Liked the the plot and some of the ideas - good chance I will read the next book in the series. I have generally enjoyed Alastair Reynolds style more the the style in this book and found the characters a bit little simple and some of the plot details a little too easy to guess.
Neal Stephenson's books have not attracted me over the years but I finally decided to take the plunge. To me this falls short of being a 'must read' - but it is interesting and original, I doubt I will reread it but I am glad I made the trip thru once. For me this does not become a must read because I did not feel a deep connection with the themes of the novel (as I perceived them anyway) and I found the characters mostly distant.
This had alot of good reviews - but I am not sure this genre of book really interests. While I was happy I read it I did not really connect with the characters or setting.
I would not say this is my favorite Murakami so far - 1/2 way thru I was not so interested - but the last 1/4 of the book is worth waiting for.
Loved the first ~1/3 of the book (brilliant!) and was disappointed in the rest.
nanobar replies...
Bummer -- I thought it was good all the way through.
cmiles replies...
I was into it until the ship in orbit was identified - the first third reminded me of the Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse and House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds and really grabbed me/made me think.