Reviews

• The Finest in anthropological fiction!

  As a science teacher, I am an avid reader of anthropology textbooks and fiction. I have read most college level textbooks of anthropology, most factual books of paleoanthropology from Ian Tattersall and the rest, and most works of fiction on the subject ranging from Jane Aeul's series to Petru Propescu's "Almost Adam". It was in a dry spell, as I had consumed all there was, that I found Robert J. Sawyer's "Hominids". Normally, I tend to stay away from science fiction, but, a Neanderthal Parallax? I had to give this one a chance. Hominids was a feast for my eyes, my mind, my heart, and my humanity. It raises compelling questions about our human condition from a very outside and an rational perspective. It is well researched, which is a requirement for a good anthropological fiction in my mind. Aeul explored the caves in France, but, Sawyer MET with Tattersall!!! I now hold the second book of the trilogy "Humans" in my hands, it just arrived yesterday. I have never waited for a book with such anticipation. I feel like a boy with my first new bike, the anticipation to ride so very exciting, yet a challenging aspect about it causes me to hesitate and take it step my step, so when I have conquered it I will experience the thrill and absorb the accomplishment just to prepared myself for the next level; the third book in the trilogy: "Hybrids". This book is by far the best I have ever read, and I have read them all.

• Two World Timelines Collide

  This is the first book in The Neanderthal Parallax trilogy. The other two being Humans (book 2) and Hybrid (book 3). In this book we have a Neanderthal physicist called Ponter Boddit running a quantum computer establishing a portal between his world and Earth. One minute he's checking out a computer and the next minute he is gone. Arriving on Earth he finds himself inside a sphere of heavy water used for neutrino research. He is rescued by Dr Mary Vaughan (human geneticist) who is monitoring the neutrino experiment. He is of course quarantined with Mary and two other scientists who assisted in rescuing him. A relationship, initially a friendship, develops between Mary and Ponter. And Ponter becomes an instant celebrity on Earth. Further investigation reveals that his world is in fact also Earth however one where Homo Sapiens died off and Neanderthal became the dominant human species. In some ways their life style is backwards to humans and in others it is more advanced and enlightened. Meanwhile back on his world his fellow Scientist, Adikor Huld, and man mate (see below) has been accused of murdering Ponter and disposing of his body. A trial is called and things are looking bad for Adikor. When Ponter went through the portal it immediately closed behind him and he has no way to get back. However Adikor is able to sneak in and re-establish the portal From the first books we have learned that in the Neanderthal world: 1) The population has been limited to 185 million 2) All the men live on the outskirts of town and all the women live in the middle 3) The women live with their woman mate and children 4) The men live with their man mate 5) Every 25 days the men go into town and visit their woman mate for 4 days 6) Conception is limited to once every 10 years thus aiding the ZPG 7) Regressive genes (violence, disease etc )have been bred out of the population 8) While they have helicopters they don't have airplanes 9) They don't use fossil fuels but rather solar power 10) They have a strong opinion about religions, because they don't have any 11) They have an implanted electronic companion that records everything they do so crime and violence is rare The trial proceeds and a mystery witness at the end surprises everyone. This is a great start to a story arc ran through 3 volumes with each one standing on it's own although it is more entertaining to read all three in order.

• Wat als het nu net de mensen waren die uitstierven?

  In een alternatief universum hebben de Neanderthalers hun versie van technologische beschaving opgebouwd en het hoeft niet te verwonderen als die flink afwijkt van de onze. Grappig genoeg slagen zij er in een brug tussen universa te bouwen, en de confrontatie wordt beschreven door de interactie tussen een mannelijke Neanderthaler en een vrouwelijke mens. Hoe groot zijn de verschillen eigenlijk? Boeiende fantasy.

• What a great book!

  I bought this book with a couple of others, and decided to read this one first, as I thought I'd enjoy it least! I couldn't have been more wrong. I was hooked from page 1, and (luckily) I was 'snowbound' last week, and managed to spend lots of time just reading! I even sat reading it by candlelight during a power cut one evening. The story is excellent, and it really is worth sticking with it, and trying to get your head round all the 'technical talk' (of which there is quite a bit). I've read a few other 'parallel universe' books, and am glad I have, because I think they have explained the 'science bits' in a simpler way. That's not to say Hominids was too technical to follow - it just seems that the author had really 'done his homework' and wanted to share his knowledge in some detail! I love the 'other' world in this book, it seems preferable to ours in a number of ways! I have ordered the other two books in the series, and eagerly await their arrival (held up due to the snow!).

• Great story

  What would have happened, if the Neanderthals had survived - and not the Homo sapiens? This is a great story about two worlds (our world and the fiktive 'other side' - and how they could find together. Too bad, only this volume was translated into German. But maybe the messages that come out of all 3 books are too explosive in the end?

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