Silverhair

by Stephen Baxter

Harper Prism, 1999, ISBN 0-06-105132-2

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What is possibly the last mammoth herd is struggling for survival on a far-north island where climate changes is destroying their habitat–and the island has just been invaded by the Lost Ones, who kill mammoths for fun and food. The story of Silverhair, a young adult mammoth cow in her first pregnancy, alternates with Silverhair’s retelling of mammoth myths and legends to her calf, Icebones.

This is not just a talking animals story; it’s definitely science fiction, and the start of a series, but saying what makes it sf would be a pretty comprehensive spoiler. Enjoyable, and a nice change from Baxter’s recent near-future grimness, but nothing special.