The Dreaming Stars

I was a bit concerned when the first part of the book appeared to be dedicated to exploring certain relationships and got a bit too personal/emotional for my tastes, but then the action and the danger ratcheted upward (as did the neat-o extrapolations into just what an alien virtual reality might be like) and everything reached the excellent level I'd been hoping for since the first book in the series. The resolution was very satisfying, and delivered with clarity and inventiveness.