Humans

The Neanderthal Parallax, Book 2

By: Robert J. Sawyer

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Robert J. Sawyer

Length: 11 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

In this Hugo-nominated novel, Neanderthal physicist Ponter Boddit brings Canadian geneticist Mary Vaughan back to his world to explore the near-utopian civilization of the Neanderthals. Boddit serves as a Candide figure, the naive visitor whose ignorance about our society makes him a perfect tool to analyze human tendencies toward violence, over-population, and environmental degradation. The Neanderthals have developed a highly artistic, ethical, and scientific culture without ever inventing farming - they're still hunters and gatherers - and this allows the author to make some interesting and generally unrecognized points about the downside of the discovery of agriculture.

BONUS AUDIO: Author Robert J. Sawyer explains why one particular chapter of Humans is his very favorite.

Hunt and gather: listen to more in the Neanderthal Parallax trilogy.

©2003 by Robert J. Sawyer (P)2008 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

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

Third time listening to this series

This is my favourite sci fi series of all time and this is my third time listening to it. Won’t be my last either! I love the way RJS has imagined the alternative civilization made my the Neanderthals. And it stimulates new perspectives on our own journey of humanity too. Highly recommended.

Totally Immersed inthe Story and Rooting for Love

Love Robert Sawyer's creative work and devoured the Neanderthal Parallex.
I pictured this alternate reality and the narrator did a fantastic job.
I think I will be lost after the third book is done and probably will be hoping for a sequel about them as a blended family...

Humans Bad Neanderthal Good

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The first book was better. This book the author decided the political statement was more important than the story. Thus everything Neanderthal is good and everything Human is bad. We ruined the planet, we are violent and constantly at war while the Neanderthal has done away with violence and war. Of course they have no privacy because their every move and even thought is recorded and stored in the alibi archive for the government to use against the Neanderthal if something happens.

So take you pick our over crowded, violent, dirty world with no mamoths and free will and privacy, or theirs in which everyone is in tune with nature, resources are plentify, violence has been bred out of the population and your every move is monitored by the government.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It is clear that the author intended to write another book. The ending is left hanging.

Do you think Humans needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Obviously it needs one to close up all the loose ends.

as good as the first

the second book in the trilogy doesn't disappoint. the story is still interesting. I'm looking forward to listening to the third. I always enjoy Jonathan Davis as a narrator.

Still good

Pinter is a fabulous character, complex, and in many ways, trying.
The dichotomy between the two societies is perhaps insurmountable in the long run.
All in all, the idea is, while not original, still a functional vehicle to carry the plot along. Thankfully only one more in this series, the parallel universe trope will not support it beyond three.

Not as good as the first book, almost 4 stars.

I liked this book but thought that the social commentary was at times forced into the story. The narrator did a little better with some of the accents this time, but often times when reading women's lines he made them sound insipid. It was like a man making fun of the way a woman talks. It didn't happen all them time, but there were definitely moments. Again at the beginning was a 2 1/2 minute introduction by the author that was annoying; he really needs to stop selling his books to those who have already bought them. He doesn't have a pleasant speaking voice so it's a doubly bad way to begin a reading. All in all it was enjoyable but not as good as the first book.

Disappointing sequal

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The Christian outlook seemed overdone to me, and intruded on the story. The repeated idea that 'our' universe may have an afterlife, and that so much of our culture is defined by that belief felt awkward. There is a long scene at the Vietnam Vet Memorial where Mary defends our wars which I really did not like. Perhaps the author is leading me to feel this way, but I felt bludgeoned by it.

Would you ever listen to anything by Robert J. Sawyer again?

Yes. I enjoyed the first book in the series a lot.

What about Jonathan Davis and Robert J. Sawyer ’s performance did you like?

The characters had distinctive voices, easy to identify and follow.

Any additional comments?

I need to decide if I want to finish the series. I'm not particularly happy with where it seems to be going.

Wonderful and compelling story.

Unusual topic with excellent creativity that kept me listening across all three books. Would really like to see this as a tv series and to read book four and five! Enjoyed the performance and overall really good. Have re-listened many times to all the books.

Excellent narration

But the storyline is getting less good. The character development is weak and it's not clear what Pontus sees in Mary....

Great Science Fiction!

Let your imagination carry you to a world based upon...hunting/gathering, a stable population, the rhythm method (don't frown, they have lots of sex), long term contribution to society, experience prized over strength, science moves forward thru cooperation and without prejudices, violence is not tolerated, crime is very rare yet there is tremendous freedom for all, all life is precious, a very green world. Wait, don't think this is utopia; there are problems, big ones; but what interesting notions thru which to examine our own world. These books examine many foundational ideas/beliefs/principles that we take for granted; stand them on their heads and paints one (of the many possible) picture of what may fall out. The narration is excellent; distinct character voices, perfect pace, and precise pauses to let your mind extrapolate on the image/ideas. I have never written a review but was compelled to write this to give some balance to the reviews of this great trilogy. I agree Hominids was the best and I give it 4.4 stars with Humans and Hybrids close behind with 3.8 stars each (of course I have to fit into the !format! given and round all to 4); but they should really be all taken together as a whole. It probably would have been a really great but long single book. But I understand Sawyer has to pay his bills (and I want him to eat so he writes more books) also there is some suspense in breaking up a good tale. Lastly I have been listening to audio books for over 25 years and what you will enjoy is very personal, highly dependent on where you've been, where you are in life and what happened yesterday and today. So take all the reviews with a bucket of salt; listen/read to lots of different authors/narrators/genre/old books/new books/fiction/nonfiction and determine for yourself what You like/believe/and want to expand upon.