Kazan is a wolf-dog hybrid, one quarter wolf and three quarters husky. He travels to the Canadian wilderness with his owner Thorpe where they meet man named McCready who Kazan recognizes as someone who abused him in the past. When McCready attacks Thorpe's wife Isobel, Kazan kills McCready and then runs away fearing the harsh punishment for killing a man. He later encounters a wolf pack of which he becomes the new leader, but when pack comes across an old man and his family, Kazan turns against his pack, protecting the family from the other wolves. After staying with the family for a while Kazan continues his journey with his mate, Gray Wolf.
Baree is a wild, wolfdog pup of Kazan and Gray Wolf. After being separated from his parents as a young pup, Baree eventually finds himself in the care of Nepeese and her father Pierrot, a trapper, and creating strong bond with Nepeese.
James Oliver Curwood (1878-1927) was an American action-adventure writer and conservationist. His adventure writing followed in the tradition of Jack London. Like London, Curwood set many of his works in the wilds of the Great White North. He often took trips to the Canadian northwest which provided the inspiration for his wilderness adventure stories. At least eighteen movies have been based on or inspired by Curwood's novels and short stories.