Felicity writes...

Hi Michelle,

I've LOVED listening to the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series with my daughter on audible. We were rather at a loss when we didn't have Torak and Renn in our lives!

We discovered the first book in the Gods and Warriors series, which again we have really enjoyed listening to. Will an of the other books be published on Audible as an audio book?

Best wishes,

Felicity

Michelle Replies...

Deare Felicity, I'm so glad that you enjoyed listening to Ian McKellen's superb recordings of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.  I'm afraid, though, that after recording the first in the Gods and Warriors series, Puffin decided not to record any more audiobooks in the series.  That decision is of course up to them, although I do think it's a pity; but there we are.  Still, returning to all things Wolf Brother, it's terrific that Ian was kind enough to record the three sequels to the original six books in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness - so that we have his marvellous performances of all nine books.   With best wishes, Michelle

Anna writes...

Hi Michelle

I just wanted to thank you for providing such an excellent ‘chronicles of ancient darkness’ series 🙂 your books bring me so much peace- I first read them from when I was about twelve, (my grandmother brought me them from the library each week) then I reread the series during the first couple months of lockdown. Now, at 22, I am rereading them all again, and wolfbane for the first time!

The relationship Torak and Renn have to nature, and the in depth detail of their hunter gatherer lifestyle, has always stuck with me.

Now this summer I will be taking a course in Norway that will teach me live in the lithic era 🙂 ie foraging, making stone tools, tanning skins, and processing wild fish. Thank you for your book that taught me so much about how our ancestors lived and also gave me an ideology of how we can live more integrated within nature.
I feel so lucky to have read this series!

Michelle Replies...

Dear Anna, thank you so much for your wonderful message.  I love the image of the twelve-year old you reading the series as your grandmother brought the books to you from the library.  I do hope you enjoy Wolfbane, and that you find it a fitting end to the series.  Have a marvellous time in Norway; that course sounds amazing!  With very best wishes, Michelle

Sage writes...

Hi my name is Jocelyn, your books are the best I have read in my life. I am 12 and sending this from my aunt’s phone. I wanted to tell you how amazing your series “the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness” my question is how did you pick the names of Renn and Torak because everytime I read their names I thought how they weren’t ordinary and wanted to know how you picked them? Renn is my favorite character. Thank you.

Michelle Replies...

Dear Jocelyn, I'm delighted that you've been enjoying the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness so much!  The short answer is that I made up the names Torak and Renn. I had to, because we don't know any Stone Age names.  But in doing so, I borrowed sounds from various old languages, such as Old Norse (what the Vikings spoke) - and after that it was a question of trial and error, until I had something that felt absolutely right for the character.  As it happened, much later, after I was well into writing the books, I learnt that both names mean something in other languages: Renn means "reindeer" in French, and Torak means "perfect" in Greenlandic; I was told this by an Inuit girl in Greenland.  But that's just chance, and the important thing is that the names fit the characters.  Finally, and in case you didn't know, I should tell that I've also written three more Wolf Brother books, after the six of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness.  I hope you enjoy them too! May the guardian run with you.  Best wishes, Michelle

Niklas writes...

Dear Michelle Paver,
I am currently writing an essay in a class about Dreams in literature for children and teenagers. In my essay I want to take a closer look at the Chronicles of Ancient Dark as I always felt like you had a clever way to place dreams or visions in a way that not only push forward the narrative but also give great insight into one of the characters while also giving explanations for these dreams or visions that fit the lore of the world you built. I am curious as to:
1. What was your vision/intention with using dreams and visions to greater extend?
2. When it comes to Wolf how did you come up with ideas of how an animal would dream?
3. Do you feel there is anything that differentiates Chronicles of Ancient Darks usage of Dreams from other book series?

Michelle Replies...

Dear Niklas, what an interesting essay.  To answer your questions: (1) My intentions in using dreams and visions in the Wolf Brother books were largely as you say, either to drive the story, and/or to show character - while trying to stay in keeping with how prehistoric people might have thought.  In psychological terms, the dreams of Renn and Torak mostly tend to show what's going on in their unconscious: in other words, what they're not yet conscious of knowing, but are aware of at a deeper level. For instance, in Viper's Daughter when Renn dreams/has a vision of her mother, on a psychological level this is her unconscious  helping her process the fact that she has inherited aspects of her mother - which, as she comes to realise over the course of the story - aren't all bad.  Also, some of Renn's waking visions, and all of Torak's spirit walking,  are of course based on shamanism, as practised by many indigenous peoples all over the world (and probably by prehistoric people as well).  (2) For Wolf's dreams, I've used what I know of wolf and dog cognition, and I've tried to keep his dreams simpler than those of Torak and Renn, and rooted in instinct and feeling; the same goes for all the passages from Wolf's point of view.  (3) Finally, I can't really say whether my approach differs from how dreams are used in other book series, as I don't really know any.  Except, I suppose, that I try to avoid dreams being too prophetic.  I wouldn't regard that as realistic - unless, of course, the "prophecy" really relates to something that the character is already unconsciously aware of.  I hope the above proves helpful to you - and good luck with what sounds like a fascinating essay!  With best wishes, Michelle

Pedrosky writes...

Hord wants to be head of the Raven Clan if Fin-kedinn dies, but Torak knows that's not going to happen, why?

Michelle Replies...

Hello, and thanks for your question.  Torak knows that Hord could never be Leader of the Raven Clan, because Hord doesn't have the qualities of a leader.  He's vain and he always wants to be first, which comes from his insecurity (because secretly he doubts that he's up to it).  By contrast, Fin-Kedinn has the courage to fight for what he believes to be right, when all others are against him; he is assured enough to admit  that he's wrong when he needs to, and wise enough to listen to others and then to make up his own mind.  He's a real leader.  Hord isn't.  I hope that answers your question - and may the guardian run with you!  Best wishes, Michelle