or thought has passed. The Yilanè normally are inseparable from their society; if a city leader casts out a member of the Yilanè society, in a ritual which involves taking away her name, then the cast-out member will immediately die due to a reaction in her brain to the fear of being cast out. For this reason the Yilanè society has remained a monoculture for millions of years, with no divisions. However, by the time of the events in the novel, a new schism in the society has emerged for the first time, consisting of a group who call themselves the "Daughters of Life" (known as "Daughters of Death" to outsiders). The Daughters of Life are the first to reject the regimented society of the Yilanè, in favour of a higher power, the "Spirit of Life". Because of this belief in a power greater than that of the society's leaders, the usual fatal reaction to being cast out does not occur when a Daughter of Life is expelled by a leader. Plot The story revolves around the eventual discovery of the American continents by the Yilanè, who are searching for new resources and territories for colonization. Being reptiloid and cold-blooded, they target tropical and sub-tropical zones. Eventually, of course, they encounter the humanoids, whom they regard as barely sentient animals. Humans, in their turn, are xenophobically terrified of the Yilanè. As the winters become colder the Tanu are forced to travel south into warmer climates to hunt, onto Yilanè territory. It is not long before a state of conflict exists between the two species. The central characters are Vaintè, an ambitious Yilanè; Stallan, her vicious and obedient adjutant; and Kerrick, a "ustuzou" (the Yilanè word for mammal) who is captured by the reptiloids as a boy, and raised as a Yilanè. Kerrick eventually escapes to rejoin his own people, ultimately becoming a leader. Another notable Yilanè character is Enge, the leader of a faction of pacifist Yilanè who reject the militaristic and violent attitudes of their culture. This group is violently opposed by most other Yilanè, especially Vaintè. Enge befriends Kerrick, and acts as his teacher, while he lives with the Yilanè. After Kerrick escapes he joins other human tribes and after a journey over the mountains, being pursued all the while by Vaintè, who wants nothing more than the absolute destruction of the ustuzou. After a number of victories,