I remain impressed and delighted by M. R. Carey's commitment to creating a universe in which there is a scientifically plausible reason to have talking bipeds who are bears, hedgehogs, rabbits, cats, dogs, lizards, etc. Topaz Tourmaline Fivehills the bunny-girl student has become one of my favorite protagonists. Carey also continues his investigation and exploration of the differences and similarities between organic and machine-based consciousness. And, there's plenty of well-paced action. The vast array of characters and settings has the potential to get overwhelming, but Carey handles it deftly.