G. D. Akin wrote:
> Retro Hugos:
> "More Than Human" Theodore Sturgeon > "Mission of Gravity" Hal Clement > "Childhood's End" Arthur C. Clarke > "Fahrenheit 451" Ray Bradbury > "The Caves of Steel" Isaac Asimov
Man, that would be a really hard choice! In previous Retro Hugo nominee lists I've seen, I'd never even heard of at least one of the nominees, so I would feel guilty if I had to vote out of ignorance. On this one, however, I have read and enjoyed all five nominees. They're all really good, and each one is among its author's best works.
> Sawyer's "Hominids" won last year; deservedly so (IMO) in spite > of his grandiose, self-promoting website. I've read many, many > of his works and never been disappointed. "Humans" is the > second in his Neanderthal Parallax trilogy and is almost as good > as the Hugo winner. I notice that book three, "Hybrids", also > eligible this year didn't make the nominee list. The nominators > probably made the right choice, as "Hybrids" was not as good. I > would recommend the trilogy however--overall very good stuff.
Spoilers for Robert J. Sawyer's _Hybrids_ ahead...
Yeah, I agree. _Hybrids_ should have actually been about what the title says, Human-Neandertal *hybrids*. It should have focused on Ponter and Mary's daughter, and possibly other hybrids created with the same technology, and their struggles to find a place in either human or Neandertal society, or both. It would have been much more interesting and satisfying than the plot he actually used, which basically hinged on a cardboard "evil American" villain with Reagan-esque hair. Not to mention the dubious morality of Mary's virus modifications. ______________________________________________________________________ Steve Sloan ......... Huntsville, Alabama =========> [EMAIL PROTECTED] Brin-L list pages .............................. http://www.brin-l.org Science Fiction-themed online store ..... http://www.sloan3d.com/store Chmeee's 3D Objects .................... http://www.sloan3d.com/chmeee 3D and Drawing Galleries .................. http://www.sloansteady.com Software ................ Science Fiction, Science, and Computer Links Science fiction scans ......................... http://www.sloan3d.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
