kuzumel reviewed on 4/25/2013 + 112 more book reviews

Robert Sawyer appears to take great pains, if not pleasure, making the reader think about our basic assumptions of ourselves and our civilization(s). He does this by deliberating posing questions from an offworld visitor - in this case another kind of human (home neanderthalis) instead of off-world alien. Whether or not you believe the sci-fi part is possible (don't want to open up another can of worms in quantum vs. string physics!), can a rational and scientifically based culture co-exist with our more emotional and political nations? The discussion at the Vietnam Memorial illustrates this dicotomy for our homo sapien stand-in, Mary. He even brings in that scientific argument about the nature of the universe: do we really need either a Big Bang or a creator, or has the universe always been present?

Lotsa questions that some may not enjoy thinking about. So if you like ray guns and rampaging or benevolent aliens, this is not the series for you. But if you don't mind re-examining yourself, then jump in and join the debate.

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