Picked up this copy of this 2002 paperback at the K-W Book Exchange in Downtown Kitchener specifically to bookcross. It won the Hugo Award, and was he selected book of the One Book One Community read in the KW area. Though the cover says 'Volume One of the Neanderthal Parallax", it does stand alone - or at least, it ends in a place where it feels like a complete story.

Paraphrasing from the back of the book:
In a parallel world, Neanderthals became the dominant intelligence. While conducting an experiment, Ponter Boddit, a Neanderthal physicist, accidentally pierces the barrier between worlds and finds himself in our world. He is quarantined and studied, but also befriended by a doctor and a physicist who share his curiosity and intelligence, and especially by Canadian geneticist Mary Vaughan, with whom he develops a special rapport.

I sent this book out with the Cross Canada Bookbox!

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/10090970/

I am taking this excellent book out of the bookbox to re-read quickly and then use in JudySlump612's NPR Sci-Fi VBB.
Thanks for the sci-fi, AwesomeAud!
:)

I completely enjoyed re-reading this book over a ridiculously relaxing Thanksgiving long weekend :)
I just love the whole idea of parallel universes! Such a fun idea to play around with - though , honestly, the physics is beyond me. That is what is so great about Robert J Sawyer - he is not afraid to use his characters and storylines to explain some science along the way.
The thing is, this isn't just a cool sci-fi with interesting physics - it is also a story about people, homo sapien and neanderthal, with feelings, families and societies and all the rules and drama involved in being a part of families and/or societies - it is in part a social commentary, with some 'green philosophy and interesting sexual dynamics thrown in for good measure.
I really liked the characters of Ponter and Adikor, with my heart going out to poor Adikor. Also enjoyed Mary and Louise.
And I enjoyed some of the very "Canadian- ness" of this book through location and some of the cutsie political barbs thrown out by Sawyer (one bashing Mike Harris stands out prominently in my mind - grin). Sawyer can be rather cheeky when he wants to be :)
Thank you, AwesomeAud, for the opportunity to re-read this and I am now 'thankful' that I get to share it with other Bookcrossers in JudySlump612's NPR Sci-fi VBB :)

Mailing this book off to Quietorchid as one of her choices from the NPR Sci-fi VBB hosted by JudySlump612.
Enjoy!

I just got this in the mail! I'm so excited, thanks Minerva101.

Wow. Great book. In particuliar the basic idea of neanderthal meets homo sapiens as equals from parallel worlds opens all sorts of doors into different assumptions of humas societies. The main characterers Mary, from our world, and Ponter, transported neaderthal, and Adikor, neanderthal living in his own universe were great. Sawyer catches your imagination and throws in quantum physics and physical anthropology to boot. Amazing. Should make you rethink notions about sapience, religion, and the organization of soceities. Thanks for offering this up Minerva101! Also, this copy is signed by the author. I am going to save this and offer it up again in JudySlump612 VBB.

Given to a friend looking for a book. Happy Canada Day!

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