If you’ve made it this far in the series, you’re pretty well primed for this. Though, this is my second favourite, my first being the first one. The plot hook is interesting, Pei returns, all the characters are interesting. Events conspire to have travellers grounded for a while, and they all learn about each other during the period of confinement. It’s pretty simple but effective. The species are again very imaginative and compelling, with the subjects being confronted in a complex way due to how each of them perceives and negotiate their lives. Solid stuff. Same semi meandering, plot takes a back seat so verisimilitude can be predominate, similarly to the others, though perhaps even more lacks about it than the first two, more in line with the previous one.