clock … watching time, the only true currency

Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer opens The Neanderthal Parallax, a set of three novels exploring interaction between Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens via parallel universes, where the big lugs didn’t die out…and weren’t such lugs. As always, Sawyer makes science human. Jumping off from a quantum physics experiment gone slightly askew, Sawyer blends in jealous ex-spouses, a murder trial, and (surprisingly) a rape of one of the lead characters. Science is the twist, but not the main course. Musings on the intersection of science and religion also flow into the tale, sometimes ponderously.

The problem? I read this story about three months ago, and I had to skim the flap to remind myself of some of the core elements. So, a quick enjoyable read, but not lasting. Or maybe that’s just me.

Anyway, props to Vin for sending me a box of books that arrived (coincidentally) around my birthday back in March. Hominids was the first snack among many from the sci-fi-heavy grouping.