Rick Kohut
It's a rare second read, and a first listen, for me of this novel. It's wonky and it takes a while for the action to pick up. The world building gets into the weeds with the various governments, plots and motives. Fortunately, there's only a few key characters to follow, so the plot does mostly flow. As we in the U.S. approach a presidential election all about the future of democracy, this future-set world where democracy has an intriguing shape (each geographical block of 100K people votes for its own government,) offers insights into the importance of the freedom to vote and also the constant challenges of doing so. I think I'll continue in this fictional world through the next two books as it will provide a commentary on and a distraction from the mess the U.S. democracy finds itself in 2024.
It's a rare second read, and a first listen, for me of this novel. It's wonky and it takes a while for the action to pick up. The world building gets into the weeds with the various governments, plots and motives. Fortunately, there's only a few key characters to follow, so the plot does mostly flow. As we in the U.S. approach a presidential election all about the future of democracy, this future-set world where democracy has an intriguing shape (each geographical block of 100K people votes for its own government,) offers insights into the importance of the freedom to vote and also the constant challenges of doing so. I think I'll continue in this fictional world through the next two books as it will provide a commentary on and a distraction from the mess the U.S. democracy finds itself in 2024.