Rating: 
Summary: I didn't love it, but I liked it enough to read it all.
Review: The science fiction I like best is anthropological or sociological with a twist from plausible science speculation (e.g., The Sparrow). And, yes, there has to be an interesting plot with characters I care about. Zettel's "Reclamation" was interesting enough to keep me reading, but the characters never grabbed me emotionally. I didn't really care about Eric and Arla or their rote romance. I was curious about Dorias, but there didn't seem to be much about him/it or even a reason for Dorias to be in the novel.There wasn't even a token explanation of faster than light travel or communication. I guess this problem has been 'solved' often enough in science fiction that Zettel decided it wasn't worth mentioning, but it was pretty strange that people could more or less send email and video across the "Quarter Galaxy" with relative ease. Zettel gets points for managing a complex story in a well thought out far-future, and for keeping me curious enough to finish. Although I won't suggest "Reclamation" to my friends, I will probably look for her second novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Why'd I have to give a star?
Review: This is a sophomoric, poorly visualized first sci fi novel. Too bad it won't be the last. Characters are cardboard, plot is tired, and many of the images are rehashed from sci fi movies--the most interesting characters appear to be ripped off from Star Trek (the Borg) or the film Dark City. Don't waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: Why'd I have to give a star?
Review: This is a sophomoric, poorly visualized first sci fi novel. Too bad it won't be the last. Characters are cardboard, plot is tired, and many of the images are rehashed from sci fi movies--the most interesting characters appear to be ripped off from Star Trek (the Borg) or the film Dark City. Don't waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: maybe too well developed
Review: though i usually enjoy complex well-developed universes, this one was a little too well developed. there were so many details, at times it was difficult to follow and keep track of all the factions. by the end things cleared up a bit, but because of the long catch up period i did not enjoy it as much as i should have. maybe if the author had stretched the same story into two books it would have given me the opportunity to learn all the critical background information so that i could enjoy the plot without having to spend all my time trying to remember where each character fits in.
Rating:
Summary: maybe too well developed
Review: though i usually enjoy complex well-developed universes, this one was a little too well developed. there were so many details, at times it was difficult to follow and keep track of all the factions. by the end things cleared up a bit, but because of the long catch up period i did not enjoy it as much as i should have. maybe if the author had stretched the same story into two books it would have given me the opportunity to learn all the critical background information so that i could enjoy the plot without having to spend all my time trying to remember where each character fits in.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best Sci-Fi books I've read in years.
Review: What makes this so interesting is what made the "Foundation" Triology by Asimov so great: there is a grand design whichthe author hints at throughout the book. It's final revelation had me wanting to reread the final 50-100 pages because I wasn't sure I actually "got" the grand finale. Considering I skip over a lot of nonsense in this genre I found that I couldn't afford to skip one paragraph becaue then I would miss an important aspect of one of the characters or part of the plot. A must read. C
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