The Uprights

The Uprights Somewhere in Europe, 50,000 years ago, a group of men, women and children - physically like us in every respect - is close to extinction. The rains are failing, food is running out and their main rivals - the big cats - are getting hungrier and more aggressive. True, the humans have inherited valuable instincts and skills. They can fashion stone tools and kindle fire. Most importantly, they have big brains and are learning how to use them. But at the same time, they are weak and slow, out-numbered by most other species and have a propensity to fight amongst themselves. Will they survive? If so, what quality singles them out for success when every other variant of the "Homo" stock is doomed? The Uprights traces the struggles of that clan and shows how the outcome isn't a foregone conclusion - especially when powerfully built Neanderthals still range over much of the land. The central character is a young male called Dhi. To begin with he is in awe of his father's authority as leader of the family and his understanding of the world - in particular, the sun's varying shadow and how it can be used to find their way about. As the book progresses however, Dhi starts to question some of his father's assumptions and reaches some startling conclusions of his own. He slowly gains in confidence, helped in part by the unfolding relationship with his new mate, Wuhn. But what defines his personality more than anything is the successful but bloody outcome of a long-standing feud with his cousin, Bahnor. There is plenty of page-turning action, intrigue and sex, but there is more to the book than that. For in giving an account of how our forebears coped under great adversity is to know them. And to know them is to know ourselves.