HOMINIDS

By: Chris Wyatt
Review Date: Monday, July 08, 2002

There's something special about Robert J Sawyer's novels... You just can't put them down. Sawyer's novels are not, by any means whatsoever, "beach reads". On the contrary, they usually deal with pretty heady stuff: the conflict between science and religion, race relations, the biological factors behind behavior, etc... And yet, even though some deep thought is going on, the books are still simple, old fashioned page turners. The kind of books that keep you up at night, promising yourself you'll "only read one more chapter", then finishing that chapter and deciding to "only do one more, for real this time".

Sawyer's latest is no exception. HOMINIDS is an exploration of evolutionary pathways, of male/female relations, of sexual power struggles and ultimately of moral decision making...but damned if you don't breeze through it like a Nancy Drew mystery!

That's a major compliment to the author. Most SF writers have to choose between being intellectually meaningful or entertaining and action-oriented. Sawyer, somehow, consistently does both at the same time.

HOMINIDS centers on a Neanderthal named Ponter Bobbit who lives on a parallel Earth. On Ponter's version of the Earth Neanderthals, not Homo Sapiens, grew to be the dominant species. Ponter is completing quantum computing experiments in an empty mine shaft. On our version of the Earth, Canadian scientists are conducting particle research in the parallel version of that same location. Due to the composition of the surrounding rock, that shaft is particularly useful to sub-atomic laboratories.


Because of a malfunction in Ponter's system he's transferred to our universe where he's discovered by Homo Sapien scientists. Ponter must come to grips with life in our world and his loved one's must try to deal with the implications of his absence.

The story could have easily devolved into a slapstick fish-out-of-water embarrassment, but Sawyer doesn't let it. He paints the world of the Neanderthals with such loving detail that one can't help but buy into its possible existence. Ponter is such a human character, that we feel for him as he copes with the alien Earth that he finds around him.

Sawyer uses Ponter's circumstance as a chance to explore biological and sociological issues. As the scientists try to explain to Ponter things like "why we have overpopulation", and "why we have wars", the Neanderthal asks simple questions that make us think about, and learn about, ourselves. Mostly these passages are insightful.

If the novel has a flaw it's that sometimes the sociological passages stop sounding like fiction, and start sounding like soapbox lectures on the author's favorite controversial topicslike the evils of religious faith. The condescending tone in some of these passages can make the reader feel like they're being preached at.

Sawyer's evangelical atheism aside, this is a first class novel in every other respect. Both of the book's plots (the one on this Earth, and the one on the Parallel Earth) are compelling from start to finish, and every character, from largest to smallest, is completely three-dimensional.

Plus, as mentioned above, HOMINIDS has that patented Robert J Sawyer charm that will keep the pages turning. You may not always be able to agree with the author's characters, or indeed, with the author himself, but that doesn't change the fact that this book will keep you glued. You'll be entertained and, like it or not, you'll be forced to think.

HOMINIDS is the first book in an upcoming trilogy. The books to follow are called HUMANS and HYBRIDS. If the first book is any indication, the series will make a mark on SF history. Look out Hugo voters, here he comes...

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