Definitely one of the best and most enjoyable of Stross' works. A fascinating mix of ideas and sub-plots, all carefully woven together. The kind of book you want give to a scifi "sceptic" and say "here - this is why I read the genre!"

(I realise all SF that deals with new/potential technology is going to date - probably badly - but here in 2024 the idea of the Eschaton - a super AI - makes for really interesting reading.) ( )

I actually read this after I read Iron Sun. I'm not sure if that meant I enjoyed this less or more than I might have had I read it first. (But it is fair to say I did prefer Iron Sun.)
Like all of Stross' books, this is an exploration of big ideas. It isn't light reading, but it isn't a slog either. ( )

I just couldn't really get into this book, which probably explains why I needed almost a year to finish it. It's got a very interesting premise and a very interesting universe, but I found the plot rather lacking. It just all seemed a bit too random for me and it took the entire book to recognize a connection. ( )

Very nonstandard book. Can't really say I was deeply impressed, but I definitely had some very good time reading it.

Interesting point of this book is all that descriptions of mote versus storm (from motes POV). It's pretty rare nowadays that author writes so balanced about the working process of deliberately weak force, instead of concentrating on pure action or self-admiration of philosophical ideas (most of which usualy are dead weight and drag to read). ( )

An unusual foray into Sci-fi for me. I enjoyed this, and certainly found it readable enough. I was a little let-down by the scope of its ambition. The topics it's based around are huge - in particular the concept of cornucopia machines and time-travel via faster-than-light. Unfortunately, though, these aren't really explored to their full extent (although, to be fair, I guess time travel is a pretty well-worn trope by now).

Stross actually manages to work his limited exploration into the plot - the first by largely dealing with a society that has banned cornucopia machines (along with nanotechnology and other exciting plot twists); and the second by positing a mysterious god-like entity called The Eschaton that will obliterate you if you attempt any causality-violating time travel (the only interesting kind). While these are interesting devices, I kinda felt that they were obscuring even more interesting possibilities. A bit more exploration of The Eschaton would have helped, but maybe that's for later books.

There were quite a few stabs at relating to genuine science, which worked, and the plot did have some nice touches. It kept my interest, but I hoped for something a little more ambitious.

Overall I was reminded of The Diamond Age, but while that book's scope was smaller, its ambition was still larger. ( )