1) "Hominids" by Robert J. Sawyer
Sawyer (Calculating God, 2000, etc.) returns to a familiar device: parallel universe civilizations weighing each other’s values. In the first installment of a projected Neanderthal Parallax trilogy, both civilizations are afflicted with cancer. Long ago in a parallel world, Neanderthals took the Great Leap Forward over Homo sapiens and developed a civilization to rival ours. Down in a deep shaft, Neanderthal research scientist Ponter Boddit, whose mate has died of leukemia, is working on a new quantum computer measuring hydrogen particles when he is transported to a similar experiment in our world. That experiment is also taking place deep in a Canadian shaft, and Ponter finds himself drowning in a huge ball of heavy water being used to observe neutrinos. The very big scientist, who has the usual Neanderthal cranial features, is rescued by sapient Louise Benoît and taken to the surface. Radiology shows his bone structure to be truly Neanderthal. While we follow the terrors of DNA specialist Mary Vaughan, who gets raped at knifepoint but survives, we learn that Ponter wears a wrist implant, a black box that records his entire life history, including his immediate physiological experiences, follows his movements through Global Positioning, and talks to him through cochlear implants. Neanderthals have few crimes of violence in part because they all have this box (called a Companion), which follows their every movement and allows judicial scrutiny should there be a crime. Back home, as it happens, fellow scientist Adikor is being tried for Ponter’s murder. Big question: How about humans having Companions? Lots of crimes would be stopped.
With the quantum computer gateway now working, will sapiens travel to Ponter’s home in volume two? And in volume three, will they go for a synthesis of civilizations? You betcha.
2) "The Light of Other Days" by Arthur C. Clarke
3) "Heroes Die" by Matthew Woodring Stover
4) "The Man Who Folded Himself" by David Gerrold
Danny, a very nice young man if a loner -- he makes this all levitate -- inherits a timebelt and finds that he has a shadow, Don. In fact before long me and my' other self become us (a girl Diane, a baby, even his benefactor) and even if the action is on the slight side, Gerrold hypothecates agreeably with a jump here and a skip there on the nature of existence and destiny. Resilient.
5) "Jennifer Government" by Max Berry
Bubblegum pop-future comedy in which corporations go to war like feudal fiefdoms.
In a move guaranteed to provide the impetus for many a lawsuit, all Barry’s characters have forgone use of their surnames in the interest of renaming themselves after their place of work—so we have Jennifer Government, John Nike, Hack Nike, Buy Mitsui, and Billy NRA. Jennifer is a former top advertising exec with a barcode tattoo on her face who is now a loose-cannon federal agent and single mother, as deadly with a pistol as she once was with ad copy. The world situation: corporations are even more rapacious than today, and they fight one another along battle lines drawn up by two big consumer reward programs: US Alliance and Team Advantage. Governments themselves are a thing of the past, with the exception of the US one, which is now privatized and running other parts of the globe, including Australia, where the book is set. Coldhearted marketing whiz John Nike (one of two characters so named) has decided that Nike’s new sneakers would fly off the shelves all the faster if on the day they were delivered to Niketowns, several teenage customers got shot for them. It’s a manufactured street cred thing. Shooters are hired—many from the now-privatized and militia-like NRA—and, despite Jennifer’s best efforts, 14 teen shoppers get killed. The remainder of the story describes a rapidly escalating battle for supremacy between Jennifer’s government agents and the forces of Nike, who believe themselves to be invulnerable and don’t hesitate to use deadly force. At the same time, things are heating up between US Alliance and Team Advantage, with Burger Kings getting bombed, snipers going after rival chain stores, and riots erupting in the streets. Barry (Syrup, 1999) has a quick wit and a light touch, which helps the reader skate over some of the occasional patches of too-obvious satire and should translate easily (though more litigiously) to film.
6) "Mission of Gravity" by Hal Clement
7) "West of Eden" by Harry Harrison
One of Hollywood's favorite scenarios--as intelligent reptiles battle stone age humans for control of an alternate Earth. Driven south by a deteriorating climate, tribes of hunter-gatherer humans come into contact with the tropic-dwelling Yilane, cold-blooded creatures whose appealing civilization is convincingly based on genetic engineering techniques. (Their cities, tools, and weapons are all modified living entities.) The two races, though, at once begin to fight out of mutual loathing and incomprehension. And, in one skirmish, the Yilane capture six-year-old hunter's son Kerrick and convey him to their newly-founded city Alpeasak. So, during a long captivity, Kerrick painfully learns to communicate with the Yilane, absorbs their advanced civilization, and wins the grudging acceptance of war leader Vainte; his human memories grow dim. Then the Yilane bring in a prisoner, the hunter Herilak, for Kerrick to interrogate: forcefully reminded of his origins, Kerrick stabs Vainte and escapes with Herilak. Vainte vengefully pursues with a hugh army; Kerrick and Herilak, joining with other tribes, find sanctuary beyond the mountains. But soon the Yilane discover their whereabouts, and Kerrick resolves to attack the Yilane city in a desperate attempt to end the threat--a conclusion that leaves plenty of scope for sequels. Despite substantial embellishments, this familiar plot is offered up in a narrative that's only sporadically gripping and exciting--and, uncharacteristically for peripatetic veteran Harrison, totally humorless. (The somber tone underlines the gloomily xenophobic message here.) Still, if you enjoyed Hubbard's Battlefield Earth, you'll certainly enjoy this professional, often-engaging recycling of tried-and-true notions.
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