B. C. 30,000

In Short

S. P. Meek’s B. C. 30,000 is an action-driven prehistoric adventure following the tribe of Ugar, a small Cro-Magnon clan fleeing westward and northward across ice-age Europe. Pursued by aggressive tribes and cornered by brutish Neanderthal populations, the band relies on Anak, their brilliant lead hunter, who repeatedly challenges the autocratic Chief Uglik. The story endures as a vivid pulp illustration of early human evolution, where mental resourcefulness, tool innovation, and social adaptation prove just as critical to species survival as sheer physical power.

The Story

The tribe of Ugar has been driven from its ancestral southern lands by migrating human hordes, its numbers decimated down to a handful of hunters, women, and children. Chief Uglik maintains strict control through fear and religious decree, backed by Esle, the conniving High Priestess of the storm-god Degar Astok. Tensions erupt when Anak, the tribe’s chief hunter, defends a young woman named Una from Uglik’s wrath after she eats meat reserved for tribal leaders. Anak boldly requests Una as his own companion, directly defying the ancient law that reserves all women for the Chief. Uglik demurs, unwilling to kill his best hunter while dangers lurk nearby.

Threats materialize quickly when an unknown beast slays a child near camp. Anak discovers long, narrow human footprints, leading the hunters to a ravine occupied by Neanderthalers—heavy-set, gray-furred beings called the "cousins of Gumor." A brutal clash leaves two tribe members dead before the Cro-Magnons retreat. Trapped between the sea, hostile humans, and Neanderthal hunting grounds, the tribe faces extinction.

When Neanderthalers abduct Una from the camp at night, Anak demands an immediate rescue attack. Uglik refuses and passes the "word of death" on Anak, outlawing him. Undeterred, Anak sets out toward the Neanderthal valley to rescue Una or die trying, joined by his loyal friend Invar. Unknown to them, Esle sabotages their throwing-spears before they leave.

Relying on observation, Anak realizes the Neanderthalers walk with heads bent downward and cannot easily look up. Reaching the cliffs above the ravine, Anak and Invar use elevated positions and heavy rock slides to crush the Neanderthalers, overcoming the sabotaged spears. Reaching the enemy cave, they slay the final male and rescue Una, who helped save Anak during the frantic melee.

Anak returns to the tribe to lead them to the safe, cave-rich valley. When Uglik tries to claim Una as his personal prize and High Priestess, Anak invokes rannag—the sacred, mortal duel for tribal leadership. Ahead of the fight, Anak shaves his hair and greases his body to deny Uglik a grip. Una secretly feeds Uglik a heavy meal and thwarts Esle's attempt to blind Anak with reflected sunlight. Though severely battered by Uglik's immense strength, Anak uses a sliver of flint to pierce the Chief's heart.

Victorious, Anak assumes command as Father. He appoints Una as High Priestess, demotes the scheming Esle to menial labor, and establishes a revolutionary law grant of monogamous pairing to his hunters, securing the tribe’s permanent home.

How It Unfolds

The rift opens Anak defends Una from the Chief's wrath over a tabu food portion, demanding her as his companion and openly challenging Uglik's ancient absolute authority.

An unknown threat A child is carried off in the night, leading the hunters to discover footprints of the heavy-set, gray-haired Neanderthalers lurking in the nearby ravines.

Outlawed for vengeance After Neanderthalers abduct Una, Anak demands a rescue mission; when Uglik issues a death sentence instead, Anak and Invar march into enemy territory as outlaws.

Strategy over strength Noticing the Neanderthalers' stooped posture and limited upward vision, Anak and Invar scale the valley cliffs to crush the rival group using engineered rock avalanches.

The final duel Anak returns to challenge Uglik to rannag, using clever preparation, greased skin, and a hidden flint blade to slay the Chief and claim leadership of the tribe.

The People

• Anak, the Chief Hunter of Ugar, is an exceptionally observant and tactical thinker who foregoes superstition in favor of reason. Driven by his love for Una and a desire to protect his people, he risks outlawry to challenge tyranny and ultimately rewrites tribal law to ensure the clan's survival.
• Uglik, the tribal Father, is a physically formidable but deeply cautious leader who relies on terror and traditional privilege to maintain his command. His refusal to share power or adapt to changing threats brings him into direct, fatal conflict with Anak.
• Invar, a young and fiercely loyal warrior, idolizes Anak and voluntarily joins his suicidal exile, serving as an essential companion during the campaign against the Neanderthalers.
• Una, a brave and strong young woman, refuses to be a passive victim, actively taking up arms to defend Anak in the cave fight and manipulating the duel in his favor.
• Esle, the aged and treacherous High Priestess, uses her role as the voice of Degar Astok to manipulate leaders, repeatedly plotting murder and sabotage to preserve her personal influence.

In Its Own Voice

"Anak, the Chief Hunter, gave it to her," he repeated slowly. "Anak killed the buck, and half of the liver is, by the law of the tribe, his to dispose of."

Anak firmly establishes the concept of individual rights against Chief Uglik's absolute tyranny after defending Una's eating of tabu meat.

"The habit of connected thought and reasoning was new in the world in those days."

The narrator highlights the cognitive shift that elevates Cro-Magnon hunters like Anak above both rigid traditionalists and brute force.

"Lo, I make a new law for the tribe. No longer shall all the women belong to the Father, but to those to whom the Father awards them."

Upon winning the leadership duel, Anak abolishes autocratic monopoly to establish a stable social order for his people.

What It's Really About

B. C. 30,000 explores the evolutionary triumph of intellect, adaptability, and strategic cooperation over unyielding force and rigid tradition. The story contrasts the Neanderthalers' raw physical power with the Cro-Magnon capacity for innovation, tactical planning, and environmental analysis. Beneath its pulp action, the narrative critiques authoritarian rule, showing how Uglik's selfish hoard of resources and reliance on superstitious terror weaken the social unit. Anak’s victory represents a shift toward governance based on merit, strategic foresight, and mutual partnership. By reforming tribal customs around partnership rather than ownership, the story presents the origin of modern social structures as a necessary evolutionary step for human survival.

Why Read It Today

Fans of classical pulp fiction, early speculative prehistory, and evolutionary adventures will enjoy this fast-paced tale from the golden era of magazine science fiction. Meek crafts an engaging, action-heavy narrative that moves swiftly from intense monster encounters to brutal tribal duels. The book offers a fascinating look at early 20th-century popular science views regarding human origin, Neanderthal morphology, and the ice-age landscape.

Readers should expect the stylistic conventions of 1930s adventure fiction, including melodramatic dialogue, simplified depictions of prehistoric life, and dated phrasing. The narrative relies heavily on direct, physical action and clear-cut moral divides rather than complex psychological exposition. Despite these period elements, the story remains highly readable due to its lean structure, inventive combat tactics, and the satisfying progression of its hero. It stays with you as a brief, vivid window into how early science fiction writers dramatized the dawn of human civilization.