I have to say that I've enjoyed this book, despite there being big expository lumps early on in it when each of the authors in turn got onto their specialist subject. A significant portion of the book is set in East Africa, and I'm a little twitchy with the way that's described, as the setting is the end of the 22nd century yet the society seems not as advanced as one might expect. However, the future history the authors created includes an event they call the 'Pause', a revolt against high technology followed by the embrace of Green issues and the realignment of much policy along those lines, so I suppose this goes towards explaining the description of the African segments; but I'm still not entirely happy with it.

China also plays a part in the plot, and the authors' view of that country is a bit out of kilter with events since the book was written (2000). But these things haven't spoiled the book too much for me.

The aliens are very alien, as you might expect; and the human characters for the most part don't fit into convenient stereotypes. By the end of the book, it had turned into quite a page turner. ( )

A real page-turner. A real page-turner, in-depth characterization with characters who evolve (literally and literarily), fantastic imagination...and all that doesn't compare to the depth of the science. It helps when a science fiction author is also a scientist, as these authors are. They explore the limits of science and imagination in biology and physics, and create worlds never before imagined. This is the place to go to see novel ways of reproduction, and a universal species ecology worthy of Brin. Here, I saw the maxim I teach: In science, something is true until it is proven false. And while the ending felt a tad rushed and neat, it was workable, and summed up all the loose ends. ( )

ZB5