Rating: 
Summary: Superb hard science and a blazing pageturner
Review: I read this book in one night. I could not put it down, nor sleep. Every chapter drew me into the next and I was hopelessly lost to the real world for a fabulous evening. I felt that the family issues added a level of realism that often sci-fi lacks in its concern for high minded ideals and ultra big pictures.My only qualm with this book was that Heather (the main character) seemed to have an unrealistically uncanny ability to make intuitive discovery after discovery that no single human likely would be capable of making by themselves, let alone in a matter of mere hours or days. In that sense it seemed forced, although if one is willing to forgive Mr Sawyer that one transgression, this book can easily be included amongst the best of the genre. Something I found particularly satisfying was the breadth of future hard-scientific inquiry touched on. Everything from Quantum theory, Jungian overmind concepts, the nature of morality and god, defining characteristics of humanity, the future of AI's, and many other topics are addressed and add well to the plot. I heartily recommend this book to all sci-fi fans!
Rating:
Summary: Near-future SF can still have really big ideas
Review: Sawyer seems to like writing about the near future --- say, 10 to 20 years down the road. The effect is to ground his work in the everyday, in settings people can easily grasp. The setting of this novel, at the University of Toronto, should be familiar to anyone who has ever attended (or taught!) at a big city university. The details of academic life ring true ... but even more so do the details of Sawyer's characters personal lives, despite the horrific things that happen to them. Of course, this is SCIENCE fiction, and there's plenty of science, too: quantum computing, artificial intelligence, SETI (indeed, the SETI subplot, really relatively minor, is quite wonderful, especially for any fan of Alan Turing), and more. And the ending has that "sense of wonder" that is the hallmark of the best SF from the classic age. I've also read Sawyer's FLASHFORWARD, and gave that five stars, too, but between the two, this is my favourite, although both are excellent novels. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: L.A. Johnson for Midwest Book Review
Review: Sci fi writer Robert J. Sawyer has won both the Nebula and Hugo Awards, and is nominated again this year. Factoring Humanity is the fourth book I've reviewed by this author, and each one is exceptional. Sawyer excels at putting a human face on technology and breathing soul into scientific data. This sci fi thriller is a prime example.
Heather Davis is a Psychology professor at the University of Toronto. Her husband, Kyle Graves, experiments with Artificial Intelligence and quantum mechanics at the same university. Their marriage has been strained by tragedy, and shattered with their youngest daughter's allegations of sexual abuse. Both are devastated by loss and throw themselves into their work. Heather's project is particularly intriguing.
Every 31 hours and 51 minutes like clockwork, a new data message is received from space. Its origin, a planet orbiting Alpha Centauri A. Heather and her colleagues around the world work at translating the messages without success, until one day she stumbles onto the key. Quantum physcs, mathematical equations, and parallel universes play a part in the mystery. First Heather and then Kyle is drawn into the conundrum with world changing results. Will the messages from space unlock the mysteries of the human mind? And will they be a path to healing or total annihilation of the human race?
As in every novel by this author, the underlying technology is first rate and the characters well defined. Long time fans of Sawyer will love Factoring Humanity, and new readers of his work will understand why he wins Hugo and Nebula Awards.
Rating: 
Summary: Hard to put down!
Review: I have not read a Robert Sawyer book before, so I took a chance and tried this out. He did an excellent job at immediately immersing the reader into the plot right from the beginning and I had a hard time putting this book down. Literally a page turner, I went through this book much faster than I usually do.
Sawyer touches on a wide assortment of issues: AI, quantum computers, the meaning of being human, and many more - all tied together with suspense and intrigue.
At times, the book gets a bit too "new-agey" perhaps, and I found the drama to reach points of corniness. Moreover, it was several times suggested that Cheetah was to clearly an Ai and not human, yet "he" acted with such feeling and apparent emotion that Sawyer seemed wildly inconsistent on this point.
On the whole, I really enjoyed this novel. I may be biased since it is located not only in the city in which I live, but at the University of Toronto, where I study. So it is fun to read a book where I can identify all the locations (though he forgot about the Catholic seminary also being associated with the University). A fun read!
Rating:
Summary: Inner space .... outer space .... psychospace!
Review: Sawyer won his first Hugo for Hominids, but this was one of his earlier nominees for that award .... and it's every bit as good. A stand-alone (unlike Hominids) about a married pair of researchers at the Univesity of Toronto (Sawyer lives in that city) .... one a pscychologist and the other an artificial intelligence researcher .... and the alien technology that lets them explore the truths about the universe and in their rocky marriage. Fascinating .... literarlly mind expanding .... first rate!
Rating:
Summary: Science fiction with the emphasis placed on Science
Review: This is my fourth Sawyer book in the past month. I stumbled on 'Hominids,' having not read any science fiction in years, and was sold. The reason I sought out more Sawyer is that he uses real science to spin his tales. And he's a good storyteller, too. His characters are a little cardboard but a heckuva lot better than those of some writers I remember. This one is a riff on the notion of aliens contacting us via coded digitized messages from a planet circling Alpha Centauri. So there is cryptography, psychology, engineering, computer science - all written about credibly - brought into play. It makes for a fast-moving read that requires the reader to pause occasionally and really THINK about the possibility of it all. Sawyer deserves credit for writing stories that go beyond current science in a way that remains credible and, perhaps as important, serious. Scott Morrison
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Hokey
Review: Robert J. Sawyer is one of those SF authors, like Robert L. Forward (what is it with these Robert guys?), who comes up with interesting and original ideas, but then fails to build a credible story or believable characters around it. I found myself in utter disbelief and completely bored by the end of the book. It was a big disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: A fun ride through hyperspace
Review: After reading Hominids, I became very intrigued by Sawyer's overall writing style. The amount of research done in writing this novel is just what I expected of him. The two books are surprisingly similar in that respect. Both novels focus on the extremes of science and sociology (One extreme in science being quantum computing, and the extreme in sociology being sexual abuse). I did, however, find that there was a bit of feministic overtones throughout the book (you'll know what I mean if you read it). The characterizations were a little thin, but admirable for a story that focuses on the notion of a collective unconscious. Whether your interest lies in computer science, psychology, or sociology I feel that you will find this novel to be a wonderful learning experience as well as a pleasant read. Be prepared for an intellectual ride that continues even after you put the novel down for last time.
Rating: 
Summary: interesting idea, poor execution
Review: The basic premise of the book is interesting: a signal comes to us from space, and we have no idea what it means. One day, the signal stops. One scientist, a psychologist named Heather Davis, figures it out, and we explore the implications. Great idea. The execution, however, is lacking. The subplot about the accusations of sexual abuse is so poorly-done to make my skin crawl. Heather's use of her discovery, and her revelations surrounding it, are either entirely too simplistic or so far-fetched to be unreadable. Although disappointing, the book is certainly readable. Consider it light fare to get you through a cross-country air journey, or perhaps something to read while sitting in a doctor's waiting room.
Rating:
Summary: a great read
Review: This book I found was excellent. It seemlessly moulds psychology and sci-fi into a great novel. It is one for those enjoy science fiction, yet are willing to deviate a bit into the realm of human psychology; or for those who enjoy human psychology, but also find science a very interesting subject. The single element of this book which I did not like, was one of the ways in which a major conflict of the novel was resolved. I don't want to ruin the plot, but it is right in the middle of the book and I did not find it was written in a believable way. Despite this, it is still a great read, and if you like it, then you'll love Robert J. Saywer's first book (don't be fooled, it's his best) The Golden Fleece.
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