Stretching from the distant past into the remote future, from primordial Earth to the stars, Evolution is a soaring symphony of struggle, ex...
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Oct 20, 2011
Suna
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*** I keep adding lurdle to this review because this book, well, bugs me.
This book and I have a strange on-off relationship so far: I'm having trouble picking it up after I've put it down.
The second I pick it up again I'm kicking myself for forgetting how utterly absorbing it really is.
Then I put it down after having read a chunk and the exact same thing happens again.
It's occurred about five times now and I can't quite put my finger on why this keeps happening More...
This book and I have a strange on-off relationship so far: I'm having trouble picking it up after I've put it down.
The second I pick it up again I'm kicking myself for forgetting how utterly absorbing it really is.
Then I put it down after having read a chunk and the exact same thing happens again.
It's occurred about five times now and I can't quite put my finger on why this keeps happening More...
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Jul 03, 2010
Worthwhile: I received this book as a gift and did not have high expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Baxter manages to novelise very effectively the course of evolution through billions of years, which is no mean achievement. The book is fact-based, though of necessity it does spin some extravagant speculation from those facts, and in a few places those speculations are less than convincing, such as the prehistoric Neanderthal shanty town outside the Homo Sapiens village.
Baxter writ More...
Baxter manages to novelise very effectively the course of evolution through billions of years, which is no mean achievement. The book is fact-based, though of necessity it does spin some extravagant speculation from those facts, and in a few places those speculations are less than convincing, such as the prehistoric Neanderthal shanty town outside the Homo Sapiens village.
Baxter writ More...
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Oct 17, 2011
Navi
rated it: 
Dear people in charge of putting together the blurb at the back of the book,
What I read was most certainly not "Magisterial and uplifting..." In fact, it was probably the most depressing thing I've attempted to read in a while!
You see, I was going to try and finish this, then I saw that I still had a good three hundred or so pages to read. I'm a patient reader, usually; I read both the War of the Ancients trilogy and Snow-Walker. They're both about the same length a More...
What I read was most certainly not "Magisterial and uplifting..." In fact, it was probably the most depressing thing I've attempted to read in a while!
You see, I was going to try and finish this, then I saw that I still had a good three hundred or so pages to read. I'm a patient reader, usually; I read both the War of the Ancients trilogy and Snow-Walker. They're both about the same length a More...
Aug 31, 2011
Tom
rated it:
Nasty, brutish, long.
The story of human evolution from 65my in the past to 500my in the future.
First, it's poorly written. Frequently I found myself stopping and editing sentences and whole paragraphs as I went along, immersion breaking to say the least and it turns reading into a chore.
Like many sf writers Baxter's best work is in his short stories - Vaccuum Diagrams is excelent 'hard' sci-fi - the format forces an economy of expression. 'Evolution' is bloate More...
The story of human evolution from 65my in the past to 500my in the future.
First, it's poorly written. Frequently I found myself stopping and editing sentences and whole paragraphs as I went along, immersion breaking to say the least and it turns reading into a chore.
Like many sf writers Baxter's best work is in his short stories - Vaccuum Diagrams is excelent 'hard' sci-fi - the format forces an economy of expression. 'Evolution' is bloate More...
Jan 12, 2011
Lis
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Mar 25, 2011
Kate
rated it: 
First up, I have to confess that I didn't actually finish this book. I ran out of enthuasiam at about page 350. While I did enjoy the read, I found it hard to keep coming back witht the constant change of characters and places. The start of the book is also quite graphic - very "nature red in tooth and claw". It's a constant barrage of things being eaten, maimed, abducted and killed. When he starts writing the hominid sections it calms down a bit.
From a science perspective the book is More...
From a science perspective the book is More...
Jun 16, 2009
blake
rated it: 
In a word, depressing. Baxter evidently has no faith in life of any kind, as he depicts all sentient beings as immediately impacting their environment in the most destructive manner possible. He doesn´t consider that there were ever communities (human or otherwise) that were able to exist sustainably with the environment. Or maybe he just ignores them since they don´t fit into his altogether pessimistic worldview. The encounters with predator after predator became absurd after awhile, and we
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Mar 21, 2008
Peter
rated it:
THIS is LIFE. Anybody interested in the WHY at all should read this book. Baxter excells himself by describing the roots of humanity, and the hardship of our ancestors on the way obtaining self-awareness.
I haven´t seen anything better regarding the origins of intelligence. You will recognize the chapter(s).
Absolutely recommended!
I haven´t seen anything better regarding the origins of intelligence. You will recognize the chapter(s).
Absolutely recommended!
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Nov 10, 2007
Linda
rated it: 
This is kind of different. It doesn't have a plot. It's essentially a series of short stories about the lives of various creatures on the evolutionary path to modern humans and beyond. Said that way, it doesn't sound very interesting but it kept my attention through all 800+ pages.
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Jan 23, 2009
Sue
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Oct 27, 2009
Cv
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This was an easy book to set down. Quite frankly, fictionalizing vignettes of our evolutionary forefathers is a mixture of giving protagonist voice along with human motivations to animals (which, unless done very well, is annoying) and scattering plotless segments of dubious credibility. I would rather read National Geographic, or any other nonfiction reporting on evolution than this. I felt the whole time as if I was reading a book crafted toward winning an award, rather than a book crafted
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Apr 04, 2008
Andrew
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This is a series of episodes illustrating critical (if imagined) chapters in primate evolution. It begins with a story about a primordial primate living underfoot while dinosaurs are stomping around, works its way up to a brief episode about modern humans, and then immediately wipes out the human race and moves forward.
The pre-human episodes are meant to conform very closely to the fossil record. Indeed, when indulging in more extreme flights of fancy, Baxter provides expla More...
The pre-human episodes are meant to conform very closely to the fossil record. Indeed, when indulging in more extreme flights of fancy, Baxter provides expla More...
Jan 21, 2008
Ethan
rated it:
Having read Baxter's Manifold: Time, I wasn't expecting much characterization or plot (as is the case in much "hard sci-fi"). Strangely, some of the non-human characters of Evolution were a lot more real than some of the human ones (If you liked the squid in Manifold:Time, you'll probably like Evolution). The book is longer than it had to be, but the 15 or so stories were mostly worthwhile. At times the "genes working to survive" theme was too explicit and overdone (let the r
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Oct 21, 2007
http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/evolution.htm[return][return]Clocking in at 584 pages, this novel takes us from the age of the dinosaurs to the Earth's far future through around twenty vignettes of life on our planet. Crammed with detail, huge in vision, it will certainly appeal to the thoughtful New Scientist reader and to the millions who have enjoyed the recent BBC series about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.[return][return]However well-researched and detailed, I confess i
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Feb 22, 2010
Cobalt
rated it:
This book is the clearest understanding I have ever had on the eons-long process of evolution, told in a fascinating novel from each creature's point of view from millions of years ago. I couldn't put this book down! The amazing settings bring each geologic age to life again, as it was when it happened. This author must have a prodigious science background and great imagination. This book is perfect for anyone with an interest in ancient and pre-historic history, geology, geography and socio
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Jan 14, 2010
Don
rated it:
Overall, this was a good book. It was very slow at times and I put it down for periods of a couple weeks a few times while reading it. Apparently Baxter is not known for the quality of his characterization or his compelling plots but there were some real gems within the many stories that were contained in the book.
The author clearly states in his closing words that the book is not 100% scientifically accurate. Although it was vetted by some scientists in the field, he chose to make s More...
The author clearly states in his closing words that the book is not 100% scientifically accurate. Although it was vetted by some scientists in the field, he chose to make s More...
Jan 12, 2010
Michaelbert
rated it:
I just can't get into this book. While extremely well-written and researched, the total lack of characters for most of the book really grates on me. Non-sentients--perhaps this could be a working definition of sentience itself?--just do not have anything interesting to say. Once proto-humans do come along, Baxter finds time to speculate on the origins and political uses of religious psychosis. Sadly, this was the most interesting part of the book.
Dec 13, 2010
Rich
rated it:
I almost never abandon a book before the end. For this one, I'm making an exception. It's essentially a series of vignettes about particular animals over the course of the last 100 million years. The author goes to great lengths to flesh out the lives of the fauna at various stages of evolution.
Unfortunately, he's managed to take a fascinating subject and make it as dry and unengaging as humanly possible. It's likely that the sun will enter its red giant phase before I could force More...
Unfortunately, he's managed to take a fascinating subject and make it as dry and unengaging as humanly possible. It's likely that the sun will enter its red giant phase before I could force More...
Sep 10, 2011
Keith
rated it:
Second time through and loved it. 90-95% of the book is amazing. Although many would claim the entire book is speculative fiction, the last 5-10% surely is. While there is solid science with some of the 90% with some speculation, the last part of the book is difficult to place in the same category. Pure speculation with little science. (Minus the intriguing consequence of man's "robotic explorations.) Much to ponder and consider.
Jan 17, 2011
Benjamin
rated it:
I really like the premise of the novel. Just the execution did not come off as interesting to me, perhaps it was because of the ending is known, and part of the greatness of a good story is the suspense of not knowing what is going to happen next. Although I give my hat of to Stephen Baxter for attempting such a complex novel, and doing a great job with the science behind the story. I like to read some of his other books.
Jul 28, 2011
One of the best books I have ever read. Bought it off a second hand stall. If you are interested in evolution by natural selection (like I am) this is the book for you. Makes what could be a rather dry subject very interesting. It can be very easy in any scientific field to forget the human (or in this case proto & pre human as well) interest side of things. Gives a face(s) to a scientific theory.
Jul 28, 2011
One of the best books I have ever read. Bought it off a second hand stall. If you are interested in evolution by natural selection (like I am) this is the book for you. Makes what could be a rather dry subject very interesting. It can be very easy in any scientific field to forget the human (or in this case proto & pre human as well) interest side of things. Gives a face(s) to a scientific theory.
Dec 17, 2010
Flowkclab
rated it:
One of my favorite books (if not my favorite)! I am fascinated by evolution and history in general and evolution itself could be considered to be the main character of this book. Of course, this book is fiction, but it takes your imagination to what could very well have happened between 65 million years ago an now, and what could happen between now and 500 million years in the future.
Mar 13, 2011
Joseph
rated it:
It was OK. At times it was repetitious but I think I get what the author was striving for. The science was OK but every now and then it lapsed into a false "good for the species" feel for how evolution works, although I think these were mistakes arising from overly "waxing poetic". Another critisism I have is that I think the author could have better expressed the vast expanses of time involved. Someone unfamiliar with geologic time periods could be mislead into thinking that
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Nov 21, 2011
Arn
rated it:
This fascinating book follows a genetic line from a small mammal who survives the dinosaur-killing asteroid impact through her descendants as they evolve into humans and beyond, ultimately ending 100 million years into the future.
It's a hugely ambitious piece of speculative fiction that stretches the reader's imagination to the corners of space and time.
It's a hugely ambitious piece of speculative fiction that stretches the reader's imagination to the corners of space and time.
Aug 22, 2010
The Sunset came quickly.
The air was scribbed clean of dust by the rains. As soon as the sun touched the horizon, darkness striped across the flattened land, small ridges, dunes and pebbles casting shadows tens of meters long. The light in the sky faded from blue to purple, quickly sinking to black at the zenith. It was like a sunset on the airless Moon.
The air was scribbed clean of dust by the rains. As soon as the sun touched the horizon, darkness striped across the flattened land, small ridges, dunes and pebbles casting shadows tens of meters long. The light in the sky faded from blue to purple, quickly sinking to black at the zenith. It was like a sunset on the airless Moon.
Jan 19, 2012
Ruth
rated it:
This one starts out before history began and ends millions of years in the future. In between is some very interesting content… really makes you think. It’s a little hard to “get” at first, but if you persevere, it will get better so that by the time you’re finished, it will be one of your favorites, too.
Jul 24, 2008
Lithodid-man
rated it:
I really loved this book. This is a phenomenal look into the history and potential future of our species. While science fiction, is based on sound principles and a good knowledge of real human prehistory.
I made this book required reading for a course I taught, Introduction to Human Evolution. This raised more than a few eyebrows. My reason for this was that he illustrates some of the more important yet lesser known aspects of evolution and human biology. I noticed one reviewer found More...
I made this book required reading for a course I taught, Introduction to Human Evolution. This raised more than a few eyebrows. My reason for this was that he illustrates some of the more important yet lesser known aspects of evolution and human biology. I noticed one reviewer found More...
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Mar 02, 2009
The first three quarters of the book while interesting could have been shorter. I really liked the last quarter of this book. The most creative, plausible future of mankind and life on the planet that I've ever read. Not particularly optimistic however.
Apr 05, 2011
Suby
rated it:
The story over pre-historical times is fascinating. But the author should have proceeded from 400AD to about 2500AD and stopped the story there instead of moving on to infinity till the earth itself dies out. The story otherwise was marvellous.
