Rating: 
Summary: Neanderthal Utopia contrasted with Humanity today.
Review: This is an interesting love story between species (Neanderthal/Human) and realities (our current reality/Neanderthal-dominant). I liked the contrast between the two civilizations. This story might offend some in that the Neanderthal society portrays a family structure that some people might find offensive. One of the points of the romance is that the human who falls in love with the Neanderthal also has difficulty with the Neanderthal family structure. It would be a more believable story if the Neanderthal society were portrayed as having some warts. Humans definitely come off as the less noble society. Yes, the author is making a point in the novel to criticize humanity, and that is well written. But it seems to me that every society will have problems and I would have liked to see the problems that the Neanderthal society might have. Actually, the Neanderthals are portrayed with much better characterizations than are the humans. The Neanderthals are also much more Noble than the humans. It's just a bit difficult for me to believe in Neanderthal Utopia. This is the second book in a series, I did not read the first in the series and did not feel that I missed anything. The writing was well enough done that reading the first book was not necessary in order to understand the events and personalities in this second book. I will definitely be looking for the third book in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Every bit as good as HOMINDS
Review: This series is on its way to being a true SF classic. While HOMINIDS concentrated more on science, HUMANS revels in philosophy. It's a deeply moving novel, and a very worthy follow up to HYBRIDS. Well done, Mr. Sawyer!
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: This was every bit as god as Hominids; I can hardlt wait till Hybrids comes out in paperback. I like the Neandertals system of sex separation and responsible breeding, and their acceptance of gay relations. And especially the way they do not overpopulate and respect the Earth. But the sex scenes were a bit graphic and not really necessary to advance the story; which is why I only gave it 4 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!
Review: This was every bit as god as Hominids; I can hardlt wait till Hybrids comes out in paperback. I like the Neandertals system of sex separation and responsible breeding, and their acceptance of gay relations. And especially the way they do not overpopulate and respect the Earth. But the sex scenes were a bit graphic and not really necessary to advance the story; which is why I only gave it 4 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Thinly veiled socialist propaganda in novel form
Review: Though I generally consider it in poor taste to comment negatively on someone else's work, Robert J. Sawyer's recent "novel" Humans, the sequel to his deservedly well-received Hominids, filled me with such loathing that I felt compelled to warn off other readers lest they waste their valuable time and money on this arrogant, elitist, and virulently anti-American piece of tripe. Whereas Hominids was a fairly exciting adventure novel with just a dash of PC inspired politics thrown into the wash, Humans reads like a pedantic Berkeley sociology professor's lecture on the many, many virtues of bisexual authoritarian socialism. I don't know anything about Robert J. Sawyer's personal life, but it would greatly surprise me if he has ever lived more than a quarter of a mile from a Canadian university campus at any point in his adult life, worked in the private sector, or met a woman who did not define herself as "exploited." Yes, this book is that bad and no, I'm not exaggerating. So painfully and self-consciously PC that it is sometimes difficult to read, Hominids spares no effort when it comes to placing the full blame for all of the world's ills squarely at the feet of that whipping boy of college intellectuals everywhere, American Society. While reading its admittedly competent prose, once can practically see the author sitting in a coffee house, his three thousand dollar Ibook perched atop his knees, reading the latest copy of Mother Jones while solemnly shaking his head in disbelief a the antics of my nation's unwashed peasantry. The book moves breathlessly from condemnation of private property to praise of affirmative action to an advocation of the constant observation of a genetically engineered, forcibly pacified and disarmed population by an all-knowing benevolent socialist state with the sort of unselfconscious, know-it-all ease that can only flow from the pen of a Canadian academic. Yet it is, at the same time, an uninspired regurgitation of the sort of tired, worn out Baby-Boomer ideas that those of us under the age of fifty have come to expect from our increasingly unstable and whimsical elders. In the words of that truly great sci-fi leftist George Orwell: "doubleplusungood"
Rating:
Summary: A worthy sequel
Review: While "Hominids" introduced us to the characters and the background of the neanderthal and human worlds, "Humans" is stuck with the task of furthering the story. As such, it isn't as groundbreaking and fascinating as its prequel, but an entertaining read nonetheless. However, I must say that the story and writing style are slightly improved here, creating a mystery story with a science fiction background. What's most interesting about this novel is the way the humans interact as they begin to explore the neanderthal world, and vice versa. Of course, Sawyer continues with the real theme of the story; that is, is it better to live in a world where bad things happen, but most people have faith that a good afterlife awaits them, or to live in a peaceful world, but have no hope for anything afterward, and a big brother-type of security? Overall, this is definitely a recommended read. I enjoyed "Hominids" very much, and "Humans" held up well on its own. I'm looking forward to reading "Hybrids" to complete the story.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy sequel
Review: While "Hominids" introduced us to the characters and the background of the neanderthal and human worlds, "Humans" is stuck with the task of furthering the story. As such, it isn't as groundbreaking and fascinating as its prequel, but an entertaining read nonetheless. However, I must say that the story and writing style are slightly improved here, creating a mystery story with a science fiction background. What's most interesting about this novel is the way the humans interact as they begin to explore the neanderthal world, and vice versa. Of course, Sawyer continues with the real theme of the story; that is, is it better to live in a world where bad things happen, but most people have faith that a good afterlife awaits them, or to live in a peaceful world, but have no hope for anything afterward, and a big brother-type of security? Overall, this is definitely a recommended read. I enjoyed "Hominids" very much, and "Humans" held up well on its own. I'm looking forward to reading "Hybrids" to complete the story.
Rating:
Summary: Very timely!!
Review: While reading Humans, I was struck by how timely I found it. Robert J. Sawyer has always spoken to me in a very profound way, but there was so much material in Humans that was a great reflection of today's times. Some have criticized Sawyer for "product placement," but I find his references bring me into the world- it helps to remind me that this world he is creating is not all made up, it's our world, today. His references to September 11th beautifully date the book, but also provide a soapbox for Sawyer to show us how an outsider would view recent violent events and war in general. The scene I found the most timely involves Ponter's visit to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. He makes a speech that the President should declare war not in Congress but at the Memorial, therefore facing the deaths of soldiers who had given their lives for a so-called "good cause." In Humans, the portal between universes is opened again for diplomatic purposes, and Ponter returns to our version of Earth. I was thrilled to see more of the Neanderthal world as Mary Vaughan takes a trip with Ponter there. In my review of Hominids, I asked if the Neanderthal world was really supposed to be that good. Well, now I think it is that great. They seem to have it all worked out. I guess that the reason I keep reading Sawyer (and have yet to find a book I didn't like) is that I love his philosophy. I think that those of us who are intelligent sometimes harbor a deep sadness for humanity, and Sawyer speaks to that. He also manages to keep plots that should be very grand in scale to a minimum, to within the minds of a few characters. The huge scenes should be Ponter's visit to the U.N., but they end up being in Mary's jealousy about Ponter's other relationships. This is a great follow-up to Hominids, which I consider to be a fabulous book. I eagerly await the third book!
Rating:
Summary: Bridging the divide
Review: With HUMANS, the second volume in the Neanderthal Parallax trilogy, Sawyer is drawing the reader deep into the parallel worlds of Mary Vaughan and Ponter Bobbit. Most people who delve into the story will have read HOMINIDS and understand the basic philosophical and scientific concepts presented. Those who have not would be well advised to pick up the first volume before getting too deeply into this one. Otherwise they may miss out on depth and complexity of what is presented. HUMANS is a very entertaining read, fast paced and engaging. There are also very funny moments. The two key representatives, Mary, from "our" Earth and Ponter, from the Neanderthals' universe, continue to explore their respective realities in a multitude of ways. Ponter 'returns' to Canada and Mary has the opportunity to explore the 'other side'. Their continuing dialogue and interaction form the centrepiece of the novel. Subjects range from such topical scientific questions as the impact of the possible collapse the Earth's magnetic field to the exploration of societal structures and human relationships. Above all, discussions return regularly to Mary's religious side of life. Ponter, having reflected on faith as a conundrum for a Neanderthal scientist ever since he left this earth, becomes more deeply drawn to the question of spirituality and morality on his return visit. Sawyer introduces new players to complement the set of characters well know from HOMINIDS. In particular, the Neanderthal women round off the depiction of life in their world. The global leadership in the Neanderthal's universe, the High Gray Council, deliberates at length whether to reopen the portal to the "Gliksin" world. The opportunities of this new kind of globalization are too tempting to miss. Tentative exploration of cultural, commerce and scientific exchange, however, does not turn out as easy as the proponents might have liked and even anticipated. But then, there is the last volume in the trilogy to clear up and explain all the "ox-uh-mor-ons" encountered. [Friederike Knabe, Ottawa Canada]
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