Soldiers spent years fighting over mere yards of land, despite command knowing that certain death awaited them every time they were ordered out of their putrid trenches.

Putting aside this fictional representation, 1917 does attempt to portray the desolation and destruction of war but the film in many ways is a very sanitized presentation of war; viewers only get a quick glimpse of bodies or part of bodies in no man's land, the fires in Ecoust are in the distance, the strangulation of a German soldier by Schofield is in shadow, soldiers fall in a clean, indifferent way in the first wave of the 2nd Devon's attack and even Blake's death is quick. Granted the film's focus is on the two soldiers and eventually just Schofield and his journey through many obstacles. This is accomplished with amazing cinematography and that is where this film's strength lies. Perhaps the most touching moment is near the film's end, when Schofield talks with Blake's brother, Lieutenant Joseph Blake, asking him if he can write to their mother. He wants her to know Tom didn't die alone. 

The casting is particularly strong, with both George Mackay as Schofield and Dean-Charles Chapman as Blake giving solid performances. There are a few big names including Colin Firth as General Erinmore and Benedict Cumberbatch as Colonel MacKenzie in cameo roles.

There have been numerous war movies of late, a theme that doesn't seem sustainable given the current depressing climate of Covid. Movie buffs will likely be looking for lighter fare in the coming months. Nevertheless, 1917 offers a suspenseful, fictional treatment of the Great War, with some beautiful cinematography and a lovely haunting melody at the end.