I've read this one some time ago and I liked it...If I remember correctly, I have bought a used copy in an internet cafe on one occasion. Not having ever heard of the writer, it turned out better then I expected. The narrative is imaginative, interesting and you can easily follow it even if you hadn't read any other book in the series (and I haven't and probably won't)...Perhaps I would enjoy it much more had I read the whole series, but I doubt I will... All in all, a very good sf.