This novel is far to long and tedious. The Sci-Fi twists were interesting, but they were so submerged in a mass of words and unnecessary subplots that it was difficult to maintain interest. It's really a pity that the author didn't cut it down to a more readable size and focus on the main themes. If it had been a bit more "crisp" and focused, it probably would be one of the best Science Fiction stories of recent years.