by Robert J. Sawyer
This is probably one of the best Science-Fiction books on my shelf that isn't by one of the more obvious SF celebrities. Not only is the story enthralling but the way he writes is just fantastic. You are immediately gripped by every detail and how real the characters emotions feel as he describes them.
A warning ahead of time, at the beginning of this book there is a fairly brutal scene which is then followed by fairly brutal repercussions. If you are an SF fan though, you will not be averse to reading this story (there are many a worse scene in the more horrific Sci-Fi stories).
The story follows two parallel dimensions, with two parallel characters, who are both working with similar machines. In our world we follow Mary Vaughan who is a geneticist who goes through a horrible experience. In the parallel universe we find ourselves in an Earth where Neanderthals would have been the dominating primates. Ponter Bonditt is a quantum physicist who lives in the complex and peaceful world of the neanderthals.
The story starts when out of nowhere, a being finds itself in the tank that is part of the experimental machine. When the humans drag out the poor man, he is none other than Ponter Bonditt, a living breathing Neanderthal. The humans quickly become confused as to where this man has come from when, not only does he seem to be a Neanderthal, but the bio-implant in his arm is of a sophistication even they don't master yet.
Meanwhile back in the other dimension, Adikor Huld (Ponter's science partner and friend) finds himself charged for the murder of Ponter Bonditt when it becomes clear he has disappeared in their lab. And in their world the charges are something much worse than prison.
This is really a great read, and even though it receives mixed reviews, I really recommend this book to any Sci-Fi lover out there.
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