This book got four stars, rather than five, from me, as an acknowledgement that, from a writing point of view, there are some rough spots in it. But if you can accept those, as I did, you're in for a thought-provoking ride, that calls into question some of western society's dearly-held beliefs. Some of these I have been questioning for 20 years, now, but not as skillfully as Bill has presented it here.
The characters are, from a technical standpoint, the outstanding feature of the writing. They are real enough to almost jump off the page, shake your hand, and engage you in conversation. This makes the plot so much more real, as it is all about what it is to be human. The richness of the characterization make this exploration so real and persuasive. I know that Bill was really trying to, at least in part, get these questions asked in a way that made us believe that the questions are important, and I believe he did that in spades.
Finally, it's a romping-good story. You care about the characters, you want to see "what happens next," and that's what makes a page-turner. So enjoy, and take as much of the richer meat as you feel inclined to.
