Kerrick realizes that despite the losses inflicted upon the Yilanè, the Yilanè will never stop pursuing them. Kerrick organizes an expedition back to the Yilanè city of Alpèasak where he was held as a boy, and burns it down. The North American continent is freed of the Yilanè. Characters in West of Eden Kerrick - The main protagonist of the story, a human raised among the Yilanè but leaves to live with his own people. Eventually he becomes their chief and helps to destroy the Yilanè capital. Vaintè - The main antagonist of the story, she is a vain and selfish Yilanè who hates Kerrick and wants to kill him. Herilak - Uncle of Kerrick, he was the brother-in-law of his father and the best hunter in the tribe. Armun - The lover of Kerrick. She was shunned by other members of her tribe for having a harelip, but Kerrick falls in love with her despite it. Later she gives birth to their son. Enge - A Yilanè who is what her people call a "efenburu", meaning "Daughter of Life", a member of a group who have a high regard for life, including humans. Stallan - A Yilanè who shares Vaintè's desire to kill Kerrick and all of humanity. Creatures featured ENTEESENAT: Elasmosaurus EISEKOL: Steller's sea cow ELINOU: Coelurosaurus EPETRUK: Tyrannosaurus rex GREATDEER: Megaloceros HURUKSAST: Monoclonius LONGTOOTH: Smilodon MASTODON: American mastodon NENITESK: Triceratops ONETSENAST: Stegosaurus TARAKAST: Segnosaurus URUKETO: Ichthyosaurus URUKTOP: Psittacosaurus URUKUB: Apatosaurus Notes The story continues in two sequels, Winter in Eden (1986) and Return to Eden (1988). The title can be seen as a reference to the Book of Genesis. Adam and Eve are driven east out of the Garden of Eden. Being "west of Eden", then, is a reference to the counterhistorical premise of the novel. Reception Dave Langford reviewed West of Eden for White Dwarf #59, and stated that "It's the density of background detail which makes this, not a Great book, but the best Harrison for some while. Nice illustrations, too." Reviews Review by Fritz Leiber (1984) in Locus, #278 March 1984 Review by Dan Chow (1984) in Locus, #280 May 1984 Review by Gary K. Wolfe (1984) in Fantasy Review, September 1984 Review by Don D'Ammassa (1984) in Science Fiction Chronicle, #60 September 1984 Review by Paul McGuire (1984) in Science Fiction Review, Winter 1984 Review by Tom Easton (1984) in Analog Science Fiction/Science