Hybrids by Robert Sawyer



Hybrids is the third (and last?) book in The Neanderthal Parallax series, the first two being Hominids and Humans. I loved these books.

In Hominids a quantum computing accident opens up a portal between our world and an alternate reality where civilization was founded by Neanderthals. The twist is that the quantum computer was on the Neanderthal side. While we associate Neanderthals with cave men, these Neanderthals are just as advanced as we are, or more so in some ways. They aren't agrarian, so the population of this other Earth is quite small, and Neanderthals aren't very interesting in exploring, but they have developed advanced genetics and robotics. Things that directly improve quality of life are high on the list of Neanderthal priorities. In any case, the plot follows Pondit Bonditt, the Neanderthal computer scientist who is stranded on our Earth, and Mary Vaughn, a human geneticist who finds herself attracted to Ponter despite the obvious problems. It's a typical science fiction fish-out-of-water scenario, but well written.

At the end of Hominids Ponter gets back to his Earth, and the next book, Humans, follows how the linking of our Earth and an Earth containing another species is handled politically and socially. Hybrids is about how Ponter and Mary try to stay together, and introduces conflict in the form of a conspiracy by people who see the Neanderthals as an impediment.

I'm really digging Robert Sawyer's writing. It's high concept science fiction with humor and good characterization. and the best part is I haven't yet nearly everything he's written.

Posted: Wed - October 29, 2003 at      

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