The species Homo sapiens not only doesn't come out smelling like roses in this book, we end up stinking of pollution and the deaths of thousands of species. Despite that and everything else I didn't like in the tale this novel tells, this book was excellent, well-deserving of the Hugo Award it received.
Author Robert J. Sawyer weaves together quantum physics, human evolution and archeology in what feels very much like an alternate history story. Ponter Boddit, a physicist of species Homo neanderthalensis (assuming, as I tend to, that they were not a sub-species of Homo sapiens) quite unintentionally punches a hole between two universes and falls through. In his timeline/universe humanity is represented by what we call Neanderthals, our species having died out tens of thousands of years before. The world into which he falls, of course, is our own.
Some aspects of this story rubbed me the wrong way. First, as I mentioned above, Homo sapiens is presented as the somewhat idiotic "bad guy" species, and Homo neanderthanlensis is the wise species. Where we have spread out, overpopulated in many areas, polluted the environment, waged bloody wars and brought about the extinction, directly and indirectly, of hundreds of thousands of species, the Neanderthals have peacefully developed a world of sustainable, renewable energy. The human population is relatively small and large fauna like Mammonths roam the earth. I'm sorry, that's just too idyllic.
While the contrast between the worlds of Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis makes for interesting reading, in some places it pushed the limits of my ability to suspend disbelief. While it is possible that Neaderthals were, or could have been, high thinking creatures, it seems doubtful to me. Then again, I am no paleontologist.
By the same token, I am no theologian either. Neither is Mr. Sawyer, who portrayed Neanderthals as the original atheists. So deep is their atheism that they have no notion of "God" or an afterlife. When presented with religious ideas, Ponter Boddit finds it incomprehensible. Personally, I find it hard to believe that any sentient species would ever evolve and not have the idea cross its collective mind, at least as a concept. However much religious belief may be a quirk of our brains, any thinking species would have to approach at least the possibility of a supreme intelligence, if only to discount the notion. Further, the presentation of religion, particularly in the form of one of the main character's Catholic faith, seemed facile at best.
At this point it may appear as though I hated the book. I didn't. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Mr. Sawyer is a masterful writer and aside from the occasionally preachy tone of this story, I was drawn in and engaged on many levels. The deeply flawed character of humanity (even, to a limited extent, of Homo neanderthanlensis) is highlighted, while at the same time our capacity for generosity and love shows through. This was one of those books that I found myself thinking about when I wasn't reading it, and which I read more quickly as the conclusion neared.
If you are into science fiction, and especially those that deal with alternate timelines and parallel worlds, take a look at this book. I highly recommend it.
See Also:
Robert J. Sawyer's website and blog
