This is one of the great science fiction classics, but I find it too aged for my tastes. The idea of letting two vastly different cultures meet, with at least an attempt at neutral approach to which is better, is a great one. However I find the tempo of the story way too slow, and I found the book lacking suspense.

This is added to by the the structure of intermixed presence and past. Knowing the outcome of dramatic parts of the past storyline removes a lot of potential nerve.