Hybrids

Hybrids brings Robert J. Sawyer's critically acclaimed Neanderthal Parallax trilogy to a stunning conclusion, thrusting Neanderthal physicist Ponter Boddit and his Homo sapien lover, geneticist Mary Vaughan, into their ultimate challenge. Their extraordinary romance, bridging two parallel Earths, culminates in a bold plan to conceive the first hybrid child, an endeavor meant to symbolize hope for the merging of their distinct realities. However, their personal journey takes a philosophical turn when an experiment reveals Mary's religious faith to be a neurological trait unique to Homo sapiens, a concept entirely absent in Neanderthal society. This discovery forces Ponter and Mary to confront the profound question of whether their child should be predisposed to atheism or belief. Complicating matters further, Mary's Earth faces ecological disaster as its planetary magnetic field collapses, while her ambitious superior, Jock Krieger, casts envious eyes on the pristine Neanderthal world. Sawyer expertly delves into alternative human psychologies, challenging our preconceived notions of morality, gender, love, and faith in this thought-provoking narrative, solidifying the trilogy's status as a contemporary classic.