If you like quality SF written by the likes of Gene Wolfe, Vernor Vinge, Stephen Donaldson, John Varley, C.J. Cherryh and the like, you will hate this book. The plot is a con job with an anticlimax that will leave you asking for your money back. The characters are nothing more than different names with the same voice (presumably the author's). The science is so laughable as to be distracting. Most importantly, the philosophical/religious exploration is pure sophistry. OTOH, if you are 12 years old you might really enjoy this book.