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Hominids

The Neanderthal Parallax, Book 1

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About this listen

 Neanderthals have developed a radically different civilization on a parallel Earth. A Neanderthal physicist, Ponter Boddit, accidentally passes from his universe into a Canadian underground research facility. Fortunately, a team of human scientists, including expert paleo-anthropologist Mary Vaughan, promptly identifies and warmly receives Ponter. Solving the language problem and much else is a mini-computer, called a Companion, implanted in the brain of every Neanderthal. A computerized guardian spirit, however, doesn't eliminate cross-cultural confusion; permanent male-female sexuality, rape, and overpopulation are all alien to Ponter. Nor can it help his housemate and fellow scientist back in his world, Adikor Huld, when the authorities charge Adikor with his murder.

BONUS AUDIO: Author Robert J. Sawyer explains why Ponter Boddit is his favorite among all the characters he's created.

Hunt and gather: listen to more in the Neanderthal Parallax trilogy.©2002 by Robert J. Sawyer (P)2008 Audible, Inc. Fantasy Fiction Hard Science Fiction Historical Fiction Science Fiction Parallel Universe

Critic reviews

  • Hugo Award Winner, Best Novel, 2003

"Sawyer is a writer of boundless confidence and bold scientific extrapolation." (The New York Times)
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Its an interesting premis. But its very slow. The characters are weird. And the bits on the Neanderthal world are explaind so poorly, with jibberish words, that its hard to know whats going on at times.
I only made it half way through.

Messy

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I had no real preconceptions about this title, I'd never heard of the writer and only got it because I have an interest in Neanderthals - but I wasn't disappointed at all! I'm not really interested in science fiction in general, Star Trek and Star Wars leave me cold! But this is really a human interest story, looking at an outsiders view of our humanity, as well as exploring what our lives might be like if our ancestors had made different descisions - for example what would we be like without religion?

I thoroughly reccomend; it is gripping, thrilling and really gets you going and wanting more! I'd want to carry on listening even when I was not driving or down the gym!

The thing that got me was that there was loads of science in it, real detailed information that was accurate and relevant to the story and that thoroughly interested me.

The world Ponter comes from is explained in vivid detail and you want to go there and see it for yourself - however, when Ponter asks Mary, Louise and Reuben about our lack of conservation and how we've destroyed our habitat it really makes you question humanity's motives and mistakes. If you want to feel positve about your species this is probably not the best book - if you want a bit of science fiction and romance this is for you!

Really Good

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This book was much more interesting than the title lead me to expect. How the neanderthals structured their society gave me much food for thought.

most enjoyable

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I rushed through this book. A great plot, interspersed with an outsider's view of the Earth as we know it. Very enjoyable and highly recommended.

Brave New World for the new millennium

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A complete joy to listen to; great sci-fi, entertaining story and feeding back every optimistic, some might say romantic, notions I’ve ever thought about the evolution of our human relatives. Thoroughly entertaining read and worth the effort to read. I listened to this in one sitting, during a lazy - but in hindight very worthwhile - day. Definitely going to buy the next two titles in the series!

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