Unlike anything I've read. The strong writing kept me moving, for instance the chapter describing how a cancer came to be was excellent even though the contribution to the overall plot was minimal. Same with Galina in labor.

On its surface, a collection of short stories. Too late I realized that some characters recurred. And underneath, the story of the attempt at a planned, fully computerized economy and its demise.

I imagine long textbooks have explored that subject. Spufford illustrates it with just a few brush strokes.