Hybrids (Neanderthal Parallax #3)by Robert J. SawyerThe third book in Robert Sawyer’s Neanderthal series rehashed many of the topics of the first two books while simplistically covering some new ground.Judging the series overall, it could have been covered in one or two books, but there just isn’t enough story for three. Much of book two and three could have been cut then melded together for one cohesive tighter book.(view spoiler)[The third book opens with some scientific exchange programs with a renown Neanderthal scientist coming over to see about building a quantum computer while Mary is asked to go to the Neanderthal side to learn about their biotec. Mary wraps up her affairs by getting her estranged husband to agree to an annulment (because they are Catholic).There is also the sporadic subplot of the now castrated rapist back at Mary’s university. Apparently castration has been good for him because…testosterone = anger? Right.Ponter and Mary endlessly discuss religion (as they did in book 2), and the author finally introduces the concept of the ‘god gene’ I.e. The neurological phenomenon that some scientist claim explains the persistence of religion. Mary agrees to participate in and experiment along with Ponter. Mary feels the presence of God under the influence of neural stimulation and Ponter feels nothing indication that perhaps Neanderthal lack the gene.They also argue endlessly about the Neanderthal practice of involuntary sterilization of criminals - also a theme covered in book 2.There is the near constant theme of Mary’s jealousy of Adikor- which was covered in book 2. While staying in the Neanderthal city, instead of staying with Lurt as she did before, Mary stay with a single woman (Bandra). This sets up the story line whereby Mary decides to go completely native and become bi-sexual. Now, I firmly believe that humans are more flexible sexually than our society allows and bi-sexuality is probably pretty common but it still seemed a stretch for Mary who seemed to be 100% hetro to suddenly decide she’d go ahead and try it. Her friendship with Bandra gives Sawyer yet another avenue for the characters to nearly endlessly discuss the dichotomy’s of the two cultures. One flaw in their discussion of ‘individuality vs. the greater good’ is that Mary purports to take the human viewpoint on the topic, but her viewpoint is Western and specifically American not human. There are many cultures that value individuality less than we do.Bandra’s obsession with all things human (Gliksins as the Neanderthal call them) is sort of adorable but at times almost a parody. Her abusive man-mate bring in another discussion of the practice of sterilizing violent offenders and all of their close relatives. The glaring flaw in the system is revealed as the victim will not report him because her children would be sterilized as well. So instead they both move to the human world together with the plan for Mary to only return during the times she is supposed to spend with Ponter. The one new topic - hinted at by the books title - is Mary’s desire to have a child with Ponter. Sawyer conveniently introduces a banned invention that will allow that but being banned Mary and Ponter would have to find the inventor and circumvent the Grey council’s rules. The inventor is in self exile living off the land but it isn’t hard to find her.The device also plays into the conclusion of the book when it is used to create a virus (two actully). A really weak plot device is the rapists does this and them kills himself neatly absolving anyone who is a ‘good’ guy of having to deal with the dilemma the that the virus solves. Even worse than that literary crime is that there is zero motivation for the character who did it. It made no sense what so ever. The story ends with Mary having a bonding ceremony with both Ponter and Bandra.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]
I started my review of Hominids, the first book, by saying it was a pretty good start to the trilogy. Not great, but pretty good, and ultimately a little disappointing because a Hugo-winner should be better than, well, pretty good. Now I’ve finished the trilogy and Hybrids is solid ending. Not great, but, well, solid. Still I don’t feel the minor disappointment I felt with the first book because my expectations had been lowered from great to average, so reading a nice, solid ending was satisfying.The tender love scenes got a little too tender for me, veering into to gag-me-with-a-spoon territory. The bad guy’s evil plot got a little too eeeevvviill if you know what I mean. But the author certainly knows how to drive a plot, building and changing dynamic along the way. The rape of a main character, which I found so ill-used (even inappropriately-used) in the first book, finally leads to some interesting, if not entirely plausible, plot twists and some sort-of meaningful discussion about rape as a subject. The overall idea I still found interesting, and I still love the use of the Neanderthal to provide incisive commentary on contemporary social and political topics, a la Michael Valentine in Stranger in a Strange Land.Some may complain the commentary is obvious, but I think that’s missing the point. The commentary is not supposed to be subtle; like Mike the Martian, Ponter the Neanderthal lays his dumfounded criticism of our fucked-up world right out on the table for all to see. If you don’t like it, Ponter would say, then do something about it, change your world for the better and don’t leave it open to such obvious censure.P.S. I don't normally do this, but ... 3.5 stars.
What do You think about Hybrids (2004)?
Is it accurate to consider a book disappointing when you really don't expect much from the writer? Hybrids was the most lame of the trilogy, actually that's not fair, hominids was actually pretty good and humans was better than most of the other Sawyer books I've read but this was just a mess. The characters were flat and lifeless, they seemed to stumble around on his stage with no real point or purpose and on the whole it was a struggle to give a damn about them. The only excitement was at the end with a little grafted on chunk about a bomb that felt hokey and forced.Sawyers has won a lot of awards and I've been trying to figure out why, he just is not that great a writer. If he wasn't Canadian and benefitting from the small pond I doubt he'd be nearly as successful.
—R. Michael Litchfield
I feel there is so much potential in the this series but this book did not fulfill it. I did not like Mary's character very much from the first novel and I found myself growing more and more annoyed with her as this book progressed. I can read books which contain characters I dislike but I prefer complexity in my characters and Mary did not deliver this. In part it was the choices she continues to make which often seemed a bit simplistic and uneducated for geneticists. Also I felt at some point she should have asked someone in the catholic church about an annulment to discover that it doesn't mean the marriage didn't exist but rather that it was invalid in the eyes of the church for some reason. I think there could have been a good critique of the policy rather than her constant fighting the idea of pretending her marriage didn't exist. I was also disappointed in the number of different threads which were developed and quickly resolved. Many complex social and political issues were introduced in very simplistic ways - if the answers were so black and white and clear cut humans wouldn't have been grappling with all of them for centuries.
—Renny
A fast read and a nice ending to the Neanderthal Parallax trilogy. The closing paragraph provided for a nice humorous touch....I wonder if authors get kickbacks for placement marketing ;) It was wonderful to see Mary Vaughn's journey, physically between both worlds as well as her own personal journey regarding her views on religion, sexuality, and relationships. I would like to see a 4th installment to this story that describes how Mary, Ponter, and Bandra's lives evolve after the birth of generation 149. Oh well, must leave it to the imagination.Parts of a speech was quoted as part of the opening of each chapter. At one point, I was too impatient and jumped to the beginning of each chapter so I could have an understanding of the entire speech...still left me wondering.
—Mary
