I was a little afraid for this book, because I had just been very impressed by [b:Cryptonomicon|816|Cryptonomicon|Neal Stephenson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327931476l/816.SY75.jpg|1166797]. It quickly established being much more fantastical than Cryptonomicon was, and much more optimistic in tone, I'd say. I think my favorite thing about this book is that the conflicts are due to people being people and overreacting or being a bit self-indulgent jerks, and not outright "villains". I'm definitely not opposed to sometime reading another book in the Lady Astronaut Universe.