mainstream sci-fi is a genre thoroughly colonized by white men, so this first contact story from a nigerian perspective is refreshing. come for the intriguing and mysterious astromycology and the abilities of our mildly anti-heroic part-time special agent protagonist, not for interesting prose with depth. although there are a few moments that get serious in a flash (we've seen colonisers before, and they are similar, whether intercontinental or interplanetary p.225) the story skims the surface and mirrors the narrator's irreverence. 

<spoiler>we do get to witness the protagonist develop from youthful insolence to something akin to matured indifference with an awakening heart. the first time kaaro chooses not to stay in the dome he does it because of the youthful lust for materialism and then a decade later it is because of love, but there's not a whole lot of substance there.</spoiler>

i enjoyed it. i'll probably read the next one sometime soon.