Lori

The best thing I've read this year. It takes a while for you to get the feel for how this novel works but once I relaxed into the ride, it gave me THAT feeling when you've discovered something new that no one else knows about.

In summary this book isn't appropriate for YA but I don't think there's anything to stop a mature reading teen from enjoying it. The style is like Vonnegut and Whitman took a bath in cyberpunk. So you have to expect something challenging that isn't going to spoon feed you all the answers.

I do get the feeling that this is going to be a cult book, not for everyone, a bit like Clockwork Orange was. There's some experimental writing in here that I let, not unpleasantly, wash over me on the first read. I did cheat and google some of it to find out what a thunderword was etc. Now I like those kind of easter eggs. Not everyone does.

Grim, unrelenting and brilliant.

Still interesting and thought provoking after all this time.

Still awesome work, somehow more interesting with age, rather than becoming outmoded. Almost too obvious to recommend but a great book for someone who wants to dip their toe into the deeper pools of speculative fiction.

Fascinating reflections on Machiavelli's formative life events. Benner appeals to those who like detail in their non-fiction.