West of Eden

by Harry Harrison

  The second greatest difference would be in the history of global climate, still not completely understood. We know that different ice ages came and went—but we do not know why. We know that the polarity of the Earth has changed in the past, with the north magnetic pole where the south is now—but we do not know why. It seems a certainty that if the meteor had not hit and the incredible atmospheric change had not occurred, that the same progression of ice ages and accompanying continent building would not have occurred in precisely the same manner.

  Look at our world as it might have been.

  The rule of the dinosaurs is unbroken. The world is theirs and they are dominant on every continent—and the Yilanè rise above them all.

  Except in the western hemisphere. Although South America is dominated by reptiles this is not completely true to the north. The land bridge of Central America that connects North and South America has been sunk beneath the ocean at different geological times. At one crucial time the break coincided with the spread of the vast sea that covered most of North America. An ice sheet stretched south almost to the edge of this inland sea so that for millions of years the climate was northern, barely temperate in midsummer. The cold-blooded species died out and the warm-blooded species expanded, developed, and became the dominant life forms of this land mass.

  In time, as the ice sheets withdrew, the mammals expanded north. By the time the land bridge of Central America rose from the sea again the warm-blooded creatures ruled the continent between the oceans. Yet they could not stand against the slow return of the reptiles. There is no defense, other than retreat, from armored creatures weighing 80 tons or more.

  Only in the north, in the foothills and the mountains, could the mammals survive. Among them were the New World primates, from whom the Tanu are descended.

  There are no Old World mammals here because the Old World is saurian. There are no bears or canines. But the New World deer abound, from small species to immense ones as large as a moose. The mastodon are here as are many marsupials including saber-tooth tigers. Mammalia in rich diversity live in the fertile band south of the ice and north of the cold-blooded saurians.

  Most of the Tanu, imprisoned by a harsh environment, have never developed beyond the hunter-gatherer stage. But at this they are immensely successful. There are some exceptions, like the Sasku, who have moved on to a stable existence of neolithic farming. They have developed the settled skills of pottery and weaving, as well as a more complex and stratified society. But this does not mean that they are superior in any way to the hunting Tanu who have a rich language, simple art forms, many survival skills, and a basic family group relationship.

  ZOOLOGY

  BANSEMNILLA (Metatheria: Didelphys dimidiata): A reddish-gray marsupial with three deep black bands down its back. It has a prehensile tail and opposable toes on its hind feet. It is carnivorous, favoring rats and mice, and is bred by the Sasku to eliminate these vermin from their corn-cribs.

  BOAT (Cephalopoda: Archeololigo olcostephanus mutatus): Yilanè surface water transport. Propulsion is obtained by a strong jet of water expelled to the stern. The creatures have only rudimentary intelligence like their ancestral squids, but can be trained to follow certain simple commands.

  CLOAK (Selachii: Elasmobranchus kappe mutatus): Used by the Yilanè for warmth during the night or inclement weather. These creatures have absolutely no intelligence, but if they are well-fed they will maintain a body temperature of approximately 102° F.

  DEER (Eutheria: Cervus mazama mazama): A small deer with antlers as unbranched spikes. It is found in great numbers in the North Temperate Zone. The Tanu value these creatures both for their meat and their skins. The hides are tanned to make clothing and small leather articles (e.g. moccasins [madrap] and bags).

  ENTEESENAT (Sauropterygia: Elasmosaurus plesiosaurus): A predacious marine reptile well adapted to pelagic life and relatively unchanged since the Cretaceous period. They have small short heads and long snake-like necks. The paddle-like flippers are similar to those of the marine turtle. Newer varieties have been developed with greater cranial capacity that enable them to be trained to supply food for the larger uruketo (Icthyosaurus monstrosus mutatus).

  EISEKOL (Eutheria: Trichechus latirostris mutatus): An herbivorous aquatic mammal which dredges for underwater plants in its original unaltered state. Gene manipulation has greatly increased the animal’s size so that it can be utilized for underwater channel clearing, as well as dredging.

  ELINOU (Saurischia: Coelurosaurus compsognathus): A small and agile dinosaur, much appreciated by the Yilanè for its pursuit and destruction of small mammalian vermin. Because of its colorful markings and complaisant nature it is often given the status of a pet.

  EPETRUK (Saurischia: Tyrannosaurus rex): The largest and most powerfully armed of the great carnosaurs. Over 40 feet long, the males weigh up to 7 tons. The forearms are small but strong. Because of its great weight it is quite slow, therefore attacks only the largest animals. A large amount of its diet is obtained by driving smaller carnivores from their kill.

  GREATDEER (Eutheria: Alces machlis gigas): The largest of all the deer. It is distinguished from other members of the Cervidae by the spread of the impressive antlers of the males. Hunted by the Tanu, not only for its meat, but for its hide which is preferred for use in covering their tents.

  HÈSOTSAN (Squamiata: Paravaranus comensualis mutatus): This species of monitor lizard has been so modified that it now bears little resemblance to the original. Steam-generating glands from Brachinus beetles violently project a dart which is poisoned when it passes over the sex organs of a commensal Tetradontid fish. This poison, the most deadly known, produces paralysis and death when as little as 500 molecules are present.

  LONGTOOTH (Metatheria: Machaerodus neogeus): Long-tusked member of the marsupial tiger family. A large and ferocious carnivore that uses its greatly extended upper canine teeth to bring down its prey. Some Kargu hunters have a commensal relationship with these beasts to aid them in hunting.

  MASTODON (Eutheria: Mastodon amer icanus): A large mammal noted for its long upper tusks. It has a prehensile trunk reaching to the ground. Its domestication by the Tanu permits them to cover great distances when hunting and foraging, using the mastodons to pull large travois.

  NENITESK (Ornithischia: Triceratops elatus): Herbivorous quadruped characterized by the possession of three horns set in a bony protective shield, unchanged since the Cretaceous period. They reproduce by laying eggs. Their brain capacity is small and their intelligence even smaller. Since they are slow growing they are of little use for meat supply, but are extremely decorative.

  ONETSENSAST (Ornithischia: Stegosaurus variatus): The largest of the plated dinosaurs. These immense herbivorous creatures are protected from attack by two rows of plates down the neck and back, as well as heavy spikes on the tail. They first developed in the late Jurassic and only careful preservation by the Yilanè has prevented the destruction of this living fossil.

  SANDUU (Anuva: Rana catesbiana mutatus): Extensive gene manipulation has altered this animal in almost every way; only its outer skin reveals its origins. Magnification of up to 200 power is available by proper use of sunlight directed through the different organic lenses of its head.

  TARAKAST (Ornithischia: Segnosaurus shiungisaurus mutatus): A sharp-beaked carnivorous dinosaur, the largest examples being over 13 feet in length. They are difficult to train and require great strength to manage, but when properly broken make a desirable Yilanè mount.

  UGUNKSHAA (Squamata: Phrynosoma fjernsyna mutatus): Since the Yilanè language is dependent upon skin color and body movements, as well as sound, keeping written records is impossible; therefore writing has never developed. Historically, knowledge was passed on verbally, and the recording of this information only became possible when an organic liquid crystal display was developed for visual accompaniment of the auditory memory records.

  UNUTAKH (Cephalopoda: Deroceras agreste mutatus): One of the hi
ghly modified animals used in Yilanè technology. This cephalopod digests protein matter, especially hair and modified epidermal plates with ease.

  URUKETO (Ichthyopterygia: Ichthyosaurus morastrosus mutatus): This is the largest of the “fish-lizards,” a family of immense aquatic dinosaurs. Millennia of gene surgery and breeding have developed a strain of ichthyosaurs very different from the parent stock. There is a large chamber situated above the spine and centered on the dorsal fin that is used for both crew and cargo.

  URUKTOP (Chelonia. Psittacosaurus montanoceratops mutatus): One of the most extensively modified of the Yilanè animals Used for land transportation, it can carry heavy loads for great distances since after gene-doubling it has eight legs.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  In writing this novel I have sought the advice of experts in various fields. The biology of the Yilanè is the work of Dr. Jack Cohen. The Yilanè and the Marbak languages are the work of Prof. T. A. Shippey. This would have been a far different and lesser book without their help and advice. My gratitude to them is infinite.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  HARRY HARRISON is one of the most successful and respected authors of speculative fiction writing today. In a career that spans over three decades, Harry Harrison has written such novels as Deathworld, Skyfall, Make Room! Make Room! and bestsellers such as West of Eden and the Stainless Steel Rat series. Harrison worked as a commercial artist, art director and editor before turning to writing full time. A past president of the World Science Fiction Association, he is also a noted anthologist, editing the acclaimed Nova series and co-editing the highly praised Decade and Year’s Best SF volumes with British author Brian Aldiss. Harry Harrison was born in Stamford, Connecticut, and has made his home in Mexico and in several European countries over the years, and now lives in Ireland. He is presently at work on a new novel.

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  WEST OF EDEN

  Copyright © 1984, 2000 Harry Harrison

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