science fiction

Hominids - Robert J. Sawyer Book Review

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"Hominids"
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Review Summaries
"In an alternate universe where Neanderthals developed into the only form of humans, a portal to our universe opens inadvertantly and a Neanderthal man, Ponter Bobbit, finds himself on our earth. On his world, his disappearance is deemed a murder and his partner is accused. On our world, he copes with new surroundings and befriends a woman coping with the effects of a recent rape."
Joan Zuckerman, Resident Robert Sawyer Scholar

"On an alternate Earth, Neanderthal scientists Ponter Boddit and Adikor Huld are performing experiments with the first quantum computer. An accident opens an unexpected portal and Boddit is transported to the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, located deep in a nickle mine. Ponter is rescued and becomes a worldwide celebrity, all the while pining for his home, which is radically different than our own structurally while roughly equal technologically. His Companion Implant solves the language barrier and Homo Sapiens talks to Homo Neanderthalus for the first time ever. Back in Ponter's universe, however, his partner Adikor is being charged with murder, with accusations being leveled by a vindictive relative. Adikor is able to trick his way into the quantum computer lab and reactivate the machine, reopening the portal..a robot is sent through, and repair workers send word to Ponter that he can finally go home. Although he has grown fond of his human friends, especially a biologist who has been recently raped, he must return not only to see his family but to clear his partner of murder charges. It turns out the portal can be kept open indefinitely, and plans are made to exchange everything from scientific knowledge to tourists.."
tiepilot912, Resident Robert J. Sawyer Scholar


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Overall Review
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 15%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 15%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40%




Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - alternate history
Explore/1st contact/ enviro story Yes
Plotlets: - dimension travel - on a parallel earth in another dimension
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Cultural problems, alien culture Yes
Culture clash- - one human from different culture of other humans
Intense exploration of society's culture? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - scientist - computer programmer
Age: - 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - bulging muscles - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - homemaker - bureaucrat
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - bulging muscles - average physique

Setting
Terrain - Forests
Earth setting: - near future (later in 21st century) - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - quite a lot of techical jargon
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - rape/molest (yeech!)
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books by Gordonator ranking
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
Roma Eterna by Robert Silverberg
Shadow of the Storm by Kurt R.A. Giambastiani
Colonization: Down To Earth by Harry Turtledove
Apacheria: An Epic of Alternate History by Jake Page




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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