Factoring Humanity

By: Robert J. Sawyer

Narrated by: Katherine Kellgren

In the near future, a signal is detected coming from the Alpha Centauri system. Mysterious, unintelligible data streams in for ten years. Heather Davis, a professor in the University of Toronto psychology department, has devoted her career to deciphering the message. Her estranged husband, Kyle, is working on the development of artificial intelligence systems and new computer technology utilizing quantum effects to produce a near-infinite number of calculations simultaneously.

When Heather achieves a breakthrough, the message reveals a startling new technology that rips the barriers of space and time, holding the promise of a new stage of human evolution. In concert with Kyle's discoveries of the nature of consciousness, the key to limitless exploration - or the end of the human race - appears close at hand.Sawyer has created a gripping thriller, a pulse-pounding tour of the farthest reaches of technology. Factoring Humanity is a 1999 Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel.

©2003 Robert J. Sawyer (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"[T]his is exciting, readable science fiction that will take you where no one has gone before - and you'll never forget the ending." (Amazon.com review)
"An intelligent and absorbing double-stranded narrative." ( Kirkus)

Required Reading for a Thoughtful Mind

If you could sum up Factoring Humanity in three words, what would they be?

Dare To Believe

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ape. This character deserves to be listened to. This story is bigger then the characters.

Which character – as performed by Katherine Kellgren – was your favorite?

This narrator is perfect for all the characters. I can't pick a favourite.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Absolutely, I'm grateful there are authors with such thought provoking ideas.

Any additional comments?

Robert J. Sawyer does not mimic other writers. I personally believe he is the fiction writer that could open our minds and possibly invoke greatness in the minds of future leaders. Hopefully everyone reads his books.

Fun approach on quantum theory

Lovely narrated. Interesting approach to quantum theory. Stereotypic persons and some simplifications disturbed me a bit. Overall enjoyable.

Novel alien first contact

Sawyer has crafted a novel twist on a first contact theme. This near future tale has earth receiving for the past 10 years, alien messages (one every 30 hours). Beyond the initial set that contained formulas for chemicals, the remainder have been inscrutable.Our main characters are estranged husband and wife professors focused on quantum computing and psychology, respectively. The wife has been engaged with a world wide effort to decipher the messages and makes the seminal breakthrough after the messages mysteriously stop. While all of this is occurring, the couple is also dealing with accusations of sexual molestation by their only living daughter. What follows as a result of her "cracking" the alien messages would delight Freud and Jung, but at the same time will render her profession obsolete.

Conceptually, this work is ambitious and quite engrossing. Sawyer has identified a novel mechanism for an alien encounter that does not involve either warlike aggression on the part of the aliens, nor engender an equally militaristic defensive posture on the part of earth. Some of the actions of characters are downright petty when the full power of the alien message/gift is made clear, but then Sawyer keeps the focus on the individual. At the same time, Sawyer also glosses over the ramifications of alterations in societal organization as a result as well.

The narration is solid and inviting with a more than adequate range to handle the diversity of characters. Overall, this is well suited for a beach listen or transcontinental flight.

An Artist Can Use Old Tools

The twin entwining plots of this tale are as classic as the names Asimov, Clarke, and Bradbury. But look, plots are to writers as brushes are to painters. I don't know a composer who fails to diddle with key, or photographers who avoid negative space because others have used it. Nope… they're all tools.

And so in "Factoring" Sawyer churns at least two mature hunks of red meat through his grinder, mixes them with clever spices, then cooks and presents the dish deliciously. If there's a problem it's that he's got a tendency here to get pretentious and a tad corny. But hey… corn sells with me, especially when it's popped, hot, buttered and salty.

Katherine Kellgren's very good and perhaps, given the echoes from romance literature, we'll the book fits better into the mind and mouth of an excellent woman. Kellgren's made it her own.

He can do better

Have to say that Sawyer handles aliens better than he does humans. I loved his "Calculating God", but I found this one a bit difficult what with his trying to deal with a somewhat dysfunctional human family and the resolution of marital and familial discord.

Can't Get Enough!

This is the ninth Robert J Sawyer book I’ve read and it’s the ninth I have LOVED! LOVED! LOVED!

He is a hit every time! I can’t get enough of the stories and the themes he dreams up; his books are so good they are plan-cancelling good! I love how he makes me think and ponder fascinating scenarios… they are always so engrossing - I just want more!

out of date fantasy lost me

Not really compelling or interesting take on alien interaction. characters all fell flat and acted with almost not consistency

Interesting story

The performance is excellent. The story itself is interesting. but the overly-detailed descriptions of "science-y" things gets tedious. If this were a print book, I would have set the it down and never come back to it.

Enjoyable, Fast Listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I like science fiction that is just on the edge of being real. This whole story was very believable to me. After you are done, you pause and start to think what if ...I like those kind of stories.

What about Katherine Kellgren’s performance did you like?

The narration was well done. The narrator made it very easy and interesting to listen to.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend it.

Interesting Premise....a LIttle Sugary

What made the experience of listening to Factoring Humanity the most enjoyable?

So this seems to be typical for Sawyer, great idea, don't worry I won't spoil it here, but always ends up a little sugary sweet for me. The 'tension' in his books, and this one is typical of this, just doesn't quite 'wind up' enough for me. The resolution is somewhat 'easy'... Happy Happy joy joy... Maybe it's a Canadian thing, but I wish for a little more conflict and difficulty in resolution.