Helpful Score: 3
This novel is the continuation of "Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand", which forms the first chapter and is one of the more hypnotic short stories ever written. The rest of the book does not live up to the high standards of the beginning, being more straighforward fantasy wish-fullfillment. Nonetheless, the whole is a beautiful future romance with excellent ideas about post-apocalyptic genetic manipulations and the fragmenting social structures of a dying world.
Helpful Score: 1
A very good, entertaining read. The book isn't very "deep" in terms of ideas/philosophies, however the plot is great and the main character is very likable. I do wish the author had gone into more detail about why the environment was the way it is, who the people in the stone city were, etc. It's definitely a book that (I think) requires a sequel. So, it was disappointing to get to the end and have all these unfinished/unexplained bits. Nevertheless, I would recommend this to other sci-fi fans.