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Title: Colossally over-written, sporadically brilliant
Review: This will probably win all the major sf awards next year but only because of SNOW CRASH and THE DIAMOND AGE. This book needed an editor BADLY. It's hugely over-written; so much so that characters and plot threads disappear; some drop out altogether. However, it seems that in our culture Bigger is Better and this book has everything in it including the kitchen sink. And one final remark: this is NOT science fiction: it's a mainstream book written like a science fiction novel but it lacks inventiveness, pizzazz, and a considerable amount of joy. I would also add: modesty. Read something else ...
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