The story starts a little slowly, but as the various plot lines and characters begin their collision course towards each other the tension builds inexorably. The story is heavy on science, backing off just before your eyes start to glaze over and thus keeping the pacing and your interest. The story elements, characters, and world created are incredible, interesting, and make you crave more.Then in the last hundred pages or so everything just sort of wraps up with a "Well, I guess everything's okay," and some characters suddenly reveal they've learned all the intricacies of the plot and recite them aloud.Very unsatisfying end to a riveting story.