Rating: 
Summary: surprising yet inevtiable
Review: This is a beautifully-told, fascinating story that begins in a fairly straightforward, but enjoyable, direction and takes several 180-degree turns--moments that make you say, "Yes! That's exactly how it has to happen! And yet I had no idea that *that* was going on!" I love it when authors can do that. The best advice that my old creative writing professor gave us was that the ending of a story should be "surprising yet inevitable." Robinson does an incredible job of accomplishing that very thing, not once but *twice*.One caveat: Do not read this book just because it is a Lambda Literary Award winner, and do not pay attention to the note on the back that claims it is "a powerful epic of interstellar travel, alternate sexuality, and overpowering obsession." The so-called "alternate sexuality" is a *very* minor aspect of the book, and it is really closer to what I would call "normal" (i.e. people are generally bisexual--although even in this case, there are conspicuously few gay pairs). Nevertheless, it is a beautiful, enthralling story that I couldn't put down, and I urge everyone to get their hands on a copy.
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