Karl Schroeder

The setting for QoC is not quite as jaw-droppingly awe-inspiring as [b:Sun of Suns|77887|Sun of Suns (Virga, #1)|Karl Schroeder|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312030230s/77887.jpg|75218], in that this story takes place almost entirely on a world-cylinder within Virga. (If none of that makes sense to you, then do yourself a favor and read Sun of Suns.) But on the other hand, the deeper character building in this sequel makes it quite satisfying in a way that its predecessor did not. So I can confidently recommend both of them, and I look forward to reading the next in the series: [b:Pirate Sun|2321054|Pirate Sun (Virga, #3)|Karl Schroeder|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312036297s/2321054.jpg|2327576].… (more)

Chaison Fanning, the principal character in this part of the series, is a much more sympathetic figure than his wife, Venera, who was the focus of the previous book. Consequently, I enjoyed this episode more than the 2nd book. And it was good to catch glimpses of what Artificial Nature means outside the planet-sized balloon Virga. If this seems like damning with faint praise, that is unintentional. Both of these books are good, solid reads. But neither has the impact of the first in the series, [b:Sun of Suns|77887|Sun of Suns (Virga, #1)|Karl Schroeder|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312030230s/77887.jpg|75218], simply because the first book introduced the jaw-dropping engineering ideas that establish the setting for all that follows. (Much like the way the [b:Ringworld|61179|Ringworld|Larry Niven|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348622769s/61179.jpg|924711] sequels are good enough tales, but don't stick in one's mind the way the first book does.]… (more)