I can't rate this one. I know M. John Harrison is a much smarter and well read man than me and there's definitely something really big brained he's doing.
All I'll say is I just learned about the idea of philosophical zombies, people who function and give the appearance of consciousness, but in fact have no inner world. This book feels like it follows two such people. Listless sad automatons just bewildered to experience things. An unpleasant read. Probably a masterpiece, I just need to read more.