Epsilon Yayınevi Last Quarter of the Moon / Chi Zijian / / 9786254148774

“A voice echoing amid the mists, reindeer bells, and ancient forests... The nearly forgotten epic tale of the Evenks comes to life through the voice of a woman who whispers to the fire and the rain.”

On the right bank of the Argun River along the China-Russia border, the generations-long struggle for survival of the Evenki people—reindeer herders who migrated from Lake Baikal centuries ago—is brought to life through the calm yet poignant narration of an elderly woman. This Shamanist people migrate by following the reindeer’s trail, hunt, and strive to survive using the resources nature provides, all while battling a harsh and unforgiving existence. As their population continues to dwindle, sustaining their way of life grows more difficult with each passing day.

In addition to threats such as bitter cold, the wilderness, and epidemics, their lives are also beset by the devastating effects of the Japanese occupation, the dark shadow of the Cultural Revolution, and the pressures of the modern world. Amid all these historical and natural disasters, the Evenks fight a battle both to survive and to preserve their identity.

Woven with Chi Zijian’s captivating narrative, *The Last Quarter of the Moon* is not merely a novel; it is a modern folk tale that recounts the epic story of the Evenki tribe. It is a lament for a culture on the brink of extinction and a poetic remembrance of the ancient bond between humanity and nature.