Neanderthal Parallax: Hybrids

Nebula Award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer introduced readers to Ponter Boddit, a Neanderthal physicist from a parallel Earth, in his novel Hominids. Ponter was brought into our reality by a quantum-computing experiment gone wrong, making him a stranger in a strange land.

Sawyer's sequel, Humans, explored the Neanderthal Earth in great detail, showcasing his world-building skills and mastery of alternate history. In Hybrids, Ponter and his Homo sapien lover, geneticist Mary Vaughan, struggle to navigate their relationship between two worlds. They aim to have the first hybrid child, symbolizing unity between their realities.

However, an experiment reveals that Mary's religious beliefs are a result of human brain wiring - a concept foreign to Neanderthals. This leads Ponter and Mary to debate whether their child should be inclined towards atheism or faith. Amidst this, Mary's Earth faces a crisis with its planetary magnetic field collapsing, and her boss Jock Krieger sets his sights on the untouched Neanderthal world.

Hybrids is brimming with Sawyer's musings on different forms of humanity, challenging notions of morality, gender, faith, and love. The conclusion to his Neanderthal Parallax trilogy promises to spark controversy and solidify its place as a modern classic. Sawyer's thought-provoking narrative guarantees that Hybrids will be a standout book of the year.

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