One of the many things that makes me love epic fantasy is being invited to learn and decipher a new world. I haven't read much science fiction, and apparently I've picked a hard scifi book to be one of my first. Between google and the practiced patience of an epic fantasy reader, I thought I had a handle on things. Also, this story has the charming affectations of a thief and detective story - again, familiar landscape. But at the end, I think I need to reread this in order to understand the full implications of that climax. I don't know this world enough to understand how it changed, exactly. But I enjoy such puzzles, and boy was the story fun.

Vividly imagined, charming characters and an utterly fascinating world.