It is 2007 and the remains of a mammoth and a tyrannosaurus bataar are stored in a large room waiting to be auctioned the following day. They are later joined by fossils of other prehistoric life plus an Egyptian mummy. To fill in the time Mammoth or Mammut as he calls himself, with frequent interjections from his companions, proceeds to tell the story of his long life, demise and adventures after his bones were initially unearthed in 1801. As it had been 13,354 years since Mammut died, his is a long story, made even longer with the interruptions and banter from his companions who also contribute information about their previous lives.
As well as covering life in the times of mammoths and, even earlier, dinosaurs, events leading to the extinction of these creatures are discussed in Mammut's story. References to climate change are made as well as to more recent events such as the relations between the newly independent American colonies with the French, the Irish Rebellion in 1803 and the encroachment of white settlers into Indian territory. The illegal smuggling of dinosaur bones is also referred to.
At the beginning of each chapter there is a drawing of a mammoth in different stages of decay as time elapses. However at the end though there is once again a picture of a triumphant mammoth suggesting that all is not lost and there may be hope for the future. In the final sections of the book the author describes an actual auction of bones and fossils that took place in 2007 and what happened to some of the purchases. There is also a bibliography at the end of the novel.
Mammoth is an entertaining book well worth reading.
Books & Publishing (28 February 2020) - The elephant in the room - interview with Chris Flynn
Theresa Smith Writes (24 May 2020) - Book review: Mammoth by Chris Flynn
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