Well, what can I say? I have read many of Bear's other works and have found them all readable and enjoyable. In many of his other works, he deal with a lot of hard science, but despite this, it has always been presented in a way that allows someone not versed with the subject to follow along. This is not the case with 'Vitals'. I kept saying 'huh?' throughout the book, whenever it started in on the science. Like I said, I don't think I am smart enough for this book. In some cases it read more like a text book than it did a novel. As far as the story is concerned, I liked many parts, but the conspiracy was so complex, that by the end, I was just reading to finish the book, and hoped that it made sense to me. It didn't.