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Evolution by Stephen Baxter
01/03/2003 . Source: Sue Davies 
pub: Orbit. 585 page enlarged paperback: Price: £12.99 (UK). ISBN: 1-575-07342-X. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.orbitbooks.co.uk
This novel covers the rise and fall of the human race, its forebears and descendants.
Beginning with the very first rodent-like primate, Purga, who is able to live through the impact of the great comet that causes the first mass extinction on planet Earth.
The story is of every generation that follows: splitting, diversifying, surviving, sometimes in a very bleak way through the peak of human existence and its downfall to the ends of the Earth itself.
Through this constant branching of the tree of life, Baxter attempts to follow the one strain that will eventually become very briefly human and dominate the planet, causing its own and many other species destruction.
Consequent to the massive damage wrought by humans he follows as the human and other life-forms spiral away into nothingness before the eventual demise of the planet, half a billion years into the future.
'Part One-Ancestors' covers vast swathes of time as each generation becomes a little different, developing traits that will one day make it human or not.
Throughout, he emphasises how much the development of life is dependent on adaptability and quickly leaned responses. Traits that we might think of as human are identified very early on as survival instincts.
The elaborate grooming rituals are looked at specifically and make a trip to the hairdressers much more meaningful! The role of the female is very interesting, too.
In 'Part Two-Humans', Baxter deals with much shorter periods of time. It emphasises how brief our existence is on the planet that we seek to manipulate. Dealing in genetic development, even the creation of gods is put down to a learned response.
Part of this deals with an almost regression of learning that happens when ancient peoples build rafts to get to Australia and then forget that technology as they become the land-bound Aborigines. The strange case of the Neanderthal race that was eventually overwhelmed by a more resourceful strand is also considered.
Great civilisations are dismissed briefly but used to illustrate how the survival traits still operate in those times.
'Part Three-Descendants' is post-human development. Humans go back up the spiral of development and their descendants continue to regress into diverse groups that will ultimately fail.
A changed mammal occupies each phase of the planet's evolution. Its environment is described in acute detail. Baxter carefully places both animal and environment into a precise delineated geographical location. The novel is graphic and rich with knowledge. His descriptive power is awesome calling into life scenes that no human eye will ever see. The sumptuousness and diversity of life on the planet is celebrated.
As a natural history, it makes compelling reading because it replaces normally rather dry textbooks with moments of dramatic intensity but the most involving scenarios are those without any human presence.
The desire to overlay our own responses to the human situations seems to muddy up the waters. I found the framing narrative involving Joan Useb rather wooden. It seems to be there so she could repeat what the novel itself tells us.
Ultimately, however, I found it rather a depressing read. Perhaps it's my time of life or perhaps the world's situation but the overall gloom of continued existence seems to sing out on every page. It is a very interesting book but it lacks any light moments - it all just keeps on happening.
The sub-plot about the replicators on Mars seems pointless - the book doesn't need it. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that the books feels cynical and it lacks a soul. I assume this itself is inevitable and deliberate but it seems a very cold and hard way to describe life on Earth.
The long, slow sluggish river of life ends up in a muddy puddle. Perhaps Mr Baxter has read this from Douglas Adams' 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'?
'Many were increasingly of the opinion that they'd all made a big mistake in coming down from the trees in the first place. And some even said that even the trees had been a bad move and that no one should have left the oceans.'
I'm off to get my swimming costume!
Sue Davies
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