Started with an intriguing setting, with a compelling blend of far-future, spiritual technology, giant animals, all with a Buddhist time… but quickly fell apart and devolved into a ham-handed clunker that seemed unsure and uncommitted to any of the ideas off of which it glanced. Its philosophical musings and talk of enlightenment it only drapes over a ham-handed few conclusions it has of history and civilization, around which is a ramshackle plot and dozen paper-thin characters.

I worry that the author may have a drinking problem—or perhaps only one way to communicate people relaxing or under stress.