Humans - Robert J. Sawyer Book Review

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Review Summary

This is the second book in a trilogy. Ponter Boddit, a Neanderthal from a parallel earth where Neanderthals were the evolving species, rather than Homo Sapiens, is transported to present times. A permanent portal is opened between the two worlds and cultural exchange begins. In this world, the earth's magnetic field seems to be undergoing a collapse and reversal with potential catastrophic implications. Ponter had befriended the geneticist assigned to study him, Mary Vaughn, and they fall in love. They encounter problems adapting to each other's cultures but resolve to pursue a relationship. Ponter identifies and punishes a co-worker of Mary's who raped her, and deals with the guilt of committing a crime.
Joan Zuckerman, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Humans

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

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 20%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30%

Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
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

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - 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 - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - society

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

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - an average amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - licking - actual description of sex - descript. of private male anat. - rape/molest (yeech!)
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

Most similar books to Humans
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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