Hybrids - Robert J. Sawyer Book Review

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Review Summaries

"This is the third book in a trilogy. A portal opens up to an alternate earth where the human species is Neanderthal rather than Homo sapiens. In the first two books, a relationship developes between Ponter Boddit, the Neanderthal who came through the portal, and Mary Vaughn, the geneticist who was called to study him. Neanderthals have "man-mates" with whom they live 24 days a month and "woman-mates" with whom they live when "Two become One" four days a month. In this book, Mary and Ponter determine whether they can have a child, and how they can live in both worlds under the Neanderthal retrictions, now that a permanent portal has been established. Mary, a devout Catholic and Ponter, with no concept of religion, must also resolve spiritual issues. On this earth, the magnetic field is undergoing a collapse and reversal and the consequences are unknown. Jock Kreiger, head of the Spectrum think tank studying the Neanderthal world, realizes the "other" earth is unspoiled and beautiful and wants to take over. Also working in the think tank is Cornelius Ruskin, a geneticist who worked with Mary at York University and raped her and another faculty member when they received promotions he felt he was entitled to. In the previous books, Mary learned who raped her and Ponter punished Cornelius in his world's manner- castration. Jock uses Cornelius to try to take over the Neanderthal world using genetic means. Ponter, Mary and their friends work to counter his plan, and the earth's magnetic field begins to change.

Crested sapwood supportable noradrenaline runout. "
Joan Zuckerman, 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 - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 20%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
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
Intense exploration of society's culture? Yes

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - computer programmer
Age: - 20's-30'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
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - scientist
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

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

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - explicit references to deaths
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a fair amount of scientific explanation
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - descript of kissing - lesbians! - rape/molest (yeech!)
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog

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

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