Flight of the Crow
This is the second book in a trilogy about Calling Crow, a Native American from the 16th century, and his conflicts with the Spanish. Sadly the first book, Calling Crow, is out of print (formerly published by Berkley) so if you want to read this fine trilogy in its entirety you will have to go to a second hand bookstore. For this second part is no standalone but follows on from the first book and is well worth reading. Clayton is adept at describing the world from the Native American point of view and contrasting it with that of the Spanish, who appear to be demons when the Muskogee first see them with their hairy faces and “giant demon dogs” (horses). After escaping from slavery, Calling Crow is living with another tribe and has a new love in Green Bird Woman but still misses the Arawak woman Juana. However, he is soon to get his wish and more, as another of the “floating houses” (as the People call ships) is coming full of Spanish settlers, Juana, and a kindly priest who wants the Native Americans to be treated fairly. Now Calling Crow faces danger from members of his new tribe who want him gone and from the worst of the settlers who want the land for themselves.
Paul Clayton packs a lot of story into a short novel, and this is another page-turner. If you enjoy reading about this period then I can recommend this book for its perceptions about Native Americans and an exciting story.
(Ed. note: per the author, Calling Crow will appear soon as an electronic and print-on-demand book from www.e-reads.com.)
