Humans: The Neanderthal Parallax, Book 2

I love this series! I've always enjoyed anthropological sci-fi and thrillers. This is one of the best. Most explore what it means to be human by presenting "the other" as non-human. In this series that is done by juxtaposing 2 very different kinds of humanity. The first book introduces two earths, 2 ways to evolve and live in the environment. The relationship between genders is explored, how crime is handled, scientific and philosophical differences compared. This second novel tackles questions of love, the soul, religion, and punishment. I love Pinter and Mare! We will see how the greater problems in each world are solved as well as there own challenges. Next book please!

This is Book Two of the Neanderthal Parallax. The basic premise is that a portal has been accidentally opened between our own world and that of a parallel one in which neanderthals were the ones who evolved and "gliiksins" (us) died out. The time of the separation is estimated to have been about 40,000 years ago, although we will have to wait until Book Three (with some hints at the end of this one) about how the split occurred. I confess I don't understand enough about quantum theory to know how plausible this all is, but have no trouble taking it as scientifically demonstrated within the story.Ponter Boddit accidentally -- and then later purposefully -- crossed over into our world, found himself in a deep nickel mine in Canada, and managed to make himself understood because of an implanted computer device that was able to translate English for him, however imperfectly. He made friends with Mary Vaughan, a Canadian geneticist who was able to demonstrate that he was in fact descended from neanderthals based on her research in DNA from fossils. In fact, they became such good friends that Ponter invited Mary to visit his world for his daughter's bonding ceremony. Not much like the Catholic marriage she had been through many years before.See, Ponter's people do not have any religion: no God, no afterlife, none of that. So his understanding of Mary's hang-ups is limited, and she continues to be shocked and/or upset by things that are completely natural in Ponter's world, and I have to admit I side with him on much of this. But I must admit I don't think I could participate in the flensing of a deer carcass, either.But this is not merely a reciprocal travelogue of the two worlds. It is a deeply human (yes, human is the right word on both sides of the portal) story of complexity and sensitivity. Perhaps we can get a glimpse of just how sensitive by the fact that Book Three is entitled "Hybrids." I've started reading it at once.

Book number two of a three book fantasy series. I read the well printed and bound MMPB. I am reading the trade paperback of the third book, _Hybrids_, now.The inter-dimensional gateway between the Homo Sapiens and Homo Neanderthal worlds has been re-established. The various governments on both sides of the gateway are being stupid. I am not surprised.The rapist was revealed. I was surprised. And the solution was most unexpected and, deserved.

Volume 2 of Sawyer's Neanderthal trilogy was pretty good. I think where it fails is in its making this reader curious about the events of the two cultures clashing nicely and then shifts over to a soap opera of sorts. That, I was not thrilled with!The book picks up where Volume 1, Hominids, left off. Humans could somewhat stand on its own, but go ahead and read Hominids first.It was fun to read about Ponter and the new ambassador and how they deal with the alternate Earth (us). As the story goes on, there is an assassination attempt (which fails) and the solution the ambassador has for the assassin is surprising to say the least.Instead of shutting down the "portal" between the two worlds, the ambassador brings over the best and brightest of their generation to our Earth for further cultural exchange. She guesses rightly that the High Gray Council would not shut it down and leave them stranded. This was great! I could hardly wait to see how our Earth scientists, sports fans, artists and so on deal with the new and exciting world of the Neanderthal.And then he drops it. Sawyer drops it. Oh my!Throughout the narration we have Ponter talking to his shrink ("personality sculptor") which I thought a good vehicle from which we could quickly move through the story. The rest of the book however deals with Mary's frustration and guilt she feels over a rape that happened back on Volume One, and Ponter's response to it. We also have Mary falling madly in love with our caveman with a somewhat explicit sex scene in a hotel room.But the love triangle of sorts - man-mates, woman-mates, Mary, her lover, and what about the rapist and her ex, all come together.Hey, what happened to all those artists and scientists?Bottom Line:The book flows well, easy to read and Sawyer sets us up to get the skinny on the relationships between a human and a Neanderthal. But why keep us guessing on the other stuff? Plot points dropped, questions lay waiting for answers.Recommended for only the most rabid of Sawyer fans. But hey, I'll read Hybrids anyway. I want to see what happens next!