Rating: 
Summary: uneven start, but very good
Review: THis inaugurates an extremely ambitious series of scifi novels, which reached six in all. There are many mysterious references that are explained in later volumes, which serve to whet the appetite. Benford maintains a sense of mystery and wonder quite masterfully. In later volumes, it gets deeper and much better.The characters are what makes this writing exceptional, even if their sexual predilections (2 f's and one m) are a bit much after a while. Benford is a very good writer, one of the best at hard sci fi, but you do feel at times that he is straining to think up what happens next.
Rating:
Summary: Divergent plot threads well woven together
Review: This is hard science fiction all right, and not fast reading for most of us, but there's also a tender relationship plot as well as one involving a growing and influential religion which is gaining dominance. The relationship aspect, a triangular relationship at that, might surprise some readers, but given the changing moral values and the mood of a society of an increasingly overcrowded world, shouldn't be shocking. Being of a metaphysical nature myself, I also was quite fascinated with the detailed portrait of the growing religion and its quest for political power. All in all, this ia a rewarding read, but expect to spend a bit of time with this book.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the very best.
Review: This was one of the first hard sf stories I read, and what a choice. With almost perfect characterization and a mind-numbing plot, Mr. Benford had created a series for which I would gladly await the next installment. As rare as such a thing is, the next book in the series is even better.
Rating:
Summary: Delicious Facts
Review: Though this book turns out to the be the opening shot in a six-novel series, it stands remarkably well by itself as a peak in Benford's writing style, and a monumental achievement in the Sci Fi genre. The series spans a significant period of Benford's career, and major changes in his writing style are quite noticable over its timeframe. Walmsley, the main character, is an aging astronaut with an interesting homelife. (He shares a flat with two women - this could fill a book all by itself!) The interactions with alien intelligence, the primary focus of the story, seems almost secondary to the personal changes that Walmsley goes through. And when an alien computer "re-arranges" his mind, one of the more interesting ideas comes to the fore: what happens to our interpretations of reality simply by modifying our carefully build sets of observations? Reality isn't as clear-cut as it appears to be. If you are prepared for Benford's subtle style, you will love this book. (And if you can find it, of course.)
Rating:
Summary: The beginning of a great series
Review: Together with Across the Sea of Suns, this introduces the key elements that lead to events in the Galactic Centre series, set thousands of years further in the future. It's a great book, and the sober protagonist Nigel Walmsley is an excellent character. Mysterious, sinister and imaginative; well worth a read.
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