Unlike the author’s other books (which are great in their own way), this series is hard science fiction. It isn’t the goofy romp of Black Ocean, but rather a plausible look into a future where humanity survives in the form of androids who are seeking to reinvent their biological counterparts. It has some subtle humor that aptly satirizes academic committee culture and reactionary populist movements, but overall, this series has a serious tone.
The story is intelligently-written and well-paced, overall. It mingles philosophical and psychological conundrums with believable action sequences. The overall arc is quite emotive, as generations of previous characters age, evolve, and bring new characters into being. Most of the characters feature dynamic evolution throughout the series.
The voice acting is impeccable. I honestly don’t know how the reader is able to make so many characters’ voices so distinct. Even characters who have reason to have nearly-identical voices are accurately portrayed with ever-so-slight variations. This is truly a remarkable performance.
While Book 5 is a bit of a slog–albeit historically apt–the other books are gems of modern hard science fiction. I highly recommend this series.