Young Adult Space Opera Fun: For once I agree with at least half the reviewers. For simply plotted well-paced space opera, this is it. If you are looking for anything more than pure escapist romp, look at Simmons or something else with a bit more sophistication. Well, honestly almost anything else would be more sophisticated. It has the funny deja-vu like feeling that all good pulp has--but this is a real doorstop of a book which frankly put me off. It's a bit of an investment in time for stuff that is really pure fluff. On the other hand, as people have pointed out, Gear can and does deliver the goods and it IS reasonably entertaining sf fun.