 In another review at the SF Site , Greg L. Johnson wrote that while City at the End of Time provides plenty of " wonder , awe , and a sense of humanity in the face of an implacable universe " , he feels that Bear does not quite succeed with this ambitious story of the fate of reality and the universe at large . Johnson described it as " an immensely complicated story " that unfolds by means of " hints and allusions " . He said that even the book 's ending only hints at what the gathered role players had achieved . Johnson wrote that while Bear 's depictions of events on a grand scale , like the decay of Seattle , are good , his portrayal of the key players against this backdrop is not as strong . 
