Hominids

The Neanderthal Parallax, Book 1

By: Robert J. Sawyer

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Robert J. Sawyer

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Critic reviews

• Hugo Award Winner, Best Novel, 2003

"Sawyer is a writer of boundless confidence and bold scientific extrapolation." (The New York Times)

Why do we do what we do?

Where does Hominids rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

One of the best books ( part of a series) that I've listened to.

What did you like best about this story?

I found that the story was sort of a summary reflection on human civilization, more specifically, why are the rules of our society what they are? An alternative is offered, and is presented logically in the form of a captivating story. I found it to be thought provoking and I have to admire the author's skill at weaving all the threads together. I think it is more than just a story.

Having said that, it is a great story, and you can ignore the philosophical discussion if you wished, and still enjoy it.

I would classify the theme more along the lines of a romantic novel, using the sci-fi aspect as a very good reason for the story to take place. The story is upbeat and positive. Lots of humor in it as well.

The narration is excellent: the characters are readily recognised by the vocal inflections used, which seem quite consistent throughout. Some other books I listen to, I get confused by characters that have different names but sound the same, like it is being read from a book, but that is not the case in this performance.

Be prepared to buy all 3 in the series!

Thought provoking

I appreciated the detail and logic used in the creation of his parallel universe. The other two books in the trilogy are in my cart!

A Tad Corny

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Fun "read," but a little lame...especially the two-dimensional characters. It reads like it's dying to become a movie (and would probably do really well).

Who was your favorite character and why?

Louise, she sounded really hot!

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The different voices were getting a little difficult to follow; also, I'm not a fan of hearing a male narrator imitate a female voice. It sounds like a Monty Python skit.

Did Hominids inspire you to do anything?

Yeah, download the second book and see if it's any better.

Definitely a winner! Thanks

Wow what a great listen!
I can see why it was chosen for a Hugh Award. If you are looking for a great read thus has all the elements.
With an added bonus,it is part of a series.
Healthy Day fellow readers.

Overhyped

Would you try another book from Robert J. Sawyer and/or Jonathan Davis and Robert J. Sawyer ?

I really don't see what other people do in this novel. The premise itself I found excellent. The author really started well, but the novel really turned into a vehicle to cram the author's social ideas onto the reader. That wouldn't necessarily be so bad if it were not for the fact that the guy posits caricatures of people to criticize them. For instance, he uses an allegedly Catholic character to contrast with his atheist neanderthals, and yet NOTHING that comes out of that character's thoughts and words reflects any reasonable representation of what a lifelong Catholic would think or believe. It was almost like the characters were taken as cartoon characters from one of the vapid New Atheist books. Yes, I realize bitter atheists will thumb down my review because they only vote for their dogma over any criticism, but this book truly was a poor attempt at positing a valid alternate society. For instance, if you read one of Orson Scott Card's novels, even the characters with whose beliefs he would never agree are given a fair place. In short, this is NOT a 21st century Stranger in a Strange Land. To do so it would need accurate human beings with which to contrast the alternate ideas. Instead you get a lot of straw characters that have little to nothing in common with the beliefs of actual people. If it were not for that, I think the novel would have so much more merit.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The most interesting aspect of the story is the depth with which the author developed this alternate society. He developed a basic naming language to make it more realistic. He built a solid culture and everything. The least interesting aspect is that he failed to accurate represent homo sapiens.

My Universe is Better Than Your's...

Would you consider the audio edition of Hominids to be better than the print version?

Probably. Audible does a great job here. I have not read the book, but his might be a good example where the audible version is better than the print version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I could say the lead character. I found him engaging and interesting. He reminded me of the primary character in the Ursula LeGuin book, The Dispossessed. He had a sanguine approach to the difficulties he was faced, yet did so with courage. I wonder if Sawyer was influenced at all by LeGuin.

What does Jonathan Davis and Robert J. Sawyer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I had not read Sawyer before and I think many readers will enjoy him. The story is fast paced and elements of it were like a TV show or movie. The narrator did a great job conveying this sense of action and kept the story moving.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Portions of the book reminded me of Asimov and "The God's Themselves". This story and Hominid is essentially a backdrop for a discussion of quantum mechanics and elements of string theory. I found this interesting. The hard science elements of this book were not over wrought, and made it intelligent writing on many levels.

Any additional comments?

Sawyer is a popular author and far be it from me to criticize him. At times I felt like the book was careening to a climax, something which I find to be a contrivance in a lot of current science fiction. My guess is the modern reader compares these types of stories to TV and will be bored., I my opinion it felt a bit rushed. A considerable amount happened in a short span of time. So the net here for the reader considering this book is if you like a story that is terrific, fast paced and non-stop you will be rewarded. If you like a story that provides backdrop, characterization and more depth this might not be right for you. I don't say this in a dismissive way. I personally enjoy these types of books occasionally and I enjoyed Hominid very much on this occasion. I am glad I read it, I found it interesting and it was worth the credit. I am just not sure I will return to Sawyer's universe in the short term.

Good narrator, lacklustre story

I enjoyed Calculating God, so decided to check this out...not impressed. There's a lot of telling, not a lot of showing in the storytelling, and some of the preachy anti religious messages were over the top and unbelievable. I enjoy a good discussion; I do not enjoy using dialogue to put weak, contrived arguments in others' mouths. As far as the rest of the story goes, I find the account of Neanderthal judicial proceedings alternately frustrating and boring. On the human side, a male author using graphic rape as a character building set up for romance really kills the mood for me. The romance(s) feel contrived and profoundly unhealthy, and the quarantine sounds like an excuse not to have to show us more of the interesting repercussions on the world at large.

In case it wasn't clear, I don't recommend this one.

Really enjoyed it.

Great reader. The story uses an implausible quantum computing accident to set up a delightful series of conversations between people from this Earth, and a parallel Earth, which allows us all to contemplate how our civilization might have turned out differently. There's a minor plot device involving a rape which didn't ring true for me, maybe because of the male author, but if you can ignore that, the rest is a great read/listen.

So good, it leaves me depressed.

I don't often give 5 stars. One part cynicism, one part leaving room for the truly great stories.

This is a truly great story.

Robert J. Sawyer often gets criticized for being overly political. For too often using a story as a vehicle to push his views. I say push on Sir.

Not that I always agree with him, but we're in danger of becoming a society where expressing views different to the norm is sometimes frowned upon.

In Hominids we have an alternate world story that really shows how far humans have to go. Not all that occurs in the Neanderthal world will appeal to most people, but it's not the specifics that tell the story.

Its the vibe of the thing, to plagiarize a great Australian movie.

The Neanderthals behave as though they're all impacted by each others behavior. The Humans, largely, do not.

This mirrors what we all see in the 'real' world.

I believe that Sawyer is trying to add weight to the idea that we should tread lightly and be considerate. We should seek to do our best and respect the idea that it isn't everyone else's job to create wealth for us.

People should be encouraged to do what they're good at, not what's profitable for the few. And regardless of your view on Climate Change, surely the idea of the Neanderthal's architecture and way of life, so close to nature but with complimentary technology, is streets ahead of our concrete, rubbish and noise.

For me, this story shows what's possible. It's a bonus that the plot is interesting and the characters are likable and well developed.

Some may shy away from certain elements of the story. There is the idea of 'Big Brother', and very different versions of family, relationships and sexuality.

I say, don't let specifics get in the way of evolving your ideas.

Sophomoric

I did finish listening - the story was not boring. But the dialog was rather clunky and awkward to listen to, especially between Mary and Ponter. Lines from Gone With The Wind, ET, and The Wizard of Oz were shamelessly borrowed. The ending, even for SciFI, stretches credibility to the breaking point and I'm happy to leave the story at its end, though there is a sequel, which is previewed and advertised at the end of this recording.

The narrators were good, though my usual criticism of males affecting female voices applies here - the females sound pretty much like, well, men trying to sound like women.

The names of the Neanderthals didn't seem to have any rhyme or reason - did they all have surnames and if so, how were they derived? I didn't look up the characters to see their names in writing, but I enjoyed hearing them as I imagined them - Ponter's daughters, Jasmine, Jazz-bo, Jazmo or Jazno, and Meg-a-Meg, and many whose names I just couldn't figure out at all.

I was annoyed at the continued put-down of human history/society and the elevation of the noble (and brilliant!) Neanderthal society. Of course there are things in human history that merit our shame, but I don't understand the purpose of the comparison in this book and its creation of a fictional "perfect" sentient species.