Just when the unlikeable protagonist thinks things can't get any worse - his shady trading deals with aliens have resulted in the total destruction of all life on Earth, because the main character thought that no alien could be as venal as he was, and he was wrong - things get worse.

By the end of the novel, the character is no more likeable, but because he's resurrected a few thousand people into a virtual universe, he's feeling smug and fully justified. I don't often come across a character who I'd like to deliver a good kicking to, but in the case of Jack Potter, I'll make an exception.

All still die. O the embarrassment. ( )

It's odd. I just re-read my review of the first book in this pair, and was surprised at how positive I was about it. Somehow, I had a memory of it not being very good, and kind of avoided reading this one for... oh, about three years.

This book is definitely flawed, but not bad overall. The tech pushes my suspension of disbelief to the breaking point, and I don't mean the alien tech. It's the stuff that's supposed to be commonplace for the humans in the book that seems ridiculous. The characterization is weak, and the aliens seem implausible (why would an alien trader with many civilizations' worth of experience tip its hand?). But it's a pretty zippy adventure story. ( )

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