It did take me a little to get into, but thoroughly gripping once I did. I'm a big believer in not forcing a book down, sometimes we just don't vibe with someone's writing style ideas... I do love his anthropomorphic tales though, the sequel is about a different ship w/ squids. And he's done one I loved called 'Dogs of War' about bio-engineered intelligent hybrid animals. He really seems to have a knack for getting inside a completely unknowable mind.