Shaman

"Shaman" by Robert Shea is a novel written in the early 1990s. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of early 19th-century America, focusing on the struggles between Native American tribes and European settlers. The story primarily follows Gray Cloud, a young half-Sauk boy on a vision quest to become a shaman, as well as the complexities of his cultural identity amidst the tensions between two worlds. At the start of the novel, Gray Cloud, clad in a bearskin, faces the daunting task of seeking a vision in a sacred cave during the bitter winter of 1825. The chapters delve into his fears and aspirations as he navigates the sacred spaces and the spirits that inhabit them, including a powerful encounter with the White Bear spirit. Meanwhile, Redbird, a girl who loves Gray Cloud, anxiously waits for his return, grappling with her emotions as she senses his peril during this dangerous vision quest. This opening sets the stage for a rich exploration of indigenous spirituality, cultural conflict, and personal growth within a vividly depicted historical setting. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Robert Joseph Shea was an American novelist and former journalist best known as co-author with Robert Anton Wilson of the science fantasy trilogy Illuminatus! It became a cult success and was later turned into a marathon-length stage show put on at the British National Theatre and elsewhere. In 1986 it won the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award. Shea went on to write several action novels based in exotic historical settings.