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The Stone Arrow (The Pagans Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Richard Herley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 317 ratings
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Southern England, 3000 BC. Incomers, bringing agriculture from mainland Europe, are wrecking the virgin forests with slash-and-burn. The ancient territories and way of life of the native, nomadic hunter-gatherers, unchanged for millennia, are under threat.

Political rivalry inside the village of Burh, and the farmers’ superstitions, result in an attack on a nomad tribe in its nearby summer camp.

Tagart, the heir to the chief and at the very peak of his powers, is the only survivor.

The farmers thought they had killed everybody. They could not have made a worse mistake.

“This is a gripping thriller set convincingly in neolithic Sussex. Richard Herley’s first novel is crammed with archaeological detail, but all of it is subordinate to the fast-moving story of Tagart. His wife, child and tribe have been wiped out by a farming village, and we follow his dogged attempts to wreak revenge single-handedly with mixed horror and admiration. In the Stone Age, tribal loyalty is the only morality, and as Herley resurrects this time with such panache, the gruesome bits of Tagart’s vendetta seem justified.”

— Sunday Times

“The natural Darwinian world of which he writes with a blood-soaked passion left me gulping for air. Horridly imaginative, powerful in its refusal to avert its eyes from the results of violence, the book appeals to the blood lust in us all.”

— Glasgow Herald

“It is in every way a remarkable achievement.”

— Anthony Burgess

Tagart’s first objective for his single-handed work of retribution is the fortified village of Burh (in what is now known as the Cuckmere Valley), and the means he uses are more subtle and deadly than any traditional form of attack. This story of his revenge, his subsequent savage enslavement by the new lords of the land and his escape with Segle, the beautiful sister of another captive, introduces a new author of considerable significance. Richard Herley writes with acute sense of place, of wind and weather, of wild life and of the background of Stone Age England when the countryside is in its last virgin state before civilization begins.

Extent: 71,400 words (about 238 conventional pages)
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Pagans
  2. Print length
    202 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    May 15, 1978
  6. File size
    449 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004WH4NU0
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (May 15, 1978)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 15, 1978
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 449 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 202 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.9 3.9 out of 5 stars 317 ratings

About the author

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Richard Herley

Richard Herley

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I was born in England in 1950 and educated at Watford Boys' Grammar School and Sussex University, where my interest in natural history led me to read biology.

My first successful novel was "The Stone Arrow", which was published to critical acclaim in 1978. It subsequently won the Winifred Holtby Memorial Prize, administered by the Royal Society of Literature in London, and was the first in a trilogy. This was followed by "The Penal Colony" (1987), a futuristic thriller that formed the basis of the 1994 movie "No Escape", starring Ray Liotta.

I live in north Norfolk and my interests include birding, botany, cycling, and walking by the sea.

Customer reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5
317 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

W. Bennett
5.0 out of 5 stars VERY entertaining read!
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2013
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Others have summarized this book quite well. I found it to be extremely readable, well edited, the characters fully developed and the plot solid. I guess some didn't like it because the plot didn't go where they wanted it to, but to me, that's what fiction is all about. I really liked it!
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anne
4.0 out of 5 stars The Stone Arrow
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2012
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This Book gives a very good insight, into very early English history and way of life. It really brought this way of life to life and you could feel and see what they were seeing and feeling. You could see the landscape and got to intamately know all the characters in the book, and could understand there different points of veiw. I consider this a really well written book and would recomend it to anyone, it is a really easy and enjoyable read. Stone Arrow
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King Reviewer
3.0 out of 5 stars Holds up pretty good despite its age...
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2022
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I love prehistoric novels. But throughout the several decades of trying so many out, I seem to only care for a handful. Cut my teeth on Clan of the Cave Bear. Then Quest for Fire. Both very good, but still leaving me a bit wanting.

Then I still struggle to read the Gear's People series, but thus far haven't found them nearly as good as my favorite series by William Sarabande.

So to whet my whistle on someone new to me, I pick up this authors first two books in this trilogy. And after reading both, this first one was much better. But not so good it makes me want to purchase the 3rd one. And according to all the bad reviews, seems a shame.

But this first in the trilogy was pretty good. Action scenes were done pretty well, but I have read so much better. Character and World-building was done very well.

This author is into knowing his flora and fauna. Just wish he would have put that much energy into the action sequences.
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LadyHawke
5.0 out of 5 stars THE STONE ARROW
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2012
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I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK AND IS ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE READ IN A VERY LONG TIME! GIVING INSIGHT INTO THE NOMAD LIFE--THEIR HARDSHIPS AND WAYS OF LIFE. (one that I do not think I could have survived). IT WAS VERY SUSPENSEFUL AND KEPT MY ATTENTION ALL THROUGH THE BOOK. I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW DESCRIPTIVE AND REALISTIC THE STONE ARROW WAS -- MAKING ME FEEL THAT I WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ACTION.
THE STONE ARROW ALSO BROUGHT OUT THE GOOD AND THE EVIL AND HOW ONE PERSON'S ACTIONS--GOOD OR BAD--MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW YOU LEARN TO LIVE LIFE. I REALLY HATED TO SEE THIS BOOK END!! (AND I REALLY DO NOT FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT TOO MANY BOOKS). DEFINETLY GOING TO READ THE OTHER TWO THAT ARE RELATED TO PERSONS IN THIS BOOK.
2 people found this helpful
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Bob Jarvis
4.0 out of 5 stars Hard hitting pre-historic saga.
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2012
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This is a book written by an author who is in complete command of his domain. I doubt not the accurate presentation of any of his historical or geographical settings, nor the primal motives or conflicts of the tribal groups described herein. The novel is violent in the extreme, but such was the way of life in days of yore when the only law of survival was that the strongest ruled. Our hero here is the last man standing from a forest tribe annihilated by a vigilante group from the local farming community. The ease with which Tagert, the forest group survivor, later enacts extreme vengeance upon the remaining farming folk makes one wonder how the original massacre successfully took place. This vengeful creature makes Rambo seem like some sort of likeable stranger.
I actually found the beautiful descriptions of the flora and fauna of the time, whilst superbly elucidated, did not actually add to the flow of the tale. Indeed, it seemed like every small event was preceded by accounts of a wondrous flock of birds, or a struggle through numerous brambles, elders and nettles: that the author has a background in biology surprises me not at all. It ultimately became an extremely savage account of vengeance and retribution wrapped in a soft poetic cloak.
Be that as it may, the story is gripping, characterisations are strong and it is a compelling tale richly described. Too richly maybe!
I will however read more of Mr. Herley.
5 people found this helpful
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Lexie Clement
5.0 out of 5 stars Richard Herly is amazing. I absolutely love his (writing) voice
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2016
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Richard Herly is amazing. I absolutely love his (writing) voice. His books are addictive, impossible to put down. Was introduced to his writing via the Penal Colony.. which is another excellent read. His books paint such richly detailed worlds and despite their detailed nature, they are so very easy to read
One person found this helpful
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McFitz
4.0 out of 5 stars Action-packed story of Revenge (with a capital R)
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2014
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If you enjoy escapist historical fiction and/or revenge stories, this is for you. It's set in prehistoric England, and involves the clash between a farming community and their sometimes neighbors, a band of hunter-gatherers. After a massacre of the latter, the lone survivor lives only for one duty: to wipe out the entire village so his family and clan are avenged.

The story moves along very quickly and the action is continuous. As in Herley's "The Penal Colony," we want to empathize with the main character, even though his perspective is violent and aggressive. I would have enjoyed knowing more what Tagart actually thinks and feels, however—to get inside his head.

The writing is skillful and straightforward. It's obvious that the author has researched this time period thoroughly. The book had few errors and was apparently edited and transferred to ebook format very well.

Readers should be advised that there is no sex or bad language, but a lot of violence.

Is revenge sweet? You'll need to read the book to find out.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Not worth reading
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2014
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I tried to read this book two times and found that I just couldn't get into it. I don't think it was worth the "free" cost for my kindle.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

mastercard
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on August 17, 2017
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GREAT BOOK
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R. Lloyd
5.0 out of 5 stars A very happy reacquaintance with an old friend.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2015
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I read The Pagans trilogy in paperback as an omnibus, as a young man some 30 years ago. The first book, The Stone Arrow, in particular left a great mark on me. I lent the book to a friend, with whom I subsequently lost touch. I never got it back. So I was delighted to rediscover it a little while ago as a Kindle item. It's every bit as good as I remember. Not just a really gripping read, but seriously well written, and with a real sense of time and place. Considering the author himself must have been a relatively young man at the time of writing this, his first novel, it's a polished accomplishment, and surprising to me that he never achieved greater fame. You can find many, many historical novels - including some absolute bestsellers. And almost all of them strike bum notes somewhere or other... Something that makes you feel the author doesn't really have a feel for the period, or gets something wrong - usually a glaring anachronism in the dialogue or detail.
In The Stone Arrow though, Richard Herley puts barely a foot wrong. It is an uncompromising, unsentimental, at times brutal tale, written with a spare yet almost poetic style. And loaded with persuasive detail that conjurs a vivid depiction of both the natural landscape and ecology in a small corner of Sussex at the tail end of the Neolithic, and a believable look at the society of its human inhabitants. Really brilliant. I can't recommend it highly enough. I'm off to download some more of this author's books onto my Kindle.
2 people found this helpful
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Stanley Furs
4.0 out of 5 stars very interesting novel.
Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2013
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A very interesting and well done story. It kept me wanting to read on to see how the story ended.
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Connor
4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant First Novel
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2012
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Like all of the books that I have read by Richard Herley, this book was very well written, not quite as joyful to read as Refuge, but then this was Herley's first book.

Not to give too much away, but the plot revolves around Tagart and his quest for revenge against the nearby village that massacred his nomadic tribe. I'm a sucker for a good revenge story and found the way he was all alone and being hunted, whilst attempting to take out the villagers one by one by setting traps of snares, sharpened stakes and trip wires for them in the forest, riveting. It certainly reminded me of the films Die Hard and Rambo, and kept me gripped right to the end.

The story does expand a little in the middle and there is more to it than simply revenge when more characters and places are introduced and the story certainly keeps the reader interested.

Others have mentioned that the time period is seldom mentioned or not really expanded on, but I think that it is covered pretty well. The stone age element of it initially discouraged me from reading this book, as without swords or even metal etc, I was concerned that it could be a little boring. But the period is well handled in the book, with frequent mentions of farming, tools and stone age society itself and well explained.

I found the main character Tagart quite engaging, he develops well throughout the story, initially focused solely on revenge and prepared to die in the attempt he later begins to question why he is seeking revenge and for whom, and to think about a life after his mission is finished. I look forward to reading more about him in the other two books of the series, which I will certainly be reading.
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Therms
3.0 out of 5 stars The Stone Arrow
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2012
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I'm not sure about this book. It is one of those stories that sits on the cusp twixt good and bad. I think, for me, it slipped into the bad category.

This could have been so good. The story of clashing tribes and the difficult times when some progress and some stay with the old ways of their ancestors is a recipe for a top book, but it just failed.

The book is well written. The author has an ability to describe atmosphere as well as physical places. it is fast paced and there is a good cast of supporting characters.

I think the problem for me was Taggart, the lead character. The more I read the book the less I saw him as an ancient tribesman living in the woods of Southern England and the more I sas him as Bear Grills. I just didn't believe the lead character, he seemed too modern.

Still, this is a good story and definitely worth a read.
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