Shaman (Kim Stanley Robinson)
Shaman Spoiler level: Moderate Shaman (Kim Stanley Robinson; 2013) is set early in human history — back when we were still coexisting with Neanderthals or some other early humanoid life forms (which adds an interesting component to the book). The main character — Loon — is a shaman-in-training. We open at the start of his walkabout trial, which makes up a relatively small portion of the book and introduces the reader to Loon's skillsets and ways of life. During the walkabout, Loon longs for the comforts of home and then, once it is over, longs for the freedom of the walkabout — the freedom of being away from his responsibilities in the pack. This pervasive and eternal "the grass is always greener" mindset is one of the many examples of how Loon's life is relatable to modern humans (i.e. the readers). And yet, Loon also arguably has a greater appreciation for what he does have than the average reader (at least this reader) — a perspective that left me with feel-good...