Couldn’t tell what the whole book was about. I gave up after 30 pages.

I tried to read this novel 3 times. The third time I pushed further hoping at some point the story would accelerate. I finally stopped halfway - something I never do - because it was just too much. Too much non-story. Too many diversions. I’d rather not read about how Saturns F ring was formed while the characters are gravity surfing after they were just attacked. Is that believable? Would they really do that? This book just didn’t grab me and keep me turning pages like those of Alastair Reynolds and now Peter F Hamilton.

I thought this would be a good read since this book was nominated for all the awards. I was wrong! The authors politics came through in spite of the length of the vastly boring tale. Global warming (not climate change, but warming), sexual ambiguity, and a cover from the artist famous for "spirit cooking". Sadly, wasted money...

I pushed through this one only because it numbed my mind. I can't believe anyone likes this book. I expected more from a Nebula award winner. I will stay away from KSR. He just doesn't reach me.

Interesting concept. Uneven writing. Worth being a novella but a drag to read as a full novel.

Rare is the novel I've been unable to finish, but sadly this was one. I'm a fan of space operas, but this work is long on fluff and short on substance. I could sum up the plot from the first 200 pages in about four words: Existential angst ad nauseum. Those looking for a gripping plot and even a modicum of action should look elsewhere.

I enjoyed the book, but Mr Robinson always seems to use ten words when five would do. The Lists while an interesting alternative way of conveying the story become something more akin to filler at points. I eventually cared about the characters... But only barely. Maybe that was intended.

After reading the sample I decided I couldn’t waste a penny on the book. In the prologue section it’s just trying so hard to be complicated by big words and uncommon vocabularies. The author spends paragraphs after paragraphs and pages after pages on trying to describe and picture the world man kind inhabits in the future in details, but there is so little plot here. The story, I think... well, if there is one I missed to notice it.

Not quite sure why this was even a Nebula contender. It feels disjointed throughout and features a highly unsympathetic protagonist.

One of the smartest books I've ever read. A true multi-disciplinary accomplishment. Likely to be criticized for the difficulty and effort that's required to penetrate its genius.