Anyone ever read the series by Robert J. Sawyer? The first book is Hominids, second is Humans, and the third is Hybrids. I've only read the first, but I thought it was really well written by a guy that has just about zero experience with physics. Parts are confusing (of course.... sweatdrop ), but over all I thought it was a really really good book. But I've never once heard it mentioned before...but maybe that's just because I'm the only weirdo out there that's read it!