Lori

Grim, unrelenting and brilliant.

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.

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.

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

Still interesting and thought provoking after all this time.