Hominids

... if people just weren’t people. That is, if they weren’t interested in pelf and power and weren’t at all curious. I don’t believe a word of the note added at the top here: sfwriter.com/privacy.htm You don’t write a whole novel about how great it would be if you could always prove your innocence if you didn’t mean it.

I believe that Bruce Schneiers burn stung so much that Sawyer thought he had to do something. »(W)henever I see a tourist attraction with a guest register, (...) I sign “Robert J. Sawyer, Toronto, ON”—because you never know when he’ll need an alibi.« www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/09/robert_sawyers.html

Anyway, if you don’t think about it too much, it’s a fun¹ story. Neanderthal quantum physicists!

1 OK. Entertaining. The trauma the author thought he needed to inflict on the protagonist to get an unsolved crime – see what happens without alibi archives! – is no fun.

An engaging and well-researched story where "parallel" histories are bridged by a quantum portal, and the unwitting visitor creates opportunities to reflect on both worlds. The story drags a bit a bit in the middle, and the embedded courtroom drama is a bit derivative, but a satisfying story, and a pleasant read full of science and ideas to think on.

Despite being nearly 20 years old now, the social commentary in this book is shockingly relevant now more than ever. It feels that western society has made little to no forward progress since this book was published, still struggling with the basic concepts of human decency the book puts forward regularly.

This was already a 5 star book for me, and this reread would have me rate it even higher if I could.

Despite being nearly 20 years old now, the social commentary in this book is shockingly relevant now more than ever.
It feels that western society has made little to no forward progress since this book was published, still struggling with the basic concepts of human decency the book puts forward regularly.

This was already a 5 star book for me, and this reread would have me rate it even higher if I could.